Long drive to Delhi - 23 : Warship Museum, Karwar, Karnataka

                         It is better to travel well than to arrive - Budha

From Om Beach we took NH 17 & headed towards Goa. While cruising along Rabindra Nath Tagore Beach, Karwar we spotted a ship on the roadside! Surprised, we took a u-turn & came back to have a look. It indeed was a ship & it was a warship museum at that.

This warship was built in Russia & joined Indian Navy as INS Chapal. Chapal is a small warship classified as class 2 missile boat which could cruise at a much higher speed than larger naval ships & bombard the enemy with missiles. She did a great job in 1971 in attacking Karachi port & the crew won several awards.

It is said to have been decommissioned in 1980 & made in to a museum. Inside, it is cramped & by now outdated in terms of technology but gives a basic & fair idea of a warship & sailor's life in there. Remains open from 10 am to 6 pm. A general video on Indian Navy is also shown inside the small cabin of the ship if sufficient number of visitors are available. Kids would love it. Some photos:

Car approaching Karwar

This warship suddenly popped up while cruising on Edapally-Panvel Road in Karwar

Warship & missile 

Inside the engine room of the ship

INS Chapal successfully used such missiles on Karachi port in 1971 

Entering the warship

Phew! Lots of efforts were needed to put the ship in place!