In this picture published by PIB 21st May 2025, INSV Kaundinya, recreation of the quilted ship of the 5th century. | Photo Credit: PTI
The Indian Navy formally mentioned and named the “ancient sailing ship” as INSV Kaundinya at a festive event that took place at the naval base in Karwar. InsV Kaundinya was built on the basis of a 5th century. Century depicted in paintings seen in the Ayanta caves.
The project started through a tripartite agreement signed in July 2023 between the Ministry of Culture of the Union, the Indian Navy and innovations with the financing of the Ministry of Culture and to demonstrate the Indian rich heritage of boat construction.
“After laying the hernia in September 2023, the construction of the vessel was carried out using a traditional sewing method by a team of qualified craftsmen from Kerala, led by the Sankaran championship. Within a few months, the team carefully stitching wooden boards on a boat with coconut rope, coconut fiber.”
The ship started in February 2025 in Goa.
The ship now embarks on its next historical phase and includes preparations for a transoceanic voyage along the ancient trade route from Gujarat to Oman, scheduled at the end of this year, the Navy said.
The Indian Navy played a central role in the project and supervised the design, technical validation and construction process. Without surviving plans or physical residues, the design had to be extrapolated from two -dimensional art iconography and the project required a unique interdisciplinary approach that combined archaeological interpretation, naval architecture, hydrodynamic testing and traditional craftsmanship.
The sewing ship is equipped with square sails and driving, which are completely alien to modern ships. The geometry of the torso, equipment and sails had to be reimaginated and tested from the first principles. The Indian Navy cooperated with the Department of Ocean Engineering, the Indian Institute of Technology (IIT) Madras, to test the model to verify the hydrodynamic behavior of the vessel at sea. An internal structural analysis was also carried out for evaluating the wooden mast system, designed and constructed without the use of current materials, the Navy said.
The newly derived vessel includes several culturally significant features, the statement said. Its sails depict the motifs “Gandabherund” and the sun, its bow carried “Simha Yali” and a symbolic stone anchor in the harappan style decorates the deck, each element evokes a rich naval tradition of ancient India.
“Named after Kaundinya, the legendary Indian Navy, which sailed across the Indian Ocean to Southeast Asia, serves as a tangible symbol of long -term Indian traditions of naval survey, trade and cultural exchange,” the Navy said.
Published – May 21, 2025 20:31 is
