The Indian Navy’s traditional wooden sailing vessel, INSV Kaundinya, has completed a historic 17-day journey from India’s western coast to Oman, retracing the ancient maritime routes that connected the subcontinent with the rest of the world for centuries.
The ship, named after a legendary Indian mariner, was built using time-honoured techniques, with wooden planks stitched together using coir rope made from coconut fibre and sealed with natural resin. Eschewing modern engines, the vessel relies solely on square sails and favourable winds to propel itself across the seas.
The design of INSV Kaundinya is inspired by a 5th-century painting found in the Ajanta caves, one of the few visual records of early Indian seafaring. With no surviving blueprints from the period, naval architects had to rely on iconography and historical references to reconstruct the ship’s form.
The vessel incorporates several culturally significant features, including sails displaying motifs of the Gandabherunda, a mythical two-headed bird representing the Hindu god Vishnu, and the sun. The bow bears a sculpted Simha Yali, a mythical creature from South Indian lore, while a symbolic Harappan-style stone anchor adorns the deck, evoking the rich maritime traditions of ancient India.
Construction on the ship began in September 2023, and it was launched in February 2025 in the state of Goa. Sanjeev Sanyal, a member of Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s economic advisory council, was a crew member and shared regular updates from the voyage on social media, including a striking image of the ship sailing through heavy rains.
Speaking to reporters in Oman, the officer-in-charge of the ship, Commander Hemant Kumar, described the journey as “exhilarating” and “adventurous,” though not without its challenges. The crew faced a lack of proper beds, no air conditioning in the heat, and bouts of seasickness. However, they were elated to have safely reached their destination.
The successful completion of this voyage celebrates India’s rich maritime heritage and the enduring craftsmanship of its traditional seafaring technologies. As the INSV Kaundinya and its crew prepare for their return journey, the voyage stands as a testament to the nation’s ongoing efforts to preserve and revive its ancient connections with the wider world.