India’s first maritime museum coming up at Lothal in Gujarat

India’s first maritime museum coming up at Lothal in Gujarat

Underwater or marine archaeology in India is all set to get a boost with the government deciding to establish a National Maritime Heritage Museum at Lothal, a Harappan site on the Saurashtra coast in Gujarat.

The museum will also be an independent research centre of underwater archaeology for reconstruction of maritime history, archaeology of boat building and materials traded.

It will have on display salvaged material from shipwreck sites in the Indian Ocean waters. It is being set up with technical help from the Portuguese Maritime Heritage Museum.

he central government has appointed the first Director General for the museum which will be attached to the Maritime Board of the Gujarat government. Lothal is the site of one of the oldest ports in India dating to the Bronze Age.