Reviving Ancient Indian Ocean Routes: The Voyage from India to Oman
On 29 December, the Indian naval vessel INSV Kaundinya set sail on a remarkable journey retracing ancient Indian transoceanic trade routes across the Indian Ocean. Sailing from India to Muscat, Oman, the voyage was conceived as a living demonstration of India’s long-standing maritime capabilities and its deep historical connections with the wider Indian Ocean world.
The journey highlights the legacy of stitched shipbuilding, an ancient maritime technology once common across the Indian Ocean rim. Built using traditional methods without metal nails, the vessel embodies the knowledge, craftsmanship, and seafaring traditions that enabled merchants, sailors, and travellers to cross vast oceanic distances centuries ago.
More than a symbolic expedition, the India–Oman route recalls a time when the Indian Ocean functioned as a vibrant corridor of exchange, linking South Asia, the Arabian Peninsula, East Africa, and beyond. These routes facilitated the movement of goods, ideas, cultures, and communities, shaping shared histories across the region.
By navigating from India to Oman, the Kaundinya voyage underscores the enduring maritime ties between the two regions and reaffirms the Indian Ocean as a space of connection rather than separation. It serves as a powerful reminder that contemporary relationships across the ocean are rooted in centuries of interaction, navigation, and mutual exchange.
This historic journey not only celebrates India’s maritime heritage but also invites renewed reflection on the Indian Ocean as a living archive of global history — one still capable of inspiring dialogue, cooperation, and imagination today.
