The INS Kurusura Submarine Museum is a decommissioned Indian Navy submarine turned museum on RK Beach in Visakhapatnam. You can explore sections of the vessel and see naval artefacts, photographs and historical documents, then continue along the waterfront.
- Location: R.K. Beach Road, Visakhapatnam
- The submarine entered Indian Navy service in 1969 and was decommissioned in 2001
- The museum opened to the public in 2002
- Admission sources agree on ₹40 for adults; child prices differ
The submarine museum on the RK Beach waterfront
The museum stands on R.K. Beach Road, with the submarine displayed beside the Bay of Bengal waterfront. The Government of India museum directory gives its address as R.K. Beach Road, Kirlampudi Layout, Chinna Waltair, Pandurangapuram, Visakhapatnam, Andhra Pradesh 530017.
INS Kurusura entered Indian Navy service on 18 December 1969 and was decommissioned on 28 February 2001 after 31 years of service. It was transferred to the beach with its weaponry and fittings, then placed on a concrete foundation. The museum was established in 2002; VMRDA describes it as the first submarine museum in South-East Asia.
The submarine museum was inaugurated on 9 August 2002 and opened to the public on 24 August 2002. Its location on RK Beach makes the shoreline part of the visit, rather than a separate stop across town.
What the museum visit involves
A visit takes you through submarine spaces and displays that explain the vessel’s equipment and history. Exhibits include the sonar room, radar room and control room, as well as weapons, artefacts, photographs and historical documents.
VMRDA says guides are appointed to educate visitors and are former Navy personnel. Their naval background can add context to the submarine’s working spaces and equipment.
Tickets, opening hours and entry conditions
The Government of India museum directory and Incredible India give visiting hours as 2:00 p.m.–9:00 p.m. and say the museum is closed on Mondays. Check the official site before you go, since opening details and prices can change.
The Government of India museum directory gives admission as ₹40 per adult and ₹10 per child, while Incredible India gives ₹40 per adult and ₹20 per child. The adult price matches, but the child price differs between the sources, so confirm the current charge before your visit.
The museum’s official sources do not state restrictions on bags or photography, or provide details about accessibility or a suggested visit duration. If any of these affect your plans, contact the museum before setting out.
How do you get to the museum from the city centre?
You can reach the museum by bus, auto or cab from the RTC complex. The Visakhapatnam district tourism page places it 5 km from both Visakhapatnam Railway Station and the RTC complex, and 18 km from Visakhapatnam International Airport.
From Hotel The Supreme, the museum is about a 9-minute drive; Hotel The Supreme offers a room at Hotel The Supreme.
For a city-centre departure, make your way to the RTC complex and continue by bus, auto or cab.
Combine the visit with a waterfront walk
Pair the submarine visit with time along RK Beach, where the museum is permanently stationed on Beach Road. A walk on the Ramakrishna Beach promenade keeps the outing focused on the same waterfront and adds a change of pace after the submarine exhibits.
The waterfront outing can also include another museum stop, making it easy to explore more of Visakhapatnam’s maritime and aviation history.
The TU-142 Aircraft Museum is another Visakhapatnam museum stop.
Victory at Sea 1971 is also identified alongside the submarine museum as an attraction on RK Beach by the district tourism page.
Victory at Sea 1971 is another museum stop in Visakhapatnam.
FAQs
What is the INS Kurusura Submarine Museum?
It is a museum housed in INS Kurusura, a decommissioned Indian Navy submarine displayed on a concrete foundation beside RK Beach in Visakhapatnam.
What can you see inside the submarine?
The exhibits include the sonar, radar and control rooms, along with weapons, artefacts, photographs and historical documents.
Is the museum open on Mondays?
No. The museum’s published hours are 2:00 p.m.–9:00 p.m., with Mondays as its weekly closing day. Check the official site before you go for current details.