Pirotan Island (also known as Pirothan) is an Arabian Sea island in the Marine National Park, Jamnagar District of Gujarat state, India. Marine National Park in the Gulf of Kutch is situated in the Jamnagar District of Gujarat state India. Jamnagar District is located in state of Gujarat, India. The headquarters is in Jamnagar. Gujarat (ગુજરાત Gujǎrāt, pronounced) is a state in western India. India, officially the Republic of India (भारत गणराज्य inc-Latn Bhārat Gaṇarājya; see also other Indian languages) is a country It is located 12 nautical miles (22 km) off the coast (Bedi Port), consists of mangroves and low-tide beaches[1], and has an area of 3 square kilometres. Mangroves (generally are Trees and Shrubs that grow in saline coastal habitats in the Tropics and Subtropics. The center of the island is at . Rozi island is located about 10 kilometres to the southeast.
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. [1] The mangroves consist mainly of species of Rhizophora, Avicennia and Ceriops. [2]
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History
The island was originally known "Pir jo thaan" meaning the place of the holy Saint Khwaja Khizer Alaihisalaam. The sacred shrine of Khwaja Khijer Alaihisalaam is located on the island.
In 1867 a flagpole was placed at the northern tip of the island to aid in navigation. A flag is a piece of Cloth, often flown from a pole or mast, generally used Symbolically for signaling or identification In 1898 it was replaced with a 21 m. masonry lighthouse, which in turn was replaced in 1955-1957 with a 24 m. high lighthouse tower. [3]. In 1996, the the lighthouse power was converted from diesel generator to solar power. The diesel generators exist for backup generation. [4]
The island along surrounding coral reefs covering an area of 3 square kilometres was notified as part of Marine National Park in 1982. Marine National Park in the Gulf of Kutch is situated in the Jamnagar District of Gujarat state India. [5]
Population
The only people there on the island are the Forest Guard, the Light House people & the Mujhavar (Server) at the Holy Saint Khwaja Khizer R. A. shrine(Dargah).
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 office and Custom office is required. Foreign nationals additionally require permission for Police Office.
There are no routine ferry service to island. Local fishing boats can be hired from Bedi Jetty or Sikka Jetty. 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:
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Sea-birds
Flamingo, Cranes, Sea Gull, Harring Gull, Blackhead Gull, Crab Plover Gull, Puffin
Notes
- ^ a b "Beaches of Jamnagar: Pirotan" Jamnagar the beautiful - Tourist information
- ^ "Gujarat Tourism: Wild Life: Marine National Park & Wildlife Sanctuary" Vibrant Gujarat
- ^ "Pirotan Lighthouse- Technical" Directorate General of Lighthouses & Lightships, India
- ^ "Pirotan Lighthouse-History" Directorate General of Lighthouses & Lightships, India
- ^ Gujarat Gulf of Kutch Marine National Park Notification
External links
 View of part of Pirotan island from the top of lighthouse |
 A beautiful fluorescent carpet anemone found on Pirotan Islan |
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