A historically accurate ship recreated in the style of a 1,600-year-old vessel has embarked on its maiden voyage to Oman from India.
The Indian Naval Sailing Vessel (INSV) Kaundinya set sail on Monday from Porbandar in Gujarat to Muscat in Oman, in an effort to revive and showcase the country's ancient maritime traditions.
Sailing India’s Living Maritime Legacy 🌊⛵
— INSV Kaundinya (@INSVKaundinya) December 31, 2025
Good morning, India. 🌅🇮🇳
As the first light of dawn touches the sails of #INSVKaundinya, she sets forth on her voyage—reviving an ancient seafaring tradition across the open seas. #IndianNavy #MaritimeHeritage #StitchedShip_India… pic.twitter.com/cUdku0xTjT
INSV Kaundinya, measuring in at 65-feet-long, is inspired by depictions of ancient Indian ships and has been constructed entirely using traditional stitched-plank techniques. Unlike modern vessels, its wooden planks are stitched together with coconut coir rope and sealed using natural resins.
The design draws inspiration from ancient depictions of Indian ships found in historical texts and archaeological records, reflecting a blend of traditional craftsmanship and contemporary naval knowledge.
With a crew of 18 sailors on board, the vessel is expected to cover around 1,400 km over 15 days before reaching the coast of Oman. The route retraces ancient maritime corridors that once enabled trade, cultural exchange and sustained contact between India's western coast and the Arab world.
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