NMHC is being developed under the Sagarmala Programme by the Ministry of Ports, Shipping & Waterway (MoPSW)
NMHC
- Aim: To showcase India’s rich and diverse maritime heritage and create the largest maritime heritage complex in the world.
- Significance of Lothal: It is located between Bhogavo and Sabarmati rivers near Gulf of Khambat.
- It is a prominent city of Indus-Valley Civilization (IVC) and had the oldest man-made dry-dock (2400 BC ago).
- Discovery of a dry-dock at Lothal gives an insight into the knowledge of tides, winds and other nautical factors that existed during that period.
- It is a prominent city of Indus-Valley Civilization (IVC) and had the oldest man-made dry-dock (2400 BC ago).
- Key projects: NMHC involves a world-class Lighthouse Museum, coastal state pavilions, a maritime-themed eco-resort, etc.
India’s Maritime Heritage
- Early Days (3000 – 2000 BC): IVC had maritime trade link with Mesopotamia.
- Vedic Age (2000 – 500 BC): Earliest reference to maritime activities is contained in the Rig Veda.
- Age of the Nandas and Mauryas (500 – 200 BC): Navy of the Magadh kingdom is considered to be world’s first ever recorded instance of a navy.
- Satavahana Dynasty (200 BC-220 AD): First native Indian rulers to issue their coins with inscriptions of ships.
- Gupta Dynasty (320-500 AD): Several ports in the east and west were opened which greatly revived maritime trade with European and African countries.
- Marathas: UnderShivaji the Maratha navy developed into a ferocious force with more than 500 ships.
- Southern Dynasties: Cholas, Cheras and Pandyas, also Vijaynagar empire, are known to have maritime resources.
