Maritime Museum

The Indian Navy’s own ships, submarines and naval history on display.

The Indian Naval Maritime Museum occupies two old bomb shelters inside INS Dronacharya, the Navy’s gunnery school in Fort Kochi. Its address is K.J. Herschel Road, Veli, Fort Kochi. One bunker tells the maritime history of Kerala, and the other covers the history and growth of the Indian Navy. Inside you find models of ships and submarines, weapons and uniforms. In the garden outside stand a couple of model battleships.

The museum opened in 2001 to make people aware of India’s maritime history. The Navy’s own story goes further back. Its history is traced to 1612, when the Indian Marine was set up in Surat.

The museum is open Tuesday to Friday from 9.30am to 1.30pm and 2.30pm to 5.30pm. On Saturday and Sunday the afternoon runs to 8pm. It is shut on Mondays.

Do not come between 1.30pm and 2.30pm on weekdays, because the museum is shut then. Weekday mornings give you the longest run, four hours from 9.30am to 1.30pm.

What the cats hear

What visitors liked

Well-maintained, clean, informative exhibits.
Engaging for families and for defence/history enthusiasts.
Guides are knowledgeable.

Did you know

The museum is housed in a pair of former bomb shelters, and model battleships stand in the garden outside.
The Indian Navy’s history is traced to 1612, when the Indian Marine was set up in Surat.
The museum fills two bunkers: one shows the maritime history of Kerala, the other the history and evolution of the Indian Navy.
The museum sits inside INS Dronacharya, the Navy’s gunnery and missile school in Fort Kochi.
The Indian Naval Maritime Museum was established in 2001 to create awareness of India’s maritime history.