INSV Kaundinya, the Indian Navy’s traditionally built sailing vessel modeled after a fifth-century merchant ship from Ajanta Caves murals, departed Karwar Naval Base on December 13, 2025, bound for Porbandar, Gujarat. The 20-meter wooden ship, hand-stitched by Kerala artisans using coconut husk ropes, coir fibers, fish oil, and natural tree sap, carries a 16-member Navy crew trained in rigging and carpentry by traditional experts. Set to embark from Porbandar on December 29 for Muscat, Oman—a voyage expected to last 15 days—it retraces ancient Indian trade routes that linked the subcontinent’s spices, ivory, and textiles to West Asia, underscoring India’s enduring maritime legacy and strategic presence in the Indian Ocean. Funded by the Ministry of Culture via a tripartite pact with the Navy and Goa-based Hodi Innovations, the May 2025-inducted vessel bears motifs like the Gandabherunda eagle and Simha Yali, honoring ancestral craftsmanship and exploration.