INSV Kaundinya maiden voyage highlights India’s maritime heritage using stitched-plank shipbuilding techniques, strengthening cultural ties with Oman and reviving ancient seafaring traditions.
INSV Kaundinya Begins Historic Maiden Voyage Retracing Ancient Maritime Routes
The Indian Navy’s traditional stitched sailing vessel INSV Kaundinya has embarked on its maiden overseas voyage, symbolically retracing ancient maritime trade routes between Porbandar, Gujarat and Muscat, Oman on 29 December 2025.
INSV Kaundinya stands apart from modern vessels due to its construction technique rooted in India’s ancient shipbuilding legacy. Using traditional stitched-plank methods, where wooden planks are sewn together with coconut coir rope and sealed with natural resins and fish oil, the vessel has no engine or metal fasteners. This made-from-nature configuration reflects the design and practices used by India’s seafarers centuries ago.
The project was flagged off by Vice Admiral Krishna Swaminathan, Flag Officer Commanding-in-Chief of the Western Naval Command, in the presence of the Ambassador of the Sultanate of Oman to India, Issa Saleh Al Shibani. The expedition will cover about 1,400 kilometres and take roughly 15 days to reach Muscat at an average pace guided by natural winds and currents.
INSV Kaundinya’s construction began in 2023 under a tripartite Memorandum of Understanding between the Ministry of Culture, the Indian Navy, and Hodi Innovations. It was built by skilled artisans from Kerala, led by master shipwright Babu Sankaran, combining traditional craft and contemporary expertise.
The design is inspired by Iconographic depictions of ships found in the Ajanta Caves dating back to the 5th century CE. This makes the voyage not just a naval exercise but also an anthropological and cultural revival of India’s ancient seafaring traditions.
Notably, Prime Minister Narendra Modi extended his best wishes to the crew, highlighting that the expedition symbolises India’s deep maritime heritage and underscores its historical links with nations bordering the Indian Ocean.
Why This News Is Important for Government Exam Aspirants
Revival of Indigenous Heritage and Craftsmanship
The INSV Kaundinya voyage highlights India’s broader effort to revive indigenous knowledge systems, especially those related to maritime technology and craftsmanship. Understanding the significance of such projects helps aspirants connect cultural heritage with modern strategic initiatives — an important theme in History, Geography, and Art & Culture sections of competitive exams.
Strengthening Maritime Diplomacy
The voyage reinforces India’s maritime ties with Gulf nations, particularly Oman. For exams related to Polity, International Relations, and General Studies, this story exemplifies maritime diplomacy — how symbolic initiatives strengthen bilateral relationships in the Indian Ocean region.
Integration of Tradition with Modern Strategic Goals
This project also demonstrates how India is leveraging ancient wisdom within contemporary frameworks to achieve strategic objectives in international waters — a trend increasingly relevant for civil service examinations assessing governance, culture, and strategic studies
Cultural Identity and Geopolitical Influence
INSV Kaundinya’s voyage holds importance for understanding India’s cultural identity, its ancient oceanic connections, and how these narratives shape geopolitical influence. For students preparing for UPSC, PSCs, Banking, Defence, and Railways exams, this story offers valuable insight into the intersection of culture and geopolitics.
Historical Context: India’s Ancient Maritime Legacy and the Stitched-Ship Technique
India’s Maritime Connections from Antiquity
India has a longstanding maritime history that goes back thousands of years, linking it to West Asia, East Africa, and Southeast Asia through robust seafaring and trade networks. Ancient Indian mariners navigated the Indian Ocean, exchanging goods such as spices, textiles, and precious stones with civilisations across seas.
Stitched-Ship Technology: A Window into Past Shipbuilding
The concept of stitched ships — wherein wooden planks were joined using coir and natural binders instead of metal fasteners — is documented through archaeological evidence and iconography, such as the paintings in the Ajanta Caves. These ships were reputed for their flexibility and resilience against oceanic conditions, making them ideal for long voyages driven solely by wind power.
Historic Maritime Routes Between India and West Asia
Centuries ago, Indian trade routes connected the Indian subcontinent with Oman and beyond. Ports like Muscat were central hubs facilitating cultural and economic exchange and sustained interactions across the Indian Ocean world. These routes were sustained by monsoon winds that enabled ancient mariners to journey across vast expanses of sea — a practice revived in the INSV Kaundinya expedition.
Key Takeaways from “INSV Kaundinya Set for First Voyage Retracing Historic Maritime Paths”
| S. No. | Key Takeaway |
|---|---|
| 1 | INSV Kaundinya is a stitched sailing vessel of the Indian Navy embarking on its maiden overseas voyage. |
| 2 | The voyage retraces ancient maritime routes connecting India’s western coast to Muscat, Oman. |
| 3 | The ship’s construction uses traditional stitched-plank techniques without metal fasteners, reflecting ancient shipbuilding methods. |
| 4 | The project was realised through collaboration between the Ministry of Culture, Indian Navy, and Hodi Innovations. |
| 5 | The expedition enhances cultural diplomacy and highlights India’s maritime heritage and international ties. |
FAQs: Frequently Asked Questions
Why is the voyage important?
It highlights India’s ancient maritime heritage, promotes cultural diplomacy, and strengthens India-Oman bilateral relations in the Indian Ocean region.
What is INSV Kaundinya?
INSV Kaundinya is a traditional stitched sailing vessel of the Indian Navy, built using ancient Indian shipbuilding techniques without metal fasteners or engines.
When did INSV Kaundinya embark on its maiden voyage?
The vessel set sail on 29 December 2025 from Porbandar, Gujarat, to Muscat, Oman.
What is unique about the construction of INSV Kaundinya?
The ship uses the stitched‑plank technique, where wooden planks are sewn together with coconut coir rope and sealed with natural resins, inspired by ancient maritime practices.
Which historical sources inspired the design of INSV Kaundinya?
The ship’s design is inspired by paintings of ships in the Ajanta Caves dating back to the 5th century CE.
Who flagged off the INSV Kaundinya voyage?
The voyage was flagged off by Vice Admiral Krishna Swaminathan, Flag Officer Commanding‑in‑Chief of the Western Naval Command.
How long is the voyage to Muscat?
The vessel will cover approximately 1,400 km, taking around 15 days depending on wind and sea conditions.
Which organisations collaborated to build INSV Kaundinya?
The project was a collaboration between the Ministry of Culture, Indian Navy, and Hodi Innovations, with skilled artisans from Kerala leading the construction.
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