National Maritime Heritage Complex

The Union Cabinet recently approved the development of the National Maritime Heritage Complex Lothal in Gandhinagar, Gujarat.

About the project 

• Project: Development of the National Maritime Heritage Complex at Lothal, Gujarat.
• Aim: To showcase India’s 4,500-year-old maritime heritage, making it the world’s largest maritime complex.
• Nodal Authority: Ministry of Ports, Shipping, and Waterways.

Key Features

• Phase 1A:
  • Currently under implementation with over 60% progress, expected completion by 2025.
• Phase 1B:
  • Involves the construction of a Lighthouse Museum, expected to be the world’s tallest.
  • Will feature eight galleries, including:
    • Indian Navy & Coast Guard Gallery (with external naval artefacts like INS Nishank, Sea Harrier aircraft, and UH3 helicopter).
    • A replica of Lothal township with an open aquatic gallery and a jetty walkway.
  • Funding for the Lighthouse Museum will come from the Directorate General of Lighthouses and Lightships.
• Phase 2:
  • Coastal States Pavilions to be developed by the respective coastal states and union territories.

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About Lothal

• Discovered: 1954 by S.R. Rao, Indian archaeologist.
• Location: Southernmost site of the Indus Valley Civilization (IVC), only port-town.
  • Situated along the Bhogava River, a tributary of the Sabarmati, near the Gulf of Khambhat.
• Etymology: Derived from the Gujarati words “Loth” (dead) and “thal” (mound), meaning “the mound of the dead.”
• Trade: Thriving centre for trade in beads, gems, and ornaments, with exports reaching West Asia and Africa.
  • This dockyard facilitated maritime trade with Mesopotamia, Egypt, and other regions.

Key Features

• Tidal Dockyard:
  • Oldest known artificial dockyard in the world.
  • Connected the city to an ancient course of the Sabarmati River.
• Architecture:
  • Divided into two parts:
    • Citadel (Upper Town)
    • Lower Town
• Seals:
  • Lothal has the 3rd largest number of seals among IVC sites.
  • Depicted animals: short-horned bulls, mountain goats, tigers, composite animals like the elephant bull.
• Pottery: Redware pottery used for daily activities.
• Terracotta Art:
  • Gamesmen resembling modern-day chess pieces.
  • Animal figures with wheels and movable heads (used as toys).

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