As pretty as the picture : probably how you imagined it, and how it might turn out to be.

It’s the Kanhoji Angre Lighthouse on Kanhoji Angre Island (known as Kennery Island at the time Mumbai was Bombay) that is 23km  from Gateway of India by sea. It will soon be revived into a major tourist spot for the benefit of those who were bored with the usual Gateway of India, Chaupati, and Mumbai local trains itinerary.

The ministries of tourism and of shipping have come together to promote this long-forgotten island that is named after Kanhoji Angre, leader of the Maratha navy in the 18^th century.

K Chiranjeevi, Tourism Minister, and Milind Deora, Minister of State for Shipping, made a joint announcement. Chiranjeevi said:

“The development of Kanhoji Angre Light House includes conservation of light house, viewing gallery, conservation of fort wall, tent style accommodation, construction of jetty and passenger terminal and electrification through solar power system. The thrust is on developing the new destination in an eco-friendly manner.”

The facelift would be completed in 10 months, at the end of which the island will be one great getaway for Mumbaikars and for anyone visiting the city. We won’t be surprised if the pretty little island soon becomes the favourite hang-out spot of the young Mumbai crowd. This is what the government plans to offer to tourists visiting the island:

• A jetty
• A viewing gallery
• Tent-style accommodation
• Eating outlets
• A passenger terminal

And this is not the only lighthouse that will see a makeover. The tourism ministry is all set to play fairy godmother to selected islands across the country to give tourism a boost, of course. The next two girls in line are the lighthouse at Dolphin Nose Point in Vishakhapatnam and the Mahabalipuram lighthouse near Chennai. So, soon we, the Indian janta, will be hopping around islands and romancing lighthouses.