The INS Kursura was one of the first submarines in the Indian Navy, commissioned in 1969.
It logged over 73,000 nautical miles during its three decades of operational service.
The submarine was hauled 700 meters from the ocean onto the beach using a specialized rail system.
The interior remains largely authentic, featuring original control panels and navigation equipment.
The total length of the submarine is approximately 91 meters.
It is the only submarine museum in the world to be positioned on a sandy beach rather than in a dock or water tank.
The hull is composed of high-tensile steel designed to withstand significant deep-sea pressure.
The name 'Kursura' is derived from a Sanskrit word meaning 'shark' or 'predator'.
The museum was officially inaugurated by the President of India in 2002.
The VMRDA INS Kursura Submarine Museum is a Soviet-built Kalvari-class diesel-electric submarine permanently berthed on the sands of RK Beach. It serves as India's first submarine museum, preserved after being decommissioned from the Indian Navy in 2001. The vessel was transported from the water to its current land-based concrete foundation through a complex engineering process involving hydraulic jacks. Visitors tour the interior through narrow passageways and hatches, viewing original sonar rooms, torpedo tubes, and crew quarters. Exhibits include mannequins dressed in naval uniforms to simulate life at sea. The museum highlights the submarine’s 31-year service history, including its role during the 1971 Indo-Pakistani War. It functions as a specialized maritime history site focused on naval engineering and Cold War-era vessel design.
The external bow of the submarine from the beach side provides the best angle to capture the full scale of the hull.
Wear comfortable, flat shoes as the interior involves climbing through small, steep circular hatches.
If you are claustrophobic, be aware that the interior corridors are extremely tight and the atmosphere can feel enclosed.
Visit early in the day to avoid the heat, as the metal hull can become very warm under the afternoon sun.
Avoid visiting during peak afternoon hours in the summer, as the internal temperature inside the steel hull rises significantly.
Closed on Mondays for maintenance.
Strictly no photography allowed inside the submarine interior; touching equipment is prohibited.
