Pirotan

Pirotan Island (also known as Pirotan) is an Arabian Sea island in the Marine National Park, Jamnagar District of Gujarat state, India. It is located 12 nautical miles (22 km) off the coast (Bedi Port), consists of mangroves and low-tide beaches,[3] and has an area of 3 square kilometres. Rozi island is located about 10 kilometres to the southeast.

Pirotan Island Lighthouse
Lighthouse at Pirotan Island
Pirotan Island Lighthouse
Gujarat
LocationPirotan Island, Jamnagar
Gujarat
India
Coordinates22.604299°N 69.952189°E / 22.604299; 69.952189
Year first constructed1898 (first)
Year first lit1958 (current)
Constructionmasonry tower
Tower shapecylindrical tower with balcony and lantern
Markings / patternblack tower with a white band, red lantern dome
Tower height18.3 metres (60 ft)
Focal height19 metres (62 ft)
Range23 nautical miles (43 km; 26 mi)
CharacteristicFl W 20s.
Raconcode K[1]
Admiralty numberF0380
NGA number28352
ARLHS numberIND-157[2]

Of the 42 islands in the park, Pirotan Island is the most popular and is one of the two islands where visitors are normally permitted. Visitation is strictly limited, permission is required from the Forest Department, Customs Department and the Ports.[3] The mangroves consist mainly of species of Rhizophora, Avicennia and Ceriops.[4]

History

The island derived its name from Pirotan Patan, the ancient city probably at the place of Bedi Bandar.[5]

In 1867 a flagpole was placed at the northern tip of the island to aid in navigation. In 1898 it was replaced with a 21-metre masonry lighthouse, which in turn was replaced in 1955–57 with a 24-metre-high (79 ft) lighthouse tower.[6] In 1996, the lighthouse power was converted from diesel generator to solar power. The diesel generators exist for backup generation. [7]

The island along surrounding coral reefs covering an area of 3 square kilometres was notified as part of Marine National Park in 1982.[8]

Population

The only people there on the island are the forest guard, the lighthouse people and the Mujhavar (Server) at the Holy Saint Khwaja Khizer R.A. shrine (Durgah). The sacred shrine of Khwaja Khijer Rahmatullahialaih is located on the island.[9]

Most visitors come in the morning with the high tide and leave by evening. Weekends in winters may bring more than 200–300 visitors.

Visiting Pirotan

The island being protected marine park, several permissions are required for visiting. For Indian Nationals, permission from local Forest Department, Customs Department & Ports Department. Foreign nationals additionally require permission from the police office.

There is no routine ferry service to the island. One has to hire boats from the port. These boats take about 1.5 hours to reach the island. Since the beach is very shallow, the boats can only reach the island during high tide and leave the island during high tide.

Fauna

Marine

Marine life-forms found include:

  • Various types of Crabs
    • Neptune
    • Wolf
    • King crab
    • Hermit crabs
    • Ghost crabs
  • Sea Scorpions
  • Wiper- Isosceles
  • Sea snakes
  • Sea slugs
  • Sea Horse
  • Squid
  • Sea Anemone
  • Octopus
  • Sea Worms
  • sabella
  • Mud Skipper
  • Sea Bonellia
  • Coaster Cather
  • Sea Urchin

Plus there are Saw-scaled Vipers & Scorpions too

Sea-birds
  • Pelicans
  • Sea Gull
  • Harring Gull
  • Blackheaded Gull
  • Crab Plover
  • Different types of waders
  • View of part of Pirotan island from the top of lighthouse
  • A beautiful fluorescent carpet anemone found on Pirotan Islan

Notes
  1. Directorate General of Lighthouses and Lightships
  2. Rowlett, Russ. "Lighthouses of India: Western Gujarat". The Lighthouse Directory. University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill. Retrieved February 8, 2016.
  3. "Beaches of Jamnagar: Pirotan" Jamnagar the beautiful - Tourist information
  4. "Gujarat Tourism: Wild Life: Marine National Park & Wildlife Sanctuary" Vibrant Gujarat
  5. Gazetteer of the Bombay Presidency: Káthiáwar. 8. Government Central Press. 1884. p. 579.
  6. "Pirotan Lighthouse- Technical" Directorate General of Lighthouses & Lightships, India
  7. "Pirotan Lighthouse-History" Directorate General of Lighthouses & Lightships, India
  8. "Gujarat Gulf of Kutch Marine National Park Notification" (PDF). Archived from the original (PDF) on 2011-07-19. Retrieved 2008-01-20.
  9. Majid Husain (2011). Understanding: Geographical: Map Entries: for Civil Services Examinations: Second Edition. Tata McGraw-Hill Education. pp. II.P.9. ISBN 978-0-07-070288-2.
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