Indira Point – Southernmost Point of India

Indira Point is the southernmost point of India or the last landmass of India. It is located on Great Nicobar Island in the Indian Union territory of Andaman and Nicobar Islands. Indira Point is located at 6°4′ north latitude, about 150 kilometers away from Sumatra, Indonesia. Indira Point was earlier known as Pygmalion Point. It came to be known as Indira Point after the late Prime Minister Rajiv Gandhi visited this place.

In this article, we will discuss What is Indira Point – The Southernmost Point of India (Pygmalion Point), Indira Point history, important facts about this point, Indira Point Lighthouse, etc.

Indira Point on Map

Indira Point- Southern Point of India

What is Indira Point?

• Indira Point, located at the southernmost tip of Great Nicobar Island, is the southernmost point of India. Indira Point is located on the island of Sumatra, south of Nicobar Island.
• It is famous for many reasons and has undergone many changes as per the demands of nature, along with the island and the country of India.
• The entire island covers an area of approximately 1,045 square kilometers, has a population of approximately 9,440 humans, and is largely covered with rainforests containing a variety of wildlife.

Overview on Indira Point

Feature	Description
Name	Indira Point (formerly known as Pygmalion Point)
Location	Southern tip of Great Nicobar Island, Nicobar Islands, India
Coordinates	Approximately 6.747°N latitude, 93.842°E longitude
Significance	Southernmost point of the Indian subcontinent
Named After	Named in honor of former Indian Prime Minister, Indira Gandhi
Geographical Characteristics	Rocky headland with a lighthouse
2004 Event	Severely affected by the 2004 Indian Ocean earthquake and tsunami
Submergence	Submerged due to coastal erosion and tsunami impact
Current Status	Underwater, no longer a distinct landmass
Environmental Impact	Loss of landmass, coastal reshaping
Strategic Importance	Previously served as a navigational landmark
Historical Significance	Symbolic representation of India’s southernmost point
Cultural Impact	Featured in tourism and geographical discussions
Future Outlook	Likely to remain submerged, subject to further environmental changes

Has Indira Point Submerged?

Indira Point, located at the southernmost tip of the Nicobar Islands in India, was once a prominent geographical feature. However, it has undergone significant changes over the years, particularly due to coastal erosion and the devastating 2004 Indian Ocean earthquake and tsunami.

1. Geographical Location: Indira Point, also known as Pygmalion Point, was situated on Great Nicobar Island, the largest island in the Nicobar group of islands. It marked the southernmost tip of the Indian subcontinent.
2. 2004 Indian Ocean Earthquake and Tsunami: On December 26, 2004, a massive undersea earthquake occurred off the coast of Sumatra, Indonesia. This earthquake, measuring around 9.1–9.3 on the Richter scale, triggered a powerful tsunami that wreaked havoc across the Indian Ocean region. The Nicobar Islands, including Indira Point, were severely affected.
3. Submergence: The combination of the earthquake and the ensuing tsunami had a profound impact on Indira Point. The area experienced extensive flooding and coastal erosion. As a result, a significant portion of the landmass where Indira Point stood became submerged beneath the sea. The exact extent of submergence varied, but it marked a significant change in the geography of the region.
4. Loss of Landmass: The submergence of Indira Point resulted in the loss of landmass and geographical features. Coastal areas were reshaped, and the coastline underwent alterations. The disappearance of Indira Point served as a stark reminder of the destructive power of natural disasters and their long-term consequences on the environment and human settlements.
5. Significance: Indira Point held symbolic and strategic significance as the southernmost point of India. Its submergence not only altered the geography but also impacted navigation and maritime activities in the region.

History of Indira Point

• The southernmost point of India is Indira Point. Indira Point is also known as Pygmalion Point or Parsons Point. Pygmalion Point is located about 163 kilometers from Rondo Island in the Great Nicobar district.
• Indira Point was opened to the public on April 30, 1972.
• After a visit to Great Nicobar Island and the popular Pygmalion Point, former Prime Minister of India Rajiv Gandhi renamed it Indira Point after his mother. However, the official naming ceremony took place on October 10, 1985, after the death of Mrs. Indira Gandhi.
• The history of Indira Point, India’s southernmost point, is marked by a tragedy on January 26, 2004. The earthquake and tsunami killed 16 to 20 families living near the lighthouse. Due to this, four Indian scientists doing research on leatherback sea turtles also died.

Indira Point Lighthouse

• Indira Point Lighthouse is located at the southernmost tip of the Indian Union territory of Andaman and Nicobar Islands and is an important landmark on the international shipping lane on the Colombo-Singapore route. Down south is Sumatra (Indonesia), which is separated by 60 miles of sea. The enclave on which the lighthouse stands was formerly known as Pygmalion Point.
• It was renamed Indira Point in honor of the late Prime Minister Indira Gandhi. This announcement was made by the local Member of Parliament on February 19, 1984, and the official naming ceremony took place on October 10, 1985.
• Indira Point is part of Great Nicobar Island and is connected to Campbell Bay Port by a 45-kilometer-long causeway.
• Great Nicobar is the largest of the 19 islands in the Nicobar group. It has many mountains and hills; the highest among them is Mount Thuillier (642 m), and three perennial rivers—Galathea, Alexandria, and Dogmar—flow through these mountains. The island receives 3125 mm of rainfall, so it is densely forested, with cane and bamboo in abundance.
• The Shompens (150) and Great Nicobarese (250) are the natives of this island. Ex-servicemen and other mainlanders are also settled here. M/s BBT Paris supplied the complete lighting equipment consisting of a cast iron tower and third-order optic assembly rotated by DA gas, a mercury float pedestal system, a lantern house, etc.
• Indira Point Lighthouse was inaugurated in April 1972 by Shri GS Pathak, the then Vice President of India.
• The tsunami, which was located 500 kilometers north of the epicenter of the 2004 Indian Ocean earthquake, reduced the height of Indira Point by 4.25 meters after the earthquake, and many residents went missing in the tsunami that followed.
• Sixteen to twenty families living at Indira Point Lighthouse and the Lighthouse Quarter and four scientists studying leatherback sea turtles went missing.
• After this incident, a 4.25-meter part of the lighthouse tower was submerged in seawater.
• The unmanned lighthouse tower is a 35-meter-tall cast iron tower painted in a white and red band scheme and has an LED flasher light powered by batteries and solar panels.
• Construction of M/s Tideland’s “Recon” and transmitting code “G” was added to the LH tower on January 20, 2005.
• Access to this lighthouse is only by sea; one can take a departmental ship or a chartered ship to the anchorage, then use a mechanized dinghy to the shore, and then walk to the lighthouse.

Pygmalion point

• Pygmalion Point is the former name of Indira Point, which marks the southernmost point of India. It is located in Great Nicobar, in the Andaman and Nicobar Islands.
• There are many Magnetic Hills in the world, but in India, they are located in Leh. Here the downward slope appears to be upward, and while driving the car, it feels as if the car is rising upwards due to the magnetic properties of the hills, which is an illusion. Point Calimere is located at the beginning of the Coromandel Coast in Tamil Nadu and is the upper part of the Kaveri River Delta.
• Pygmalion Point was known for the Chola Light House, which was destroyed by the tsunami in 2004. False Divi Point is the northern end of the Coromandel Coast in Andhra Pradesh, a delta of the Krishna River known for mangroves.

How did Indira Point submerge?

• During the 2004 tsunami, the southernmost point of the Indian Union, ‘Indira Point’, was submerged in seawater due to the tsunami.
• Indira Point is a township in the Nicobar district of Andaman and the Nicobar Islands. Previously, it was known as Pygmalion Point or Parsons Point. This is the southernmost point of the country. Before the earthquake, the lighthouse was at its highest point at Indira Point, the southernmost point of Great Nicobar Island. It is now submerged, indicating 3–4 meters of land subsidence.

Interesting facts about Indira Point

• There is a 23-kilometer stretch from Rameshwaram to Arichalamanai. People believe that this strip is a part of Ram Setu and has been present here since then. As soon as Arichalamanai ends, the vast ocean is visible all around.
• A lighthouse is located at Indira Point, which provides light and direction to ships sailing from India to Malaysia and Malacca.
• The Bay of Bengal looks quite calm from Indira Point, but there are strong winds in the Gulf of Mannar. There is a saying related to this: when Lord Rama was searching for a way through the sea to reach Sri Lanka but the sea refused to do so, then Lord Rama lifted his bow to dry up the sea. But later, the ocean accepted the request, calmed down, and gave way to Lord Rama. Since then, one side of the sea has been calm, and Ram Setu is situated on this side.
• Indira Point was earlier known as Pygmalion Point and Parsons Point. On February 19, 1984, when the Indian Prime Minister visited the place, a local MP suggested renaming the place. The official naming ceremony took place on October 10, 1985, after the death of Mrs. Indira Gandhi.
• Sri Lanka’s Talaimannar Island is just 20 kilometers away. Far away from Indira Point.
• Dhanushkodi is the last Indian city in the Indian region. There is no settlement beyond Dhanushkodi; only the road leads to Ramsethu Point.
• The geography of this place changed due to the tsunami in December 2004. The tsunami reduced the height of Indira Point by 4.25 meters.
• According to the Census of 2011, only four families live here. The total population of these families is 27 people, and the literacy rate is 85%.
• The height of Indira Point is 47 meters above sea level.
• Galathea National Park is a national park located in the Indian Union territory of the Andaman and Nicobar Islands.
• Andaman and Nicobar Islands have only one airport, Port Blair.

Conclusion

Indira Point Lighthouse was put into operation on April 30, 1972.

The southernmost tip of the island, about 500 kilometers north of the epicenter of the 2004 Indian Ocean earthquake, sank 4.25 meters as a result of the earthquake, and the tsunami that followed killed many residents. The dead included a family of sixteen to twenty who lived near the lighthouse, as well as four scientists researching leatherback sea turtles.

FAQs: What is Indira Point – The Southernmost Point of India

What is Indira Point famous for?

Indira Point is renowned as the southernmost point of India. Formerly known as Pygmalion Point, it was renamed in 1984 after a visit by Prime Minister Rajiv Gandhi in honor of his mother, Indira Gandhi.

Indira Point is located in which state?

Indira Point is located in the Andaman and Nicobar Islands.

What is the latitude of Indira Point?

The latitude of Indira Point is 6° 45’38″N.

Indira Point is also known as?

Indira Point is also known as Pygmalion Point and Parsons Point.

What are the features of Indira Point?

Indira Point, located on Great Nicobar Island in the Andaman and Nicobar archipelago, is geographically and strategically significant. It serves as the southernmost point of India, prominently featured in maps and atlases, symbolizing the extremity of the Indian subcontinent.

What is the history of Indira Point?

Formerly known as Pygmalion Point, Indira Point was renamed in 1984 after Prime Minister Rajiv Gandhi’s visit. The naming ceremony occurred on October 10, 1985, following the death of Mrs. Indira Gandhi. The region faced a tragic event on January 26, 2004, when an earthquake and tsunami caused significant loss of life.

Tell us about the Indira Point Lighthouse.

The Indira Point Lighthouse, inaugurated in April 1972, stands at the southernmost tip of the Andaman and Nicobar Islands. It serves as a crucial landmark on the Colombo-Singapore shipping route, aiding maritime navigation. The lighthouse faced submersion during the 2004 tsunami, reducing its height by 4.25 meters.

How did Indira Point submerge during the 2004 tsunami?

The 2004 tsunami, resulting from an earthquake, caused the southernmost point of India, Indira Point, to submerge in seawater. The tsunami reduced the height of Indira Point by 4.25 meters, leading to the tragic loss of lives in the region.

Are there any interesting facts about Indira Point?

Yes, several interesting facts include its association with Ram Setu, a lighthouse providing navigation, and its changed geography post-tsunami. Only a few families reside in the region, according to the 2011 Census, highlighting its remote nature.

What is the current population and literacy rate at Indira Point?

According to the Census of 2011, only four families with a total population of 27 people reside at Indira Point. The literacy rate in this remote region is reported to be 85%.

Is Indira Point accessible by land?

Access to Indira Point is primarily by sea. Visitors can take a departmental ship or a chartered ship to the anchorage, then use a mechanized dinghy to reach the shore and subsequently walk to the lighthouse.