INSV Kaundinya
The INSV Kaundinya, India's first reconstructed ancient stitched ship, was conceptualised by Sanjeev Sanyal, who proposed reviving the vessel as a tribute to India's forgotten maritime past. Modelled on a 5th-century merchant ship depicted in the Ajanta Caves murals, the vessel is named after Kaundinya, the first Indian mariner known by name to have sailed to Southeast Asia and become king of Funan.
Sanyal has spoken extensively about Kaundinya's significance, noting that while India's maritime tradition stretches back to the Bronze Age, Kaundinya remains the earliest named sailor on record. Built using ancient stitching techniques and sailed to Oman in early 2026, the ship will next retrace an ancient trade route from Odisha to Bali, a voyage that Sanyal himself announced.
Sanyal's vision was realised through a tripartite project backed by the Ministry of Culture and the Indian Navy, with Cdr Hemanth Kumar leading its technical execution. Built without blueprints by Kerala artisans under master shipwright Babu Sankaran, the ship carries motifs of the Gandabherunda, the Sun and a Harappan-style stone anchor, linking Sanyal's historical research to a living vessel.
