how to visit ins vikrant museum

• When to visit Mumbai
• How to Reach Mumbai
• Events & Festivals in Mumbai
• Restaurants in Mumbai
• Things To Do in Mumbai
• Mumbai Itineraries
• Mumbai Tours
• Mumbai Hotels

Indian Museum Ship Vikrant Ticket Price, Hours, Address and Reviews

• Maharashtra
• Things To Do In Mumbai

Indian Museum Ship Vikrant

• Address: Gateway of India, Mumbai, India (Gateway of India)
• Timings: 10:30 am - 09:00 pm Details
• Ticket Price: 40 INR
• Time Required: 03:00 Hrs
• Tags: Museums , Military Museums, Family And Kids , Specialty Museums

Also known as Vikrant, The Indian Museum Ship is a unique attraction in Mumbai shores for decades. The Indian Navy operated the Indian Museum Ship which can harbour the aircrafts. It has experienced many international wars including the Indo Pakistan war in 1971. From the Gateway of India, one can hire boats to the Museum Ship after buying the tickets from the Gate itself.  The ship has lots of antique items used during the time of various battles. People can see many arms and ammunitions Indian Army uses in war inside the war ship. Indian army bought it from the British after the Second World War. It has the capacity to harbour more than 20 aircrafts during the time of war.

It is situated on the eastern shore of Mumbai. It had played a key role in enforcing the Pakistani troop to clear the naval blockade in the 1971 war against our immediate neighbour. The staffs of the ships demonstrate the various features of the ship to the people visiting it. But it is not always open to the public except some special occasions. Students across the country who want to be navy in the future must visit the ship for adequate information.

Entrance Ticket Details For Indian Museum Ship Vikrant

• If the kid is under age 14 the charges are half which is Rs.20.

Indian Museum Ship Vikrant Hours

• Ending weeks of November and December every year. Another timings for SUNDAYS being (10:00 AM to 05:30 PM).

How to Reach Indian Museum Ship Vikrant

• Gateway of India 
• Indian Museum Ship Vikrant Address: Gateway of India, Mumbai, India (Gateway of India)
• Indian Museum Ship Vikrant Timing: 10:30 am - 09:00 pm
• Indian Museum Ship Vikrant Price: 40 INR
• Best time to visit Indian Museum Ship Vikrant(preferred time): 11:00 am - 07:00 pm
• Time required to visit Indian Museum Ship Vikrant: 03:00 Hrs
• Try the best online travel planner to plan your travel itinerary!

3.9% of people who visit Mumbai include Indian Museum Ship Vikrant in their plan

• 10 AM - 11 AM

54.55% of people start their Indian Museum Ship Vikrant visit around 10 AM - 11 AM

People usually take around 3 Hrs to see Indian Museum Ship Vikrant

93.36% of people prefer to travel by car while visiting Indian Museum Ship Vikrant

People normally club together Dhobi Ghat and Gateway Of India while planning their visit to Indian Museum Ship Vikrant.

Indian Museum Ship Vikrant Reviews & Ratings

Attractions Nearby

• Mahalakshmi Temple
• Gateway Of India
• Shree Siddhivinayak
• Elephanta Caves
• Kihim Beach
• Haji Ali Dargah
• Versoli Beach

Is it open now

When the exhibition start

How can I get tickets to INS Vikrant ship

Is the museum working or shut

does Vikrant ship museum is open? please share their no also.

Vikrant , ship museum is open today, because today is Monday?

This museum is permanently closed. 

• Pavana Lake
• Alibag Beach
• Celebrity Wax Museum
• Bhushi Lake
• Nagaon Beach
• Aamby Valley City

• Roaring Adventure: Tiger Lion and Leopard Safari at Borivali National Park
• Fireworks Wholesale Price in Mumbai: Diwali Crackers Name and Rates
• Trombay Jetty: Upcoming Destination for Flamingo Watching and Eco-Tourism
• Budget-Friendly Mocktail Party Venues Of Mumbai That Wont Break the Bank
• Mumbai Maritime Charm: Gateway of India Water Taxi Ride
• Malabar Hill Treetop Walkway: Upcoming Adventurous Nature Trial Experience
• BMC Swimming Pools in Mumbai: Location Address and Membership Details
• A Lasting Tribute: Pet Cremation and Burial in Mumbai
• Around-the-Clock: Chemist Medical Store in Mumbais Open 24×7
• BMC Helplines (MCGM Departments) Direct Contacts – Mumbai

Mumbai City and Travel Guide

INS Vikrant and INS Viraat Ship Museum – Mumbai

INS Viraat (not Vikrant) as Tourist Attraction of Konkan

Updates (February 2019):

Since we are talking about the war ships, A small piece of information and updates about INS Viraat, Another giant vessel which will get new lease of life. Lying at Naval Dockyard of Mumbai (Colaba), INS Viraat will be soon ready for renovation and once done, will be shifted to Nivati beach located at Sindhudurg (Kokan).

The idea is to retain the prestige of such respected vessel by retaining the exteriors and renovating the interiors which gives a fresh new life and a great tourist experience to people in Konkan, Mumbai and others around India who can visit the vessel after being ready for hospitality and tourist attraction .

INS Vikrant was planned as one of such museums, But due to lack of fund and possibly other related, It took its last breath in the sea of Mumbai and was scrapped with no existence today. MMB (Mumbai Maritime Board) has finally planned and confirmed that the giant Viraat will be converted to a brand new 5 star hotel and will have much more like a museum and a marine adventure centre too.

More to the addition as a tourist attraction, apart from the Naval museum, there will be a helipad , restaurants, rooms in all category from budget to luxury, swimming pools, Halls for meeting and conferences, aquarium and more. About INS Vikrant Ship

INS Vikrant is a historic and huge aircraft carrier ship, now docked at naval dockyard Museum Apollo Bunder at Colaba (South Mumbai). This ship, famously known as a vessel of 1971’s Indo-Pak war was purchased for Indian Navy from Great Britain 10 years before the war begin. A piece of luck for Mumbai tourists and locals open for exhibition and as one of the giant tourist attraction of Mumbai is now at this ship Museum at one of the oldest docks in world since 1736, which is now a premier ship repair yard with state of art machinery used for repair and maintenance of huge ship and submarines. More about INS Vikrant here .

Attractions Of Ship Museum Of Mumbai

• The feeling of the breath taking huge massive ships length and width that holds so many things on it, including navy charters and helicopters.
• A complete layout of India Pakistan’s year 1971 war, Basically the pictorial representation of 1971’s massive war.
• One annual festival month and special navy week days (and some Sundays) if lucky enough you can see the old time documentary film on INS and how this ship was used in real time.
• Those little shops selling articles like coffee mugs, key chains and INS logo hats are cool attractions and fun for those likely to spend Rs.20 to 60 for same.
• Navy operation pictures of black and white era including details on the way Air operation was carried out.
• Museum also displays the details of the old steam turbines which Mumbai people will hardly get any chance to see anywhere, but Colaba.
• It also have snack and eat corner serving basic snacks tea, coffee etc.
• The giant hangers that can carrying thousands of people at a time and those arresting gears mechanical systems that slow downs the landing aircraft on this ship deck.
• Visit the flight deck section and you will see the rare old yet huge looking helicopters and fighter planes with sea hawk which were once the best known fighting aircraft’s in Indian navy history.
• The huge INS vikrant also displays the articles used during war and some of them not to be missed are the Bombs, varieties of missiles, water diving suits and other equipments, the classic model of submarine and more.

Who Can Visit During Vikrant Festival

The Navel festival (Also Called ‘Vikrant Ship Expo’) is a 9 Days long festival where one can promote their brands inside Exhibition spread across 4000 square meters, Approved and authorized / supported by Western Naval Command and Naval Dockyard of Mumbai. During 2011 festival, above 1 lakh visitors came from all over Mumbai and beyond. According to their website, People who can visit the Museum during the festival days are general Public, Invitees, Family of Naval Officers, The Family members of Dockyard Staff and vendors. We will try getting the schedule for 2012 and 2013 soon.

Museum Entry Charges

Adults : The ticket rates (in rupees) or the one time entry charges is Rs.40 for individual. Children : If the kid is under age 14 the charges are half which is Rs.20, Not sure yet their might be discounts for school students visiting this navy museum as picnic and information trial. Camera Allowed : Yes, with extra charges.

Timings and Contact Details

Ship Timings For Public : The museum can be accessed by Mumbai people and for tourist attractions in ending weeks of November and December every year. Another timings for SUNDAYS being (10:00 AM to 05:30 PM). Contact : Contact the Dockyard Museum on +91-22-22752162, if you want to visit on other days or need a special visit permissions. Parking Space Available : Yes

Museum Address

Below is the address with map and guide on how to reach naval dockyard if you are coming from far suburb or outside Mumbai.

INS Vikrant Museum Off Shahid Bhagat Singh Marg, Naval Dockyard, Tiger gate, Near Gateway Of India (Apollo Bunder), Colaba, Pincode : 400001 Land mark and Nearest Station : Churchgate Railway Station ( Western Railway Route) & CST Railway Station ( Central Railway )

Ship Dismantling Around August 2014, Supreme court finally ordered the end of countries first aircraft which was converted to a beautiful Museum after 1997 once ship was decommissioned. Yes, finally November of 2014 is seeing the Giant ship getting dismantled by around 200 odd workers which will take next few months for Vikrant being Unseen forever. Personally myself along with other Mumbaikars feel sad that the only icon winner vessel of 1971 war was declared ‘inability to maintain’ by our state government. So in future, people will mentioned it as ‘Once Upon a Time’ we visited this huge ship personally and during those days people will once be able to see the artefacts remains which have currently been moved to Museums like Maritime History Society of Mumbai and also at Goa’s famous Naval Aviation museum and others.

Deven Jadav

View all posts by Deven Jadav

Greetings, I am Deven, the founder of Mumbai77. With immense passion, I have dedicated my full-time efforts to continuously learn and update important information about Mumbai city. Currently, I am a full-time blogger residing in Mumbai. Since its establishment on July 7, 2007, Mumbai77 has attracted millions of pageviews. Our website aims to provide valuable information, including my personal reviews and experiences, to assist individuals worldwide in their search for updated information about Mumbai city.

Leave a Reply Cancel reply

Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *

Book on app to avail discounts

Download Now

• Looking for?
• INS Vikrant Ship Naval Dockyard Museum Images
• INS Vikrant Ship Naval Dockyard Museum Map

INS Vikrant Ship Naval Dockyard Museum Information | Photos | Location

• INS Vikrant Ship Naval Dockyard Museum Information
• Top Things To Do in INS Vikrant Ship Naval Dockyard Museum
• View Places on INS Vikrant Ship Naval Dockyard Museum Map

Places to Visit near INS Vikrant Ship Naval Dockyard Museum

• INS Vikrant Ship Naval Dockyard Museum Getaways
• INS Vikrant Ship Naval Dockyard Museum Tours & Things To Do

INS Vikrant Ship Naval Dockyard Museum , Mumbai

Things to know, best time to visit ins vikrant ship naval dockyard museum, nearby railway stations, airports near ins vikrant ship naval dockyard museum.

About INS Vikrant Ship Naval Dockyard Museum

INS Vikrant (formerly HMS Hercules), a vital warship of Indo-Pak battle in 1971, was a huge aircraft carrier. Indian Navy has bought the ship from Great Britain in 1957. Currently this ship museum is docked at naval dockyard in Southern Mumbai and has become a fascinating attraction for the tourists.  Naval Charters, Helicopters, black & white pictures of the navy operations, arms and weapons used in the Indo-Pak battle, water diving suits, classic sub marine models, etc. are a few of the must-not-miss exhibits of this museum. Also every year during navy week days, documentary related to the battle and real time usages of the ship are played for the visitors. There is also asnack corner and a souvenir shop on the ship museum.

Update: The Ship has now been dismantled and the museum is no more there!

Location & Places to Visit on INS Vikrant Ship Naval Dockyard Museum Map

Freedom to make your own trip!

What you want, when you want and how you want.

Victoria Terminus (CST Terminus), Maharashtra

6.1 km from INS Vikrant Ship Naval Dockyard Museum - See map

If you’re in Mumbai, colonial heritage is something you really wouldn’t want to miss. Any architectural voyage across the city isn’t...

Asiatic Society of Mumbai (Town Hall), Maharashtra

7.1 km from INS Vikrant Ship Naval Dockyard Museum - See map

Asiatic Society of Mumbai is a typical academic society of Asian Studies. Sir James Mackintosh was the founder of this society. The library of the...

Bhau Daji Lad Museum, Maharashtra

7.2 km from INS Vikrant Ship Naval Dockyard Museum - See map

Formerly the Victoria and Albert museum, the Dr. Bhau Daji Lad Museum is the oldest in Mumbai established in 1855. The museum was established as a...

Pilgrimage, Historical

St. Thomas Cathedral, Mumbai, Maharashtra

7.3 km from INS Vikrant Ship Naval Dockyard Museum - See map

Situated on Veer Nariman Road, St.Thomas Cathedral was the first Anglican Church of Mumbai constructed in 1718. The entrance of the Church has one...

Flora Fountain, Maharashtra

Located at the Hutatma Chowk or Martyr’s Square at the southern end of the Mile Long Road is the Flora Fountain. Part of the old colonial order,...

Chowpatty Beach, Mumbai, Maharashtra

7.4 km from INS Vikrant Ship Naval Dockyard Museum - See map

Located at the northern end of Marine Drive. Chowpatty is Mumbai’s most famous and popular beach spot. Much of a hubbub, it’s not the cleanest...

Bombay Natural History Society, Maharashtra

7.7 km from INS Vikrant Ship Naval Dockyard Museum - See map

Bombay Natural History Museum, part of the Bombay Natural History Society, is one of the most enriching museums of India. Established in 1883, it...

Taraporewala Aquarium, Maharashtra

7.9 km from INS Vikrant Ship Naval Dockyard Museum - See map

Popularly called Fish Museum, Taraporewala Aquarium is one of the leading attractions of Mumbai. Located near marine drive, the place boasts of...

Jehangir Art Gallery, Maharashtra

Located at Kala Ghoda locality of Mumbai, the building itself was constructed in 1952. One of the most popular galleries for up and coming and...

Dhobi Ghat, Mumbai, Maharashtra

8 km from INS Vikrant Ship Naval Dockyard Museum - See map

Dhobi Ghat situated near Mahalakshmi Railway station and is quite famous among the international tourists. The word ‘Dhobi’ literally means...

Rajabai Clock Tower, Maharashtra

8.1 km from INS Vikrant Ship Naval Dockyard Museum - See map

Standing with an altitude of 280 feet, Rajabai Clock Tower is located within the campus of Mumbai University. Dating back to 18th century, the...

Prince of Wales Museum, Mumbai, Maharashtra

The Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj Vastu Sangrahalaya, formerly Prince of Wales Museum is one of the main attractions of Mumbai. It is located in the...

Destinations near INS Vikrant Ship Naval Dockyard Museum

Mumbai Tours & Activities

Experience camping and water sports activities at Kolad, located in the Raigad district of Maharashtra, India, a popular destination for a perfect weekend getaway from Mumbai.Highlights A campsite with a river view and a night stay in clean camps. A campfire, light music, and an unlimited...

Take a tour of the "City of Dreams" and explore the enchanting city for 3 days Highlights A comprehensive tour of Mumbai will give you a more personal experience of the busy Indian city. See the Gateway of India, overlooking the harbor. The perfect introduction for visitors or...

In this Lonavala, Khandala, and Mahabaleshwar trip from Mumbai, experience the natural beauty of Lonavala and it's attractions at your own pace. Located about 85 kilometers from Mumbai, Lonavala is a perfect weekend getaway. Both Lonavala and Khandala offer great scenic views of...

Explore Dharavi, one of Asia's largest slums, from a unique perspective with our groundbreaking Dharavi Slum Tour, led by the first female tour guide from this vibrant community. This inspiring journey goes beyond the stereotypes, offering a comprehensive view of life within Dharavi while...

   Highlights Experience the exhilaration of soaring above the iconic cityscape of Mumbai on an exclusive private plane joyride. As you step onto the tarmac, youll be greeted by the luxurious aircraft that will be your ticket to an unforgettable...

Explore the spiritual allure of Shirdi and Shani Shignapur on a 3-day tour from Mumbai. Witness the divine aura of Sai Baba's shrine in Shirdi and experience the unique village where houses have no doors in Shani Shignapur, believed to be guarded by Lord Shani himself.   Tour...

A hassle-free one-way journey from Shirdi to Mumbai on a private air-conditioned vehicle, perfect for the ones looking to visit the 'City of Dreams' and have further destinations to visit. Highlights Enjoy a safe and reliable transfer from Shirdi. Private cab driven by professional...

Want to make a short and sweet weekend tour plan near Pune? Take a tour of Lonavala and Matheran and soak in nature and its aroma of freshness. Avail 600 kilometres of usage of a private car. Highlights Don't worry about your transport. You will get a hassle-free tour of the hill stations...

In this 2-day Lonavala, Khandala, and Mumbai trip from Pune, experience the natural beauty of Lonavala and Mumbai's tourist attractions in the comfort of your own private vehicle.  Highlights Take a tour of the famous places in Lonavala and Khandala in a comfortable chauffeur-driven...

Take a tour of the "City of Dreams" and explore the enchanting city for a day, on this 10 hours and 100 km tour. Highlights A comprehensive tour of Mumbai city, get a more personal experience of the busy Indian city. See the Gateway of India, overlooking the harbour. The perfect...

This tour is a great way to visit the best areas around Lonavala Khandala and Matheran Highlights Take a tour of the famous places in Lonavala and Khandala and Matheran Hassle free tour of the scenic places on a private cab. Service of an experienced chauffeur who will take you around the...

In this Lavasa day trip from Mumbai, see the beauty of Lavasa in a single day. Lavasa, one of India's newest planned cities and a small, beautiful hill station, is the perfect place for an outing. Avail 400 kilometres of usage of a private car.  Lavasa Day Tour from Mumbai Highlights Take a...

INS Vikrant Ship Naval Dockyard Museum travel tips & reviews Recent -->

Got an insider’s tip that might help a fellow traveller? Do share it.

You have to be logged in to post in this section.

You don`t have an acount yet?! You can SIGN UP .

Other travellers left INS Vikrant Ship Naval Dockyard Museum reviews and tips for you

Get trip inspirations, offers and more.

The Hans India

BusinessLine (The Hindu)

Indian Express

TravelMassive

Voyagers World

Customer support

Need any help for your trip? Feel free to write to us at [email protected]

100% secured payment

Our payment gateway system is 100% secured, you can count on us for the security of your money.

• Prehistoric
• From History
• Cultural Icons
• Women In history
• Freedom fighters
• Quirky History
• Geology and Natural History
• Religious Places
• Heritage Sites
• Archaeological Sites
• Handcrafted For You
• Food History
• Arts of India
• Weaves of India
• Folklore and Mythology
• State of our Monuments
• Conservation

INS Vikrant: The Little-Known Story of an Indian Braveheart

• AUTHOR Sushmito Lahiry
• PUBLISHED 25 June 2022

In August this year, a phoenix will rise for the Indian Navy, when it commissions the country’s first Indigenous Aircraft Carrier (IAC - 1). The warship will be sailing in the wake of a much-loved braveheart, after whom it has been named – the INS Vikrant.

The new aircraft carrier is carrying forward a glorious legacy, as the Vikrant played a stellar role in the Bangladesh Liberation War of 1971. What made her contribution so special is her participation against massive odds.

She was in very poor shape when the war loomed and the seaworthiness of the ageing ship was in question. But a handful of naval officers plumped for the Vikrant, believing she could help win the war against Pakistan. The aircraft carrier, India’s first, did her country proud and ended up as one of the most famous Indian warships of all time.

The INS Vikrant began her journey as the HMS Hercules, an aircraft carrier in the (British) Royal Navy in 1943, during the Second World War. But the war ended before she was completed and, in May 1946, work on the ship was suspended. Only 75 percent complete, she was docked in Scotland for the next 10 years.

After the war, the navies of nations like the United States and the United Kingdom wanted to sell the ships they no longer needed and the Indian government bought the HMS Hercules in 1957. The Hercules was towed to Belfast, Ireland, where her construction was completed and modifications made according to the requirements of the Indian Navy.

Incidentally, this was done at the Harland & Wolff shipyard, the same shipyard where the RMS Titanic was built in 1912! As part of her modifications, an angled deck, steam catapults and a new ‘island’ (the command centre for flight operations) were added to the ship.

From Hercules to Vikrant

The HMS Hercules became the INS Vikrant when it was commissioned into the Indian Navy on 4th March 1961 in Belfast, by Vijaya Lakshmi Pandit, Indian High Commissioner to the UK. The name ‘Vikrant’ was derived from the Sanskrit word ‘Vikranta’, meaning ‘very powerful’ or ‘brave’. The ship formally joined the Indian Navy in the Bombay harbour on 3rd November 1961, and was received by then Prime Minister Jawaharlal Nehru, at Ballard Pier.

Vikrant was now more than 20 years old and unfit to take part in the India-Pakistan War of 1965. She was kept in dry dock in the Bombay harbour, while she was refitted.

Even though the ship was ageing, the Vikrant was India’s first-ever aircraft carrier and a matter of pride for the Indian Navy. So, when war was imminent again, this time between India and Pakistan over the liberation of Bangladesh in 1971, the Indian Navy was determined to make sure that the Vikrant played an active role in the fighting.

It was a tough call, for the warship was far from fit and she was docked at the Naval Dockyard in Bombay, yet again, in June 1970, for repairs. In his book Transition to Triumph: History of the Indian Navy - 1965-1975, Fleet Operations Officer Captain Gulab Mohanlal Hiranandani writes that the Vikrant had suffered many internal fatigue cracks and fissures in the water drums of her boilers and these couldn’t be repaired by welding.

Overcoming Challenges

The old warship was more than 25 years old by now and the only way to get around the challenges posed by her condition was to run the ship well below her designed capability, at 14 knots (26 kmph), half her designed maximum speed of 25 knots (45 kmph).

In spite of the doubts in the Naval Headquarters about the ship’s seaworthiness, there were those who were plumping for her. Captain Hiranandani would later recall telling the Chief of Naval Staff, Admiral Sardarilal Mathradas Nanda: “During the 1965 war, Vikrant was sitting in Bombay Harbour and did not go out to sea. If the same thing happened in 1971, Vikrant would be called a white elephant and naval aviation would be written off. Vikrant had to be seen being operational even if we didn’t fly any aircraft.” It was Admiral Nanda, Vice-Admiral N Krishnan and Captain Hiranandani who were instrumental in taking Vikrant to war.

But it was the Vikrant’s commanding officer, Vice-Admiral Swaraj Parkash who got the crew of the Vikrant and the pilots of the air squadrons up to full combat capability. It wasn’t easy. There were only six available aircraft (Sea Hawks) when the pilots began their training in July 1971.

As this number increased to 18, the pilots and crew of the ship underwent intense combat training. When the training was complete, the Vikrant became the nucleus of the Eastern Fleet.

With war clouds looming, the fleet sailed to the Andaman and Nicobar Islands on 13th November. But there was danger closer than the Navy had imagined. The Pakistani Navy had deployed a submarine, the PNS Ghazi, with the sole mission of sinking the Vikrant. Thankfully, the submarine itself sank off the coast of Visakhapatnam, under mysterious circumstances, on the night of 3rd December 1971.

Going in for the Kill

When hostilities broke out the next day, the Vikrant was deployed towards Chittagong. She was ordered to strike Chittagong and Cox's Bazar harbours. Due to other Indian fleet units being on a submarine search-and-attack mission and the fact that the Vikrant didn’t have any anti-submarine or anti-air protection, Vice-Admiral Parkash’s officers advised him against launching such a strike. But he wouldn’t have it. He argued: “Like bloody hell. I did not come to this point to turn back without attacking. Launch the strike!”

Rear Admiral Santosh Kumar Gupta (Retd) recalls that on 4th December, at around 3 pm, 6 Sea Hawks were launched from the Vikrant. They had to fly low, almost skimming the surface of the sea, to avoid being detected by enemy radar. They soon reached their target and attacked shipping in Chittagong and Cox's Bazar harbours, sinking or damaging most of the berthed ships, with their 500-pound bombs.

Among these were two gunboats and rivercraft, a warehouse and three merchant ships. The river ports of Khulna, Changla and Mongla were also severely damaged. These attacks were followed up by a strike on a large building in Chittagong city, which had been reported by intelligence to house several Pakistani military personnel who were attending a meeting.

The next target to be hit by airstrikes from the Vikrant was the cantonment area of Chittagong, on 14th December. Several Pakistani Army barracks were destroyed. Strikes conducted by Sea Hawks were accompanied by simultaneous attacks on Cox’s Bazar by Breguet Alize aircraft, also deployed by the Vikrant.

Rules to the Wind!

There was more drama to come. During an attack on the Chittagong airfield installation on 9th December, Lieutenant-Commander Santosh Kumar Gupta’s Sea Hawk was hit by ground fire while he was on a steep dive bombing run at 420 knots (770 kmph). He couldn’t release his 500-pound bomb on the target due to hydraulic failure, which also made his aircraft very difficult to manoeuvre. He had only one choice – eject from his aircraft over the sea, as landing on the warship with a bomb still attached to his aircraft would have violated safety rules.

However, taking a calculated risk, Captain Swaraj Parkash allowed him to land with an armed bomb. After completing the gruelling approach to the deck of the Vikrant, Gupta hit the deck safely, albeit in violation of all rules!

In just 10 days, over 300 strike sorties were flown by aircraft from the Vikrant. Around 8 Sea Hawks and Alizes were hit by ground fire but none was lost. The warship had exceeded expectations. She had proved instrumental in establishing total control in the Bay of Bengal, air superiority in East-Pakistani airspace, and also establishing a naval blockade to prevent supplies and trade coming in from West Pakistan.

The Pakistan armed forces in East-Pakistan were thus starved of war supplies and this contributed to their swift surrender on 16th December 1971, just 13 days after the war began.

Captain of the Vikrant, Vice-Admiral Swaraj Parkash and Lieutenant-Commander Santosh Kumar Gupta, (Commander of INAS 300), were both awarded the Maha Vir Chakra, while 12 crew members were awarded the Vir Chakra gallantry medal.

Despite numerous challenges that plagued the INS Vikrant, the warship played a vital role in winning the Bangladesh Liberation War against Pakistan. She didn’t see much service after that, though. The ageing aircraft carrier remained in service for another 26 years, till she was decommissioned on 31st January 1997.

The Vikrant was then converted into a museum ship and she remained berthed in Bombay harbour, open to the public to marvel at her glorious past. The only battle she ever lost was a court case to prevent her from being scrapped completely. Due to rising maintenance costs and her poor condition, which made her unsafe for the public, the Vikrant was finally scrapped in November 2014.

Vikrant's glorious legacy is carried forward by its new namesake – the IAC – 1. The old warhorse is not only an enduring symbol of courage but also a reminder of the tenacity and determination of the officers, crew and pilots who took her to the brink and back.

If you enjoyed this article, you will love LHI Circle - your Digital Gateway to the Best of India's history and heritage. You can enjoy our virtual tours to the must-see sites across India, meet leading historians and best-selling authors, and enjoy tours of the top museums across the world. Join LHI Circle here

Handcrafted Home Decor For You

Blue Sparkle Handmade Mud Art Wall Hanging

Handcrafted Tissue Box Cover Sea Green & Indigo Blue (Set of 2)

Scarlet Finely Embroidered Silk Cushion Cover

Sunflower Handmade Mud Art Wall Hanging

Best of Peepul Tree Stories

Museum Ship Vikrant

INS Vikrant was a Majestic-class aircraft carrier of the Indian Navy. The ship was laid down as HMS Hercules for the British Royal Navy during World War II, but construction was put on hold when the war ended. India purchased the incomplete carrier in 1957, and construction was completed in 1961. Vikrant was commissioned as the first aircraft carrier of the Indian Navy and played a key role in enforcing the naval blockade of East Pakistan during the Indo-Pakistani War of 1971. In its later years, the ship underwent major refits to embark modern aircraft, before being decommissioned in January 1997. She was preserved as a museum ship in Cuffe Parade, Mumbai until 2012. In January 2014, the ship was sold through an online auction and scrapped in November 2014 after final clearance from the Supreme Court.

More information and contact

Wikipedia https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/INS_Vikrant_(R11)

Address India

Coordinates 18°55'52.157" N 72°50'32.365" E

Sygic Travel - A Travel Guide in Your Pocket

More interesting places

• Privacy Policy
• STOCK 360° TRAVEL VIDEOS

Indian Museum Ship (Vikrant)

Top ways to experience nearby attractions

Most Recent: Reviews ordered by most recent publish date in descending order.

Detailed Reviews: Reviews ordered by recency and descriptiveness of user-identified themes such as waiting time, length of visit, general tips, and location information.

Also popular with travellers

Indian Museum Ship (Vikrant) - All You Need to Know BEFORE You Go (2024)

Ins Vikrant Memorial Place

Top ways to experience nearby attractions

Most Recent: Reviews ordered by most recent publish date in descending order.

Detailed Reviews: Reviews ordered by recency and descriptiveness of user-identified themes such as waiting time, length of visit, general tips, and location information.

Also popular with travellers

Ins Vikrant Memorial Place - All You Need to Know BEFORE You Go (2024) - Tripadvisor

INS Vikrant Museum

Mumbai, India

+91 22 2202 4482(Tourist Information)

Neighborhood

Fort - C.S.T (V.T.)

Nearest Train

Churchgate Station

General History

Avg User Rating

Destination Guide

Hotels near INS Vikrant Museum

Things to do near INS Vikrant Museum

Restaurants near INS Vikrant Museum

Shops near INS Vikrant Museum

Trips   Destinations   Themes   Activities   Articles   Inspiration   About

© 2024 TravelMuse.com   Terms and Privacy

Indian Museum Ship (Vikrant)

Top ways to experience nearby attractions

Most Recent: Reviews ordered by most recent publish date in descending order.

Detailed Reviews: Reviews ordered by recency and descriptiveness of user-identified themes such as waiting time, length of visit, general tips, and location information.

Also popular with travellers

Indian Museum Ship (Vikrant) - All You Need to Know BEFORE You Go (2024)

SVEEP Campaign for Voter Verification & Information ahead of Lok Sabha Elections 2019

• GOVERNMENT OF INDIA
• Skip to main content

सूचना और प्रसारण मंत्रालय Ministry of Information and Broadcasting

• Filmsdivisionvideo

Indian Museum Ship Vikrant

The film in a nutshell culls out the sterling role played by an aircraft carrier in the Indian naval history. This film beautifully brings to life the historical moments of an advanced battle ship of British royal navy H.M.S. Hercules induction into Indian navy during 1952 as “I.N.S. Vikrant” which later turned out to be the prized possession of our nation. And this film ends how this ship metamorphosed into a museum ship as I.N.S. Vikrant an all time maritime museum to preserve our naval history for the posterity.

• Documentary
• History & Events
• Website Policies
• Web Information Manager
• Parliament Related
• Visitor Analytics
• Frequently Used Services

Indian Museum Ship (Vikrant)

Top ways to experience nearby attractions

Most Recent: Reviews ordered by most recent publish date in descending order.

Detailed Reviews: Reviews ordered by recency and descriptiveness of user-identified themes such as waiting time, length of visit, general tips, and location information.

Also popular with travellers

INDIAN MUSEUM SHIP (VIKRANT): All You Need to Know BEFORE You Go (with Photos)

Indian Museum Ship (Vikrant)

Top ways to experience nearby attractions

Most Recent: Reviews ordered by most recent publish date in descending order.

Detailed Reviews: Reviews ordered by recency and descriptiveness of user-identified themes such as waiting time, length of visit, general tips, and location information.

Also popular with travellers

INDIAN MUSEUM SHIP (VIKRANT): All You Need to Know BEFORE You Go (with Photos)

Electrostal History and Art Museum - All You MUST Know Before You Go (2024)

Indian Museum Ship (Vikrant)

Top ways to experience nearby attractions

Most Recent: Reviews ordered by most recent publish date in descending order.

Detailed Reviews: Reviews ordered by recency and descriptiveness of user-identified themes such as waiting time, length of visit, general tips, and location information.

Also popular with travellers

INDIAN MUSEUM SHIP (VIKRANT): All You Need to Know BEFORE You Go (with Photos)

• Share full article

Advertisement

Supported by

How to Navigate London’s Wondrous (and Very Big) V&A Museum

Paintings, ceramics, photography, fashion, furniture and more: The Victoria and Albert Museum is a treasure trove of art and design. Here’s one besotted visitor’s plan for taking it all in.

By Andrew Ferren

Andrew Ferren, a frequent contributor to the Travel section, has visited the V&A dozens of times and looks forward to exploring the new satellite buildings when they open in East London in 2025.

Even for someone who loves getting lost in museums — especially “everything museums” like the Metropolitan Museum of Art in New York — London’s Victoria and Albert Museum might have been my Waterloo. The statistics are daunting: 5,000 years of artistic production with more than 60,000 works on view (from a collection of some 2.8 million) in about 150 galleries beneath 21 acres of roof.

The V&A typically draws around 3 million annual visitors, but even on the busiest days, the museum has the space and setup to largely avoid the sense of competing with the crowds. Since visiting the permanent collection is free (some exhibitions cost up to 20 pounds, or about $25), once you’re in the door you can just start wandering. Step right for medieval mosaics and Renaissance tapestries or go deep for 1940s Paris fashion, Baroque sculpture and, beyond that, Buddhist art.

It’s easy to spend an entire day in the V&A. Here’s a plan for making the most of your visit. But first a bit of background.

An eclectic treasure trove

If the British Museum is known as Britain’s attic — an abundance of artistic and cultural relics from the realm and around the globe — then the V&A is the country’s classroom. It, too, is a trove of exemplary works, from exquisite Raphael drawings to groovy 1970s plastic radios; Coptic tunics to Alexander McQueen couture gowns; vividly hued Islamic tiles to a bunch of grand English beds. These objects were displayed not just to delight connoisseurs, but to provide great art and ideas to educate British designers, manufacturers and workers in good taste and technical prowess.

The museum was the pet project of Prince Albert, consort to Queen Victoria, who had seen firsthand that British manufactured goods were not always top of the class. By displaying applied arts (textiles, ceramics, glass and other manufactured objects) alongside fine arts (architecture, painting and sculpture), the new museum would democratize aesthetic appreciation and inspire better designs for better products.

Originally known as the South Kensington Museum, the V&A opened in 1857 in temporary structures while new buildings were constructed. Incorporated into the new museum were libraries and schools for science and art, including one for women. The leading artists of the time, such as Frederic Leighton and William Morris, contributed to its décor. Such was its embrace of modernity, that the world’s first museum exhibition of photography (the medium was “invented’ only in the 1820s) was held here in 1858.

Though Prince Albert died in 1861, the museum continued to expand. In 1899, Queen Victoria laid the cornerstone of a grand new entrance wing along Cromwell Road and renamed the complex the Victoria and Albert Museum.

If that sounds fusty, it’s not. More than 165 years after its opening, the V&A’s pioneering spirit hasn’t faded. Its fashion blockbusters, like “Naomi: In Fashion,” celebrating the model Naomi Campbell (opening June 22), are must-see shows. And its outreach programs, studio classes and parties engage the public as few museums do. Recently, the V&A’s reach has been growing, with offshoots such as the Scottish V&A Dundee , a kid-centric Young V&A and two new museum buildings — one featuring nearly 250,000 works — opening in East London in 2025.

Many contemporary artists and designers claim the V&A as among their favorite museums, and one to which they return again and again. Though neither artist nor designer, I, too, claim the V&A as a favorite museum and have visited dozens of times, often for less than an hour just to wow my young kids with the monumental plaster casts of European monuments or even just to get out of the rain.

But I knew there were still sections I’d never visited. So, after an absence of three years, I spent a day there and came up with a game plan for others to navigate those vast halls.

Get there at 10 a.m., when the doors open, so you can breeze through the ground-floor galleries while they are still virtually empty and then head to more remote parts.

Since fabrics are fragile and fade, the fashion exhibits are changed regularly and there’s always something fresh and engaging to see. From there, wind past the entrance through the arts of Asia, from the elegantly simple furniture of Ming China to the intricately carved lacquerware of Japan, to the eye-poppingly vivid blue tile reliefs and stunning silk carpets such as the 16th-century Ardibil carpet from Persia.

Then into the Cast Courts, three huge galleries packed with full-size reproductions — plaster and metal casts — of sculptures and building fragments from around Europe. Exact copies of medieval tombs line the floor while masterpieces like Michelangelo’s David, Trajan’s Column and Renaissance church facades rise toward the ceiling. One can easily get stuck here, awed by the scale and charmed by the concept of corralling massive replicas from across the centuries into a playground for architecture buffs.

From there it’s an easy slide into the adjacent medieval and Renaissance galleries, which cover Europe from 300 to 1600, and where the colorful fourth- and fifth-century tapestry fragments on view or the radiant gold-backed mosaics from Ravenna, Italy, reveal that the Dark Ages were not entirely devoid of light and color.

The later galleries reveal just how connected and sophisticated many parts of Europe were in the Renaissance. Exquisite regional products — metalwork and armor from Germany, shimmering lusterware ceramics from Spain, tapestries from Brussels — became sought after on an international marketplace.

Carving your own path

In such a sprawling museum, there is no single logical or even chronological path to follow. For many, that’s part of the V&A’s appeal: the quirky juxtapositions one encounters roaming its six floors (the ground floor is numbered zero, so the “fourth floor” is actually the fifth level; the V&A also has a -1 basement level).

So on my visit, once the galleries started filling up at midday, I took the elevator to the remote fourth-floor ceramics galleries and then made my way to the lower floors.

On the fourth floor, it feels as if virtually everything ever made of clay or porcelain — Ming, majolica, Meissen, you name it — is displayed in floor-to-ceiling cases, including stacks of Chinese bowls salvaged from a ship that sank in 1400 off the Malay Peninsula.

Just when you think one can’t stretch the clay any further, you get to a display about Josiah Wedgwood and his innovative Jasperware that became the rage around the world in the 18th century. (The V&A also has an outpost in Stoke-on-Trent dedicated entirely to Wedgwood). The remaining fourth-floor galleries showcase furniture from the last 600 years.

The third floor offers a similar range of media and epochs — from international glass in all its facets to architectural models. One might expect Venetian Murano glass to reign supreme, but the quirky and colorful 18th-century German enameled glass, as well as green-hued glasses and goblets adorned with blobs of glass steal the show.

On the second floor, a network of long galleries offers deep dives into religious stained glass, small-scale bronze sculptures, English paintings and drawings, as well as tapestries. Nearby, gorgeous murals by Frederic Leighton push the V&A propaganda in themes like “The Arts Applied to War” and “The Arts Applied to Peace.”

Also on the second floor, the Photography Center recently expanded its galleries to become Britain’s largest photography exhibition center. Part of a display called “Design: 1900-Now,” features a recent acquisition: a store-bought snorkeling mask that had been adapted by an Italian designer into a functioning oxygen mask during the darkest days of the Covid crisis in 2020.

In a country famous for its crown jewels, the V&A’s spot-lit jewelry gallery packs in everything from fifth-century Byzantine bracelets to jaunty 1970s body jewelry. Standouts include the Townshend jewels — a virtual encyclopedia of gemstones, from colored diamonds to opals, each set in individual rings and displayed in swirls of brilliant color.

And finally, stretching almost across the entire second floor is a display of every imaginable type of ironwork. Seeing these works, such as the monumental 19th-century Gothic Revival choir screen from Salisbury Cathedral, calls to mind the Goethe quote that “architecture is frozen music.”

Take a break then keep going

Even if you’re not hungry, head to the ground level to the Refreshment Rooms, the world’s first museum cafe, which opened in 1868. Designed by the leading talents of the day — James Gamble, William Morris, Philip Webb, Edward Burne-Jones and Edward J. Poynter — the original decoration remains largely intact, a snapshot of Victorian modernity. Back in the day, each room had a different menu and proposed clientele, but today, for about £10, visitors can choose from a buffet of hot English fare, quiches, sandwiches, beer, wine or soft drinks, and take their meal into whichever room they find most pleasing.

Back in the galleries, I had saved what I considered the best for last: some two dozen British galleries (spread between levels 1 and 3) that tell the country’s history from the Tudors to the Victorians through paintings, furniture, clothing, musical instruments, textiles and truly fabulous beds, including the Great Bed of Ware, a massive four-poster built in 1590 for an inn. It measures nearly 11 feet on each side, supposedly able to accommodate four couples. Centuries-old graffiti covers practically every plank, and its fame merited a mention in Shakespeare’s “Twelfth Night”: “… as many lies as will lie in thy sheet of paper, although the sheet were big enough for the bed of Ware.”

And then finally, the most extraordinary works in the museum, shown in a cathedral-like space: the famous Rafael cartoons for the tapestries that were created to adorn the Sistine Chapel in 1515-16. Commissioned by Pope Leo X, Raphael painted the designs on paper, which would have been used as the guide for the weavers to follow. Now owned by King Charles III and considered among the greatest works of Renaissance art, they were created as part of a manufacturing process, so it seems wholly appropriate they are on loan to the V&A, where fine art and manufacturing go hand in hand.

Follow New York Times Travel on Instagram and sign up for our weekly Travel Dispatch newsletter to get expert tips on traveling smarter and inspiration for your next vacation. Dreaming up a future getaway or just armchair traveling? Check out our 52 Places to Go in 2024 .

Open Up Your World

Considering a trip, or just some armchair traveling here are some ideas..

52 Places:  Why do we travel? For food, culture, adventure, natural beauty? Our 2024 list has all those elements, and more .

The Alaska Highway:  On an epic road trip, a family plots a course from Alaska to the Lower 48, passing through some of Canada’s most spectacular scenery .

Minorca:  Spend 36 hours on this slow-paced Spanish island , which offers a quieter and wilder retreat than its more touristy neighbors.

Japan:  A new high-speed train stop unlocks Kaga, a destination for hot springs, nourishing food and traditional crafts , as an easy-to-reach getaway from Tokyo.

London:  The Victoria and Albert Museum is a treasure trove of art and design. Here’s one besotted visitor’s plan for taking it all in .