Cabinet Approves Development of National Maritime Heritage Complex (NMHC) At Lothal, Gujarat | Current Affairs | Vision IAS
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Cabinet Approves Development of National Maritime Heritage Complex (NMHC) At Lothal, Gujarat

Posted 10 Oct 2024

2 min read

NMHC is being developed under the Sagarmala Programme by the Ministry of Ports, Shipping & Waterway (MoPSW)

NMHC

  • Aim: To showcase India’s rich and diverse maritime heritage and create the largest maritime heritage complex in the world.
  • Significance of Lothal: It is located between Bhogavo and Sabarmati rivers near Gulf of Khambat.
    •  It is a prominent city of Indus-Valley Civilization (IVC) and had the oldest man-made dry-dock (2400 BC ago).
      • Discovery of a dry-dock at Lothal gives an insight into the knowledge of tides, winds and other nautical factors that existed during that period. 
  • Key projects:  NMHC involves a world-class Lighthouse Museum, coastal state pavilions, a maritime-themed eco-resort, etc. 

India’s Maritime Heritage

  • Early Days (3000 – 2000 BC):  IVC had maritime trade link with Mesopotamia. 
  • Vedic Age (2000 – 500 BC):  Earliest reference to maritime activities is contained in the Rig Veda. 
  • Age of the Nandas and Mauryas (500 – 200 BC): Navy of the Magadh kingdom is considered to be world’s first ever recorded instance of a navy. 
  • Satavahana Dynasty (200 BC-220 AD): First native Indian rulers to issue their coins with inscriptions of ships. 
  • Gupta Dynasty (320-500 AD): Several ports in the east and west were opened which greatly revived maritime trade with European and African countries. 
  • Marathas: UnderShivaji the Maratha navy developed into a ferocious force with more than 500 ships. 
  • Southern Dynasties:  Cholas, Cheras and Pandyas, also Vijaynagar empire, are known to have maritime resources.
  • Tags :
  • Lothal
  • National Maritime Heritage Complex (NMHC)
  • Maritime Heritage
  • Indus-Valley Civilization
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