It can be said that India’s maritime history predates the birth of western civilization. The glorious maritime history of India dates back to at least 3,000 years. Excavation of Lothal is the welcome light that has thrown insights into the maritime activities of the Indus people. The large structure of baked bricks located at Lothal served as a dock and is the earliest manmade dock in the world. Modern oceanographers are of the opinion that Harappans possessed great knowledge of tides as exhibited by the hydrography and maritime engineering of the Harappans.

Available Vedic records suggest that Indian merchants also had trade contacts reaching the far east and even Arabia. There are also evidences of “Naval Department” having existed during the Mauryan period. The Cholas, the Cheras and the Pandyas also had strong maritime trade links with local rulers of Sumatra, Java, Malay Peninsula, Thailand and China. The Chola Empire is known for extensive sea trade, new harbours with living quarters, warehouse and workshops. At one point in history, the Bay of Bengal was to referred as the Chola Lake.