The Indian Navy has inducted INSV Kaundinya into its fleet at Karwar Naval Base on May 21, 2025. This ship is a reconstruction of a 5th-century CE vessel depicted in the Ajanta Caves paintings and symbolizes India's rich maritime heritage.
Union Minister of Tourism and Culture, Gajendra Singh Shekhawat, led the ceremony. The project was initiated through an agreement between the Ministry of Culture, the Indian Navy, and M/s Hodi Innovations, with funding from the Ministry of Culture.
Built using traditional methods by artisans from Kerala, led by master shipwright Shri Babu Sankaran, the ship features wooden planks stitched together with coir rope, coconut fiber, and natural resin. INSV Kaundinya will embark on a transoceanic voyage along the ancient trade route from Gujarat to Oman later this year.