“INSV ‘Kaundinya’ Crew Cheers ‘We Did It!’ After 18-Day Voyage, Sight Muscat”
Skipper Vikas Sheoran and Crew Celebrate Milestone of India’s Traditional Stitched Ship Inspired by Ajanta Cave Paintings
India, Jan 14 : The INSV ‘Kaundinya’ successfully completed its historic 18-day voyage to Muscat, Oman, on Wednesday, marking a remarkable achievement in India’s maritime exploration.
Prime Minister’s Economic Advisory Council member Sanjeev Sanyal, who conceived the project inspired by a 5th-century CE ship depicted in the Ajanta Cave paintings, shared the milestone on X:
“Enjoying the moment with Skipper Vikas Sheoran and Expedition in charge Hemanth Kumar … We did it!!!”
Crew member Hemanth Kumar posted,
“Land Ahoy! Muscat Sighted! Good Morning India; Good Morning Oman.”
Retired Naval Commander Abhilash Tomy, who successfully solo circumnavigated the globe, congratulated the team:
“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.”
The 16-member crew, led by Commander Vikas Sheoran, sailed the indigenously built vessel, constructed using traditional stitched wooden planks. The project began with a tripartite agreement in July 2023 between the Ministry of Culture, Indian Navy, and Hodi Innovations, a Goa based boat builder, with funding support from the Ministry of Culture.
After keel laying in September 2023, skilled artisans from Kerala, led by master shipwright Babu Sankaran, stitched the planks using coir rope, coconut fibre, and natural resin. The ship was launched in February 2025 in Goa.
The vessel’s design celebrates India’s maritime heritage: its sails feature Gandabherunda and Sun motifs, the bow bears a sculpted Simha Yali, and a Harappan-style stone anchor adorns the deck. Named after Kaundinya, the legendary first-century Indian mariner who sailed to the Mekong Delta, the ship symbolizes India’s long standing traditions of maritime trade, exploration, and cultural exchange.
The successful completion of this voyage cements the INSV Kaundinya as a modern tribute to India’s rich naval history, blending ancient craftsmanship with contemporary adventure.
