Lothal: Emerging as a Global Hub for Maritime Heritage

Sub : History

Sec: Ancient History

Why in News

The National Maritime Heritage Complex (NMHC) at Lothal, Gujarat, is being developed as a world-class facility under the Sagarmala Programme to showcase India’s maritime heritage.

National Maritime Heritage Complex (NMHC):

Location: Lothal, Gujarat, a significant site of the Indus Valley Civilization (2400 BCE).
Objective: Showcase India’s maritime legacy through a blend of education and entertainment under the Sagarmala Programme.
The complex will have several innovative features, including the i-recreation, which will recreate Harappan architecture and lifestyle through immersive technology and four theme parks.
It will also house the world’s tallest lighthouse museum, along with 14 galleries, highlighting India’s maritime heritage starting from the Harappan time till today.
Key infrastructure landmarks include:
- INS Nishank: A retired naval vessel displayed for public viewing.
- Lothal Jetty Walkway: Designed to replicate the ancient dockyard.
- Museum Block: A repository for maritime artifacts and educational exhibits.

Lothal:

It is one of the southernmost sites of the Indus Valley Civilisation, situated in the Bhal region in the present-day Gujarat.
Said to be built in 2,200 BC, this port city was a thriving trade centre in ancient times with its trade of beads, gems and ornaments reaching West Asia and Africa.
The port city was discovered after a team of archaeologists led by SR Rao started the search for Harappan civilisation post 1947 in the Saurashtra region.
According to the Archaeological Survey of India (ASI), Lothal had the world’s earliest known dock, connecting the city to an ancient course of the Sabarmati River.
In 2014, Lothal was nominated as a UNESCO World Heritage Site, however, its application is still pending.
Its heritage value is comparable to many other ancient port-towns around the world, which includes – Xel Ha (Peru), Ostia (Port of Rome) and Carthage (Port of Tunis) in Italy, Hepu in China, Canopus in Egypt, Gabel (Byblos of the Phoenicians), Jaffa in Israel, Ur in Mesopotamia, Hoi An in Vietnam, as per the dossier.
In the region, it can be compared with other Indus port towns of Balakot (Pakistan), Khirasa (in Gujarat’s Kutch) and Kuntasi (in Rajkot).