Amateur (Ham) Radio operation at Mahabalipuram (Mamallapuram)Lighthouses [WLOL IND 016 (also IND 011)] of Kancheepuram District for the first time in India's History that too starting with International Lighthouse and Lightship Week (end) from 15th August to 24th August 2008 is licenced by Department of Telecommunication, Ministry of Communication & Information Technology vide L-14011/640/2008-AMT Dated 14-7-2008, Permission to utilise the Lighthouse is accorded by the Directorate General of Lighthouse and Lightships, Ministry of Shipping, Road Transport & Highways, Government of India is received vide Letter No.1/7/2005-D&P Dated 19th March 2008.

Archeological Survey of India vide F.No.17/33/2008-M Dated 14th Aug 2008 has also permitted for this ILLW.

Photograph on this website shows WLOL IND016 and WLOL IND011 where our Dipole antenna for AT8LH was tied between both Lighthouses !!!

Do note that Mahabalipuram (Mamballapuram) is UNESCO's World Heritage Sites with history of being a celebrated port city (Malange) in First Century AD as mentiond by Greek navigator - "Periplus of the Erythraean Sea" and during the 2004 Tsunami an ancient port city and parts of a temple built in 7th Century was uncovered thus Archaeological Survey of India sent divers to begin underwater excavation more links for history and photos.

The following dedicated Amateur Radio volunteers have come forward to make this historical event

VU2UR - Arasu (ARLHS # 1578) ; VU2LX - Lakshman ; VU2YZ - Sampath ; VU2GUR - Gururaj ; VU2INA - Inarappan ; VU2CDP - Deepak ; VU3CPE -Vimal Laxman ; VU2KBX - Anna ; VU3VHK -Hari ; VU2VIT - Vittal ; Venkataram - VU2BVM ; VU2VTK - Sharadha ; VU2LU - Ramesh ; VU3ITI - Varadhan ; Lion Ajoy VU2JHM (ARLHS # 1571) and many more.

This activity is to commemorate The Bangalore Amateur Radio Club - VU2ARC celebrating its Golden Jubilee in 2009 and few HF equipments are borrowed from Lions Clubs International Amateur Radio Club Station - VU2LCI

Special Cover from Lions International Stamp Club - LISC India Chapter with Pictorial Cancellation of Shore Temple of Mahabalipuram is being planned, so those who are sending direct QSL with 3 IRC has to send their address label and not SASE [clearly mentioning even the country as just NJ 08109 would not go unless United States of America USA is mentioned] whereas VU Hams who desire to receive Special QSL card has to send Rs.10/- postage stamp and address label with full pincode details. We are expected to get the QSL Cards ready by end of September and then dispatch the direct QSLs soon.

Photos of the event (Thanks to Jaya Shakathivelu, Deepak, Venkatesh and Ramesh for not just taking the pictures but lending us to publisize the event)

http://picasaweb.google.co.in/lionajoy/AT8LHLoveAndKissesFromLighthouse#

http://picasaweb.google.com/lionajoy

http://picasaweb.google.co.in/vu2cdp/AT8LH?authkey=sqLIX5R9_LQ

http://in.youtube.com/watch?v=AUfgY9zVPsE

Year 2009 we have gone ahead with AT8LHC at Kadalur Point Lighthouse do look QRZ.com for details  http://www.qrz.com/AT8LHC

Some useful weblink for more History & Photographs of this Greatest Place on our globe http://bachodi.wordpress.com/2007/01/13/indias-oldest-light-house/

http://asi.nic.in/asi_monu_whs_mahabalipuram.asp

http://dgllnoida.gov.in/history/cochin/mahabalipuram.htm

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Mahabalipuram

http://naturalnirvana.com/India/IndianStates/Tamil-Nadu/Mamallapuram.htm

http://blip.tv/file/554522 Video of Two Lighthouses

http://www.seebeforeyoudie.net/asia/india/Mahabalipuram/Mahabalipuram-Lighthouse.html

http://www.pbase.com/yardbird/india_tamilnadu_mahabalipuram

(Please give credit to photo and article - some may be copyright material needing permission to publish)