Indian Navy’s flagship aircraft carrier INS Viraat, after serving the Navy for 30 years, will retire on Monday.
Since 1959, the ship famously known as the ‘Grand Old Lady’ served the British Royal Navy before she was sold to the Indian Government for Rs. 6.5 crore in 1987.
INS Viraat played a significant role in 1989 in the Operation Jupiter in Sri Lankan Peace Keeping operations. The Viraat also played a major role in Operation Parakram in 2001-2002 when India and Pakistan were on a stand-off after terror attacks on the Indian Parliament.
The warship holding the Guinness Record for being the oldest serving warship was previously named as HMS Hermes under the UK Royal Navy. It holds the motto – ‘Jalamev Yasya, Balmev Tasya’ meaning one who controls the sea is all powerful, was first adopted by the great warrior king Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj in the 17th century.
The Indian Navy said it is interested in converting the warship into a major tourist attraction turning it into a luxury hotel-cum-museum.
Covering the globe for 27 times, Viraat has spent more than 2,250 days at sea, clocking 10.94 lakh km.