Below is an insight and a well described mix of feelings that she underwent when she visited the ship some time back - clearly defining the magnanimity of this British-built Aircraft carrier that has fought India's most strategic wars to a victorious end.
It's an honor to have you aboard Giira Yachts, Zeenia !
BLAST FROM THE PAST
If you ever get the chance of going aboard the INS Vikrant, don't let go of the opportunity. The former warship that is now docked deep inside Lion's Gate is open to public only a couple of times during the year and you have to take permission to have an organised visit arranged. After you're driven to the massive warship, you can't help but stand in awe at the sheer size of it; Vikrant is 704 feet in length and 128 feet in breath and commands an authoritative second look. After she was decommissioned in early 1997, there was a lot of controversy on what to do with the ship that won India the 1971 war against Pakistan. Today Vikrant has been converted into a floating museum; a silent tribute to those who sailed in her and, of course,
the country.
As you walk down the iron gangplank to enter the ship, you're welcomed abroad by a group of friendly naval officers, who will proceed to take you on a guided tour of the ship. Everything has been unmistakably marked but you can still just as effortlessly get lost in the labyrinth of passageways that dominate the entire ship. You can visit almost any part of the Vikrant; there are only a few restricted areas
where entry for laymen is forbidden. But you won't really mind that, there're plenty of things to explore on the ship and you can easily spend a couple of hours there. Just don't forget to follow the directions even if you feel you've been transported to another world!
As you step onto the first deck, you're shown miniature models of ships like INS Ganga, Ranvijay, Delhi and Vikrant and given a detailed history of INS Vikrant. For instance, did you know that the ship, built in 1945, was formerly known as HMS Hercules? And that it was bought for the Indian Navy in 1957 and commissioned in the navy in 1961 and had the capacity of having 1500 people on board at one time?
Classical instrumental music plays softly in the background as we wander deeper into the underbelly of ship. It's a blue and grey coloured unfamiliar world of iron doors, tunnels, rooms, ladders and mannequins that have been put up in the museum part of the ship.
Lots of pictures of former captains and commanding officers have been put up all over the ship as are route maps. A unique hatch of Pakistan naval submarine, 'Ghazi' also lies here. A comprehensive elucidation of how Vikrant participated in the '71 war and the damage inflicted by it on Pakistani ships is also given. That the warship is well maintained is plainly visible. The various components that are used in a defense ship are displayed with lucid explanations.
As you enter the gigantic main hangar, three aircrafts- a Sea Hawk, an Alize jet and a Sea King MK 42 come into view. The main hangar has the capacity of storing 21 aircraft at a time. Various bombs, guns, diving equipment and rockets have been put here. We also pass the sailors deck, the locker area, galleys, a glass display of uniforms of sailors etc. There is even a cafeteria on board, 'The Square Rig', which
unfortunately was shut when we went there. A gift shop selling plates, caps and tees with INS Vikrant's insignia is also present. The ship even has a mini hospital; right from an operating theatre, to an examination room, a general ward and an isolation ward. Various other rooms like the navigation tower, control rooms, radar system rooms, and air traffic control rooms are present on top of the main deck in a
huge tower.
As you step onto the main deck, the entire runway can be seen; a blue and black smooth strip from where thousands of fighter jets must've taken off and landed. A light breeze blows in the air as a couple of pigeons lazily sunbathe on the deck. Walk right up to end of the vertical incline, the view of the majestic Arabian Sea with several warships of the Indian navy can be seen in the distance. We also spot
three submarines that have been docked nearby, maybe waiting for maintenance work before they depart for their next mission. Photography on the top deck is strictly prohibited, which is just as good; pictures would do lil' justice to the incredible view that can be seen from the top. As we walk back, down the dimly lit passageways
and across the gangway, we wonder what sort of action this ageing warship must've seen during her time. And if you close your eyes and listen carefully, you can almost hear the thunderous vroom of a fighter jet taking of...
You can call 22752260 if you wish to visit INS Vikrant.
- ZEENIA F. BARIA
Thanks Zeenia !
We at Giira Yachts would appreciate and at the same time invite with open arms any member of the offline media fraternity to contribute their valuable insights with regards to the sailing/ yachting industry in India...and at the same time we hope that this particular insight has paved a trend for all form of blogs all over...
