New Delhi: The Indian Navy’s INSV Kaundinya is set to embark on a historic journey from Porbandar, Gujarat, to Muscat, Oman, reviving India’s ancient seafaring traditions. Unlike modern naval vessels, Kaundinya has no engine, relies entirely on wind and sails, and is built using shipbuilding methods dating back over 1,500 years.
INSV Kaundinya is a stitched sail ship inspired by designs seen in the Ajanta cave paintings, as well as descriptions from ancient texts and accounts of foreign travelers. The vessel is approximately 19.6 metres long, 6.5 metres wide, with a draft of around 3.33 metres, and carries a crew of about 15 sailors. Its construction follows the Tankai method, which avoids the use of metal, stitching the hull first before adding ribs. This technique provides flexibility, allowing the ship to withstand strong waves without structural damage.
Materials used include wooden planks, coir rope made from coconut fibre, and natural resins and oils for waterproofing. The ship was crafted by traditional craftsmen from Kerala, led by master shipwright Babu Sankaran. The Indian Navy collaborated on the project to recreate the design using visual sources, supplemented by scientific testing, including hydrodynamic studies at IIT Madras, to ensure stability and safety. The ship was launched in February 2025 and formally inducted into the Navy in May at Karwar, Karnataka.
INSV Kaundinya carries symbolic designs celebrating India’s maritime legacy, including the Gandabherunda (two-headed eagle of the Kadamba dynasty), sun motifs on the sails, the mythical Simha Yali lion on the bow, and a Harappan-style stone anchor on the deck. The vessel is named after Kaundinya, a 1st-century Indian mariner who sailed to the Mekong Delta, married Queen Soma, and helped establish the Funan Kingdom in present-day Cambodia, one of Southeast Asia’s earliest Indian-influenced states.
This voyage retraces historic trade routes once used by Indian merchants to connect with West Asia, Africa, and Southeast Asia, transporting spices, textiles, and cultural ideas. By navigating this ancient corridor, INSV Kaundinya celebrates India’s centuries-old maritime expertise and showcases the ingenuity of traditional shipbuilding methods.
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