The Government of India and its Ministries of Shipping and of Culture conceived and commissioned
the creation of a National Maritime Heritage Complex at Lothal, the town where part of the ancient
Indus Valley civilization was excavated and identified by the UN as an international heritage site. Being
established as the world’s most ancient man-made dockyard, Lothal was the favored site for this
project, which aims to showcase, inform and educate about the long, rich and diverse maritime history
of the Indian subcontinent. Attractions within the complex include light-and-sound shows, boat rides,
and an experiential theme park.
Site Area : 375 Acres Builtup Area : 10,09,267 SF Services : Masterplanning, Architecture (DPR), Infrastructure Engineering DPR, MEPF Engineering DPR, Landscape Design (DPR) Collaboration : Purcel & Jones Lang Lasalle (JLL)
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Fun-Learn and
Experience
Rich History,
Join the
Celebration of
Maritime
Heritage
An Architecture Reflecting Ancient Roots
One of the major constituents of this complex is the National Maritime Museum having displays in 14
exhibit galleries beginning with mythological references and Harappan accounts, passing through Vedic
and Mauryan periods, and tracing traditional ship-building techniques to the arrival of Vasco Da Gama
and other Europeans. The exhibits include maritime activities under British rule, post-colonial India as
well as present day oceanic research. Like the citadel of ancient cities, this museum complex sits as the
nucleus of the central lake in Lothal’s upper town area (acropolis).
The design vision is inspired by the ancient civilization’s grid like arrangement and rich urban fabric with
the museum’s blocks, having inclined outer walls clad in regional stone bricks just like the ancient
dockyard and warehouse structures in Lothal. The various sectional blocks are arranged around a
central open courtyard where a massive relic ship is installed over a waterbody. The roofs of the blocks
pitch upwards to accommodate north-lights to illuminate the exhibits adorning the galleries’ interiors,
simultaneously visually referencing a set of ships with sails aloft. As one approaches the ceremonial
entrance to the structure, a massive tower with lights projecting from its peak can be seen atop the
central block housing the reception lobby, akin to a lighthouse.
Maritime History Reconstructed with Tech Aided Immersive Experiences
Inside, many major events in maritime history and legend are reconstructed and displayed for visitors
to acquaint themselves with the country’s contribution to sea-faring & ship-building and their influence
on international trade activities. Audio visual and 5D technology are employed to make the visit more
engaging, educative and informative.
“Architectural Place-Making to Engage People in
Immersive, Info-training Experiences.”
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