Ancient Ships Built in Beypore
Audio Guide
Listen to artifact story
Audio guide ready
This artwork illustrates the traditional wooden ships that were built in Beypore, one of India's oldest and most renowned shipbuilding centres located on the Malabar Coast of Kerala. For more than a thousand years, Beypore has been celebrated for its master craftsmen, known as Khalasis, who constructed durable ocean-going vessels entirely by hand using indigenous techniques passed down through generations.
The ships depicted in this artwork represent some of the traditional vessel types that played a significant role in the maritime history of Kerala and the Indian Ocean. These vessels were widely used for trade, fishing, passenger transport, and long-distance voyages connecting India with Arabia, East Africa, and Southeast Asia. Built primarily from high-quality teak wood, they were known for their exceptional strength, seaworthiness, and longevity.
Galbat
The Galbat was a large sailing vessel used for long-distance maritime trade. It transported spices, timber, textiles, and other valuable goods across the Arabian Sea. The vessel was capable of carrying heavy cargo and was widely employed by merchants engaged in international commerce.
Phatemari
The Phatemari was a medium-sized sailing vessel designed for coastal and overseas trade. Its broad hull provided excellent cargo capacity, making it ideal for transporting goods between ports along the Malabar Coast and across the Arabian Sea.
Manji
The Manji was a traditional wooden sailing craft commonly used for regional transportation and fishing. It served coastal communities by carrying people, agricultural produce, and daily supplies between nearby ports and villages.
Dansi
The Dansi was a small sailing boat primarily employed for fishing and short-distance coastal transport. Its simple yet efficient design made it suitable for navigating shallow coastal waters and estuaries.
Maritime Heritage
The traditional shipbuilding industry of Beypore is an enduring symbol of Kerala's rich maritime heritage. These handcrafted vessels played a crucial role in establishing trade links between India and the rest of the world, contributing significantly to the economic and cultural exchanges that shaped the history of the Indian Ocean. Even today, Beypore remains internationally recognized for preserving its centuries-old wooden shipbuilding tradition, reflecting the remarkable craftsmanship and maritime legacy of the Malabar Coast.
The ships depicted in this artwork represent some of the traditional vessel types that played a significant role in the maritime history of Kerala and the Indian Ocean. These vessels were widely used for trade, fishing, passenger transport, and long-distance voyages connecting India with Arabia, East Africa, and Southeast Asia. Built primarily from high-quality teak wood, they were known for their exceptional strength, seaworthiness, and longevity.
Galbat
The Galbat was a large sailing vessel used for long-distance maritime trade. It transported spices, timber, textiles, and other valuable goods across the Arabian Sea. The vessel was capable of carrying heavy cargo and was widely employed by merchants engaged in international commerce.
Phatemari
The Phatemari was a medium-sized sailing vessel designed for coastal and overseas trade. Its broad hull provided excellent cargo capacity, making it ideal for transporting goods between ports along the Malabar Coast and across the Arabian Sea.
Manji
The Manji was a traditional wooden sailing craft commonly used for regional transportation and fishing. It served coastal communities by carrying people, agricultural produce, and daily supplies between nearby ports and villages.
Dansi
The Dansi was a small sailing boat primarily employed for fishing and short-distance coastal transport. Its simple yet efficient design made it suitable for navigating shallow coastal waters and estuaries.
Maritime Heritage
The traditional shipbuilding industry of Beypore is an enduring symbol of Kerala's rich maritime heritage. These handcrafted vessels played a crucial role in establishing trade links between India and the rest of the world, contributing significantly to the economic and cultural exchanges that shaped the history of the Indian Ocean. Even today, Beypore remains internationally recognized for preserving its centuries-old wooden shipbuilding tradition, reflecting the remarkable craftsmanship and maritime legacy of the Malabar Coast.