Visakhapatnam – A city of military might and cultural splendour

This unique museum, open to visitors on all days except Monday, offers people a glimpse into the complex mechanisms that make up the underwater vessel as well as the demanding life of submariners.
| Photo Credit: K.R. DEEPAK

Visakhapatnam, seat of the Eastern Naval Command and the ‘Financial Capital’ of Andhra Pradesh, is also a city of museums that celebrate the country’s glorious military history and the rich cultural heritage of the Telugu people.

Strategically located along the coast of Bay of Bengal, Visakhapatnam is home to INS Kursura Submarine Museum, the first such installation in South Asia. Located on Ramakrishna (RK) Beach, it is housed in a decommissioned Soviet-built I-641 class submarine.

This unique museum, open to visitors on all days except Monday (a maintenance holiday), offers people a glimpse into the complex mechanisms that make up the underwater vessel as well as the demanding life of submariners.

The diesel-electric submarine was inducted into the Navy on December 18, 1969 and was decommissioned on February 28, 2001 after 31 years of distinguished service to the country. The entire submarine, including the armament package, was lifted from the sea and placed on a concrete foundation on Ramakrishna Beach Road. The submarine is 91.3 metres long and 8 metres wide.

On April 30, 2002, the State government ordered the transfer of the entire submarine, including the surrounding areas developed for the museum, to the Visakhapatnam Metropolitan Region Development Authority (VMRDA) for maintenance and upkeep. The museum was thrown open to the public by the then Chief Minister N. Chandrababu Naidu on August 14, 2002.

Opposite the submarine museum is the Tu-142 Aircraft Museum, featuring a Tupolev (Tu) 142M aircraft, a massive Soviet-era anti-submarine warfare aircraft that was a vital cog in India’s naval aviation. The aircraft was converted into museum following its decommission on March 29, 2017, after 29 years of service.

On the campus of the museum is an exhibition hall that displays equipment and aircraft parts such as sonobuoys, propellers, an engine, a survival kit and an anti-submarine missile.

The premises also house a ‘Sea Harrier Museum’, made out of a decommissioned Sea Harrier jump jet. The unique British-origin fighter jets, capable of vertical/short takeoff and landing (V/STOL), were inducted into the Navy in 1983, and they operated from both of India’s first two aircraft carriers—INS Vikrant and INS Viraat—for a considerable period of time till both the ships were decommissioned. Here, visitors can get an insight into the life of a fighter pilot, who operated from both ship and land.

The Visakha Museum, located near the YSR Junction, showcases artefacts such as musical instruments and military equipment from the Kalingandhra region. Inaugurated on October 8, 1991 by the then Chief Minister of Andhra Pradesh N. Janardhana Reddy, it opens a vista into the rich heritage and history of the Telugu people. A similar facility, ‘Telugu Museum’, is located atop Kailasagiri in the city and is visited by tourists from across the State as well as those from Odisha, West Bengal, Telangana and Chhattisgarh.

VMRDA Metropolitan Commissioner K.S. Viswanathan says that another defence-related museum is coming up on the beach. He said a decommissioned Sikorsky UH-3H helicopter was being converted into a museum. It will come up near the Tu-142 Museum and the INS Kursura Museum, he said.

The large special operations and search-and-rescue helicopter was inducted into Indian Naval Air Squadron 350 at INS Dega and named ‘Saaras’ on March 24, 2009. It was decommissioned on June 28, 2024.