Boat Forms of Gujarat

The modern State of Gujarat is composed of three distinct physical units: Kutch, Kathiawad or Saurashtra, and Gujarat. Gujarat has a very long coastline, over 1700 kms, because of two internal seas, namely the Gulf of Kambhat and the Gulf of Kutch. Since each of the physical units has a coastal stretch of its own, the coastal configuration is not straight, thereby providing a vast scope for intense maritime interaction. The border location of the State with Pakistan extending beyond the Kutch coast, and the proximity of the region, in comparison to even the other west coast states has exposed the region to maritime trade and culture influences from its west to a far greater extent which is reflected in its boat forms and designs as well as its craft technology and navigation technology. The region being open to the happenings in the adjoining Indus Valley, has been the first to receive of the Indus Valley Culture. Since the Indus Valley period, the coasts of the region carried on sea-trade relations with other contemporary river valley civilizations of Mesopotamia and Egypt. At this early period, beyond 4000 years Before Present, the sea-crafts of the region could have well resorted to coasting voyages and some early boat forms of the distant period could have given a start to local boat building at least in Kutch and Kathiawad.