Little Basses Reef Lighthouse

The Little Basses Reef Lighthouse is a cylindrical granite tower standing 37 meters tall with a white exterior marked by a black horizontal band. The structure sits on a coral reef and uses a hyperradiant Fresnel lens system to project its light signal across the ocean.

Engineer James Nicholas Douglass designed and built this lighthouse in 1878 to guide ships through dangerous reef waters. The structure exemplifies Victorian-era engineering advances applied to maritime safety challenges of that time.

The original name Kuda Ravana Kotuwa connects this structure to local mythology and ancient stories of the region. Visitors can sense how this place remains woven into maritime traditions and regional identity today.

Visitors access this site by boat from the mainland, with travel time depending on weather and sea conditions. The best time to visit is during calmer ocean periods when the crossing is safer and more comfortable.

This lighthouse projects a light signal visible up to 27 nautical miles across the Indian Ocean, guiding ships from remarkable distances away. Such extraordinary range was crucial for navigation along one of the region's busiest shipping routes.

Location: Southern Province

Inception: 1878

Architects: James Nicholas Douglass

Height: 37 m

GPS coordinates: 6.40730,81.73023

Latest update: December 14, 2025 13:00