Museums have always been special as they hold and cherish historic antics and facts about them. Naval Aviation Museum in Goa is India's one and only navy related museum which is situated on road barely six kilometers from the port city of Goa, Vasco-da-Gama.
This museum has been here for years and is situated right behind the Dabolim international Airport, since 1988. An interesting place to visit if you are a museum lover but surprisingly, not many people visit this place when they are in Goa, busy enjoying at the cool beaches of Goa.
Naval Aviation Museum is special for many reasons. There is only 7 such naval museum across the world and Naval Aviation Museum of Goa is one of them. In fact, it is the only one of its kind in all over Asia.
Here's a glimpse of Travelet's visit to Naval Aviation Museum in Goa:
Despite such reasons, it has still not received the kind of publicity it deserves and hence is unknown to many of the Goan visitors.
This museum was built as a tribute to the great Indian Navy, its workforce, and the numerous key operations that have been undertaken by them to keep India safe from the enemies.
It is divided neatly into two parts - the indoor one where all the satellite and war bombs, missiles are placed and the outdoor where all the different types of aircraft's are placed.
Various aircraft like the Seahawk, Dove, Sea harrier, Sealand, Vampire, Hughes, and Alize that are/were used by the navy are being displayed in here.
On the main gate, everyone is welcomed by the huge 'Super Constellation' standing like sentinel which was used by the Indian Airlines for passenger transport which was later taken over by the Air Force as a craft.
It was later borrowed by the Indian navy and is still in their custody but stays in de-commissioned state.
Interior of the museum is a replica of the aircraft carrier INS Viraat itself. The walls contain different paintings of the interiors of the Viraat giving one a feeling at sea on board the Viraat as they enter.
The other rooms are also designed in a way to replicate the mighty and powerful INS Viraat.
On the left side is the armaments room where all the armaments are kept neatly on display. adjacent to this is the 'Sonobuoy Room' which is used to keep the different types of sensors that are used.
The different gadgets and the protective gear used by navy when in the sea, as well as air in any emergency or dangerous situation, is on display at the Suraksha Room.
In the Multimedia room a little further, which has the simulator you can get a first-hand experience of the cockpit of a Jet Fighter.
Along with this rooms, there is also a room where you will find the Meditation Room which is calm and serene. Black and White pictures of "Operation Vijay" from the liberation time of Goa are also on display in the bigger hall.
This museum is open to the visitors from 10.00 am. To 5.00 p.m. on all days except Mondays.
Tickets to the museum are available at the entrance at a mere cost and just adjacent to it is their cafeteria 'Cockpit Café' which is all painted blue to give a cockpit feel. Just next to it all the aircraft engines are on a display in the engine bay.
Naval Aviation Museum is worth going miles to see as it's a great source of knowledge about the Indian Navy and also it can inspire a lot of youngster's to join the Indian Defense Forces or the great Indian Navy.
So if you get some time a chance to go there when you are in Goa just give it a shot.