Context
The Ministry of Culture (MoC) and Ministry of Ports, Shipping and Waterways (MoPSW) signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) for ‘Cooperation in Development of National Maritime Heritage Complex (NMHC) at Lothal, Gujarat’.
About the National Maritime Heritage Complex (NMHC)
- National Maritime Heritage Complex, a world-class facility is to be developed in the vicinity of the ASI site of Lothal, located about 80 km away from Ahmedabad, Gujarat.
- This complex will play a big role in highlighting the cultural heritage of the country both domestically as well as to the world.
- It will help exhibit both the robust maritime history and vibrant coastal tradition of our country in one place and would uplift the image of India’s Maritime Heritage in the international forum
- NMHC would be developed as an international tourist destination.
- NMHC would be developed with various unique structures such as National Maritime Heritage Museum, Light House Museum, Heritage Theme Park, Museum Themed Hotels & Maritime themed eco-resorts, Maritime Institute, etc. which would be developed in a phased manner.
Unique features of NHMC
- The unique feature of NMHC is the recreation of ancient Lothal city, which is one of the prominent cities of the ancient Indus valley civilization dating to 2400 BC.
- Apart from that, the evolution of India’s Maritime Heritage during various eras would be exhibited through various galleries.
- NMHC would have a pavilion for each coastal state and union territories to showcase the artifacts/maritime heritage of the respective states and union territories.
- Various theme parks would be developed at NMHC such as Maritime & Naval Theme Park, Monuments Park, Climate Change Theme Park, Adventure& Amusement Theme Park through a public-private partnership which would provide a complete tourist destiny experience to the visitors.
Local, Gujarat
- Lothal was one of the southernmost cities of the ancient Indus Valley Civilization.
- It is located in the Bh?l region, near the Gulf of Cambay, Gujar?t.
- The Construction of the city began around 2200 BCE.
- It was discovered in 1954 by R.Rao.
- Lothal had the world's earliest known dock.
- It connected the Sabarmati river on the trade route between Harappan cities in Sindh and the peninsula of Saurashtra, a part of the Arabian Sea.
- Excavation: Port Town, Graveyard, Ivory weight balance, Copper dog, First manmade port, Dockyard, Rice husk, Fire alters, Chess-playing.
- The Lothal site has been nominated as a UNESCO World Heritage Site, and its application is pending on the tentative list of UNESCO.
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