Museum
gallery 1 to 14
The Ministry of Ports, Shipping and Waterways is developing a National Maritime Heritage Complex (NMHC) at Lothal, Gujarat as a world-class complex to showcase India’s rich and diverse maritime heritage. NMHC will consolidate precious artefacts from ancient to modern times and provide access to the public, to generate awareness and to help people learn about the maritime heritage of the country. The story of Indian Maritime legacy will be presented through 14 galleries. An edutainment approach using the latest technology will be adopted for the development of the NMHC Project.
Gallery 1
Orientation and Oceanic Mythologies
This Gallery provides a glimpse of all the 14 galleries. The science of Ocean, underwater archaeology and Indian mythologies related to the Ocean will be showcased. Visitors will be engaged in virtual tours of cultural timeline with interactive storytelling. The pantheon of Oceanic divine beings such as Vishnu, Varuna, Ganga, Yamuna and others will also be on display.
Gallery 2
Harappans- The Pioneer Seafarers
This gallery includes several aspects of Harappan life and culture. Inland and International trade along with the export and import of goods with the Persian Gulf, Oman, Mesopotamia, and Egypt will be showcased. Port cities such as Lothal (where the earliest man-made dockyard has been excavated), Dholavira and many others along the Makran coast will also be shown.
Gallery 3
Post Harappan Trajectories: Impact of Climate Change
This Gallery tells the story of the movement of people after the decline of the Harappan Civilisation, and the transfer of metal technologies to other parts of Indian subcontinent and beyond. Trade routes namely Uttarapatha, Dakshinapatha, the emergence of the money economy, development of scripts, etc. will be part of this gallery.
Gallery 4
India’s Contact with the Greco- Roman World
This gallery contains details of India’s contact with mainly the Greco-Roman World and Persian Gulf countries, the port cities of India both along the East and West coasts, the hinterland trade network, the function of market towns, various passes, ghats Buddhist caves, export and import of items during the Early Historic India. Also cultural as well as economic impact on India and Greco-Roman world resulting from the maritime contacts will be showcased.
Gallery 5
Special Exhibitions Gallery
The special exhibitions gallery will be utilised for temporary exhibitions and events which will be hosted periodically. It will also incorporate interactive elements such as touchscreens, hands-on activities related to the exhibition theme to engage visitors actively. This gallery will offer collaboration with other cultural institutions, artists, or community groups from all across the globe, to add diversity and a broader perspective to the exhibitions.
Gallery 6
Evolution of Indian Navy and Indian Coast Guard
This gallery will showcase the glorious journey of the Indian Navy and the Indian Coast Guard. It will also exhibit various types of naval crafts, guns and equipment along with the history of various battles fought by the Indian Navy. This gallery will also narrate the role of Indian Navy and Coast Guard during peace time and in the protection of maritime resources of the country.
Gallery 7
Trade and Cultural Relations with Southeast Asia and Beyond
This gallery will exhibit various aspects of maritime trade and cultural elements (such as art, sculptures, architecture, temple designs, Epics like Ramayan and Mahabharat, Indian languages and scripts, etc.) of India spread over different Southeast Asian countries like Myanmar, Thailand, Cambodia, Vietnam, Malaysia, Indonesia and East Asian countries such as China, Korea and Japan through maritime contact. Both tangible and intangible heritage related to the cultural exchange and movement through maritime contact will be showcased.
Gallery 8
Maritime Traditions of Gujarat
This gallery will showcase the maritime traditions of Gujarat from the Harappan times to the present day. Tangible and intangible maritime heritages of the state will form part of this gallery. Also the role played by some of the important ports like Lothal, Bharuch, Kamrej, etc. in the trade and commerce through the ages will be narrated.
Gallery 9
Age of Emporia Contact
This Gallery will display various coastal dynasties including later period kingdoms like Chola, Chera, Pandya, Pallava, Kshatrapa, Yadava, Paramara, Kadamba, Shilahara, Pala, Sena, Kakatiya, Vijaynagara, Chalukya, Solanki, Ganga, Sultanate and Mughal. Their social, cultural contacts with the outside world, hinterland trade routes, and export and import of items will be showcased.
Gallery 10
Maratha Naval Power
This gallery will showcase the establishment of the Maratha Navy and development of sea forts by Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj and how successfully they protected the economic interests of India from the European powers. Various Maratha naval and merchant ships, naval strategies and successful expeditions carried out will also be showcased.
Gallery 11
Arrival of Europeans
The arrival of Vasco-Da Gama at Kapukad (Kappat) near Calicut on 1498 CE and subsequent European powers such as Portuguese, Dutch, Danish, French, and English. Various artefacts related to the maritime contacts during this period will be displayed in this gallery. Also various infrastructural developments undertaken by these powers will be showcased.
Gallery 12
Children’s Gallery
Children will be able to use this gallery for various activities and hands-on learning experience. This gallery will create a fun, interactive, and educational space for children. The gallery will also provide children to create their own art inspired by the museum’s collection or theme. Children will be able to interact with experts and learn about specific subjects in an engaging and interactive way. This gallery will also host educational programs, workshops, and events targeted at children.
Gallery 13
Traditional Shipbuilding and Navigation Techniques of India
This gallery will showcase continuation of various traditional shipbuilding methods of India surviving from ancient times and the boatbuilding centres by certain communities in coastal areas of India will be represented. Traditional navigational techniques of India will be showcased in an immersive way. Various traditions and rituals related to this and life-style of the boat building and coastal communities will also be showcased.
Gallery 14
Indian shipping: Post-independence
The History and contribution of the Ministry of Ports, Shipping and Waterways, its varied activities, ports and organizations under MoPSW and their activities, exports and imports, transition from simple to sophisticated state-of-the-art technologies, etc. will be part of this gallery. Underwater activities such as Dredging, oil, gas and deep sea minerals exploration will be showcased. The Sagarmala project and the futuristic development undertaken by the Ministry will also be highlighted.
