In a remarkable feat of maritime skill and heritage revival, the INSV Kaundinya successfully completed its 18-day voyage from India to Muscat, Oman, on Wednesday, marking a historic milestone in India’s exploration of traditional seafaring techniques. Skippered by Commander Vikas Sheoran, the 16-member crew achieved their planned journey with precision, earning accolades from maritime experts, government officials, and social media enthusiasts alike.

Prime Minister’s Economic Advisory Council member Sanjeev Sanyal, who played a key role in conceptualising the project, shared the news on X, posting a photograph with the crew and captioning it, “Enjoying the moment with Skipper Vikas Sheoran and Expedition in charge Hemanth Kumar … We did it!!!” Another crew member, Hemanth Kumar, added, “Land Ahoy! Muscat Sighted! Good Morning India; Good Morning Oman,” capturing the joy and relief after more than two weeks at sea.

The achievement was also celebrated by retired Naval Commander Abhilash Tomy, who himself circumnavigated the globe solo. “This must be such a wonderful feeling. Now you have earned your sea legs, and walking on land will be a foreign experience. Well done,” he remarked, highlighting the significance of the expedition for both the crew and India’s maritime heritage.

Reviving Ancient Indian Maritime Traditions

The INSV Kaundinya is inspired by a 5th-century CE ship depicted in the paintings of the Ajanta Caves, one of India’s most iconic cultural monuments. Its construction was part of a larger vision to recreate ancient maritime traditions and demonstrate India’s long history of seafaring, trade, and cultural exchange across the Indian Ocean.

The project began as an idea in the mind of Sanyal, who envisioned a modern vessel built using techniques and designs of ancient Indian ships. A tripartite agreement formalising the project was signed in July 2023 between the Ministry of Culture, the Indian Navy, and Hodi Innovations, a Goa-based private boat-building company. The Ministry of Culture funded the initiative, recognising its potential to celebrate India’s maritime legacy.

Following the keel laying in September 2023, a team of skilled artisans from Kerala, led by master shipwright Babu Sankaran, meticulously constructed the vessel using traditional stitching methods. Wooden planks were carefully stitched together with coir rope, coconut fibre, and natural resin—a painstaking process that required both expertise and patience. The ship was officially launched in February 2025 in Goa.

Design Inspired by Symbolism and Heritage

Every element of the INSV Kaundinya reflects India’s rich maritime and cultural traditions. The sails are adorned with the motifs of the Gandabherunda—a mythological two-headed bird—and the Sun, symbolising power, courage, and guidance. The ship’s bow bears a sculpted Simha Yali, a mythical creature emblematic of protection and strength, while a Harappan-style stone anchor on the deck connects the vessel to India’s ancient maritime civilization.

Named after Kaundinya, the legendary first-century mariner who sailed across the Indian Ocean to the Mekong Delta and married a Cambodian princess, the ship embodies the spirit of exploration, trade, and cultural diplomacy that characterized India’s historical maritime expeditions. The expedition aimed not just to retrace these historic routes but also to inspire a renewed appreciation of India’s seafaring heritage.

The Voyage: Navigating Tradition and Modernity

The 18-day journey from the Indian coast to Muscat tested both the crew’s endurance and the ship’s seaworthiness. Commander Vikas Sheoran, a seasoned naval officer, led the 16-member team, which included navigation experts, historians, and support staff. Despite being based on ancient designs, the ship was equipped with modern safety protocols, ensuring a balance between authenticity and contemporary standards of maritime safety.

Throughout the voyage, the crew relied on traditional navigation techniques, wind patterns, and ocean currents, paying homage to the methods used by India’s early mariners. The expedition served as a live demonstration of how historical knowledge and modern technology can converge to create meaningful educational and cultural experiences.

Significance and Legacy

The successful completion of the voyage holds multifaceted significance. Culturally, it celebrates India’s ancient maritime prowess and highlights the country’s historical connections with Southeast Asia and the Middle East. Strategically, the expedition demonstrates India’s ability to preserve traditional shipbuilding skills while integrating them with modern practices—a valuable message for naval historians, artisans, and maritime enthusiasts.

The voyage also has educational and symbolic implications. By recreating and sailing an Ajanta-inspired ship, the expedition provides tangible evidence of India’s advanced seafaring capabilities long before the modern era, reinforcing national pride and international cultural diplomacy.

Prime Minister’s Economic Advisory Council member Sanyal, reflecting on the journey, emphasized the project’s symbolic value: “The INSV Kaundinya is more than a ship; it’s a bridge between the past and the present, showing the world that India’s maritime traditions are alive and can inspire contemporary exploration and scholarship.”

Future Prospects

Following the success of this voyage, the Ministry of Culture and the Indian Navy have indicated plans to conduct further expeditions along historic maritime routes, potentially retracing the journeys of other legendary Indian mariners. There is also interest in using the project as a platform for promoting maritime education, traditional boat-building skills, and international cultural exchanges.

The INSV Kaundinya expedition demonstrates that ancient knowledge, when combined with modern skills and careful planning, can achieve extraordinary results. As the crew celebrates their safe arrival in Muscat, the voyage stands as a testament to human ingenuity, teamwork, and the enduring legacy of India’s maritime heritage.