National Maritime Heritage Complex (NMHC) Context: India and the Netherlands signed a MoU to cooperate on the development of the National Maritime Heritage Complex (NMHC) at Lothal, Gujarat. NMHC is a flagship cultural and heritage project of the Ministry of Ports, Shipping and Waterways (MoPSW). Aim: To showcase India’s 4,500–5,000-year-old maritime legacy through a world-class museum and cultural complex. Developed as India’s first comprehensive national institution dedicated exclusively to maritime heritage. Significance of NMHC at Lothal: Showcases India’s 4,500-year-old maritime legacy. Part of the Indus Valley (Harappan) Civilization cultural landscape. Recognised for the discovery of the world’s earliest known man-made dockyard. The Lothal dockyard connected the settlement to ancient maritime trade routes linking Sindh, Saurashtra, Mesopotamia, Egypt, and beyond.
