The memorial grounds
A small monument and a marked area on the waterfront. Inscriptions, naval insignia, and the names of those who did not return.
Places · War memorial
INS Khukri Memorial: a quiet place on Diu's waterfront
The 1971 memorial for 197 officers and sailors of an Indian Navy frigate lost at sea in the December war — visited properly, it's the most moving stop in Diu.
Why it matters
What happened here
On the night of 9 December 1971, during the Indo-Pakistan war, the anti-submarine frigate INS Khukri was torpedoed by the Pakistani submarine PNS Hangor in the Arabian Sea off the Gujarat coast. Captain Mahendra Nath Mulla, the frigate's commanding officer, refused to abandon his ship until every sailor who could be saved had been evacuated. The ship sank with the loss of 197 officers and sailors — one of the Indian Navy's heaviest single losses in the war.
The memorial stands on Diu's waterfront, close to the point where Khukri operated in the days before the sinking. It's administered by the Indian Navy and is treated as an active service site, not a tourist attraction. Visit quietly, read the names, and treat the place as you'd treat any other place where people chose to stand their post.
Practical box
- Location Northern edge of Diu town, on the waterfront near the old harbour
- Cost Free
- Time 30–45 minutes
- Best time Late afternoon / golden hour for both the light and the quiet
- Notes An active service site — photography allowed, but no loud behaviour
What you'll actually see
The names
Read them. They are the point of the place — 197 lives, not a statistic. Captain Mulla is named first.
The view at dusk
When the sun drops, the harbour behind the memorial looks the same as the sea Khukri sailed on 53 years ago. Visit then, if you can.
Photo gallery
How to visit properly
The Khukri Memorial is administered by the Indian Navy. It isn't a tourist site, and the rules that apply to other Indian service memorials apply here too:
- Quiet. No music, no loud calls, no climbing on the monument.
- Footwear and dress. Treat it as you'd treat any active service ground.
- Photography of the monument is normally fine; respect any signage or Naval personnel who ask otherwise.
- Wreaths may be laid at the site on Navy Day (4 December) and on the anniversary (9 December). Visitors at other times are mildly welcome, but it's a working site — don't expect a visitor centre.
Pair-with
The memorial is a short walk from the Naida Caves and from St Paul's Church — it's easy to fit into the morning half of day 1. The main fort faces out to the same stretch of sea.
Map
FAQ
Outer area: yes, most days, daylight hours. Gate may be closed to visitors during ceremonies or Indian Navy operational events. Photography of the monument is allowed; respect any signage around it.
No — the wreck lies in naval waters to the north of Diu and is a protected war grave. Recreational diving on it is forbidden and punishable.
30–45 minutes is enough to walk the memorial, read the names, and be still with the view. Combine it with the nearby Naida Caves and the rest of the old town.