INS Kursura is a retired Indian Navy submarine on Visakhapatnam’s Beach Road. Visitors can go inside the preserved vessel to see its equipment, machinery and cramped compartments. RK Beach is just outside, so you can combine the museum with a walk along the seafront.
Before you go
| Visit | Details |
|---|---|
| Where | Beach Road, beside RK Beach, Visakhapatnam. |
| Type | A decommissioned Indian Navy submarine preserved as a museum. |
| Inside | To see the fittings, machinery and confined working spaces of a real submarine. |
| Time | Around an hour is a useful planning allowance, including time for a queue. |
| Entry | Check the current opening days, last entry and ticket price with the museum before setting out. |
What to look for inside
Inside, take your time with the equipment and the layout of each compartment. The visit is as much about understanding how the crew used the space as identifying individual pieces of machinery.
- The machinery and controls. Look at how much equipment is fitted into the available space. Labels and any explanation offered during your visit help make sense of what you are seeing.
- The internal layout. Notice how the compartments connect and how little room is left for moving around. Follow the visitor route and leave space for the people ahead.
- The exterior. Before or after going inside, step back on the public seafront to take in the hull and tower. It is easier to understand the vessel’s overall shape from outside.
You do not need a background in naval history to enjoy it. If you are travelling with children, the contrast between the large hull outside and the small spaces inside gives you something concrete to talk about.
From naval service to Beach Road
Kursura was a Foxtrot-class submarine, commissioned at Riga in the former Soviet Union on 18 December 1969. It served the Indian Navy for 31 years, operating on both the eastern and western seaboards, and took part in the 1971 war.
After decommissioning in 2001, the submarine was preserved in Visakhapatnam. Moving a vessel of this size onto the beach was an engineering project in its own right. Its setting is also fitting: Vizag is closely associated with the Navy and submarine training.
Check availability
Select a bike and your dates to send a WhatsApp enquiry. We will confirm availability and booking details with you.
Planning a comfortable visit
Treat the museum visit and a walk along the seafront as separate parts of your outing. The museum depends on entry arrangements; the time you spend on Beach Road can be more flexible. If you have a train or another timed commitment later, leave room for a queue rather than arriving with only a short gap.
Opening times and tickets
Check the museum’s current opening days, entry hours, last admission and ticket price before travelling. Ask about photography charges if you plan to take pictures inside. If Kursura is the main reason for your outing, confirm these details before leaving your accommodation.
Steps, narrow spaces and luggage
A preserved submarine is a confined environment. If steps, tight spaces or standing in a queue would make the visit difficult, ask the museum about the current access arrangements before buying tickets. Do not assume a step-free route or wheelchair access through the interior.
Keep your hands free and carry only what you need. If you have large bags, arrange storage with your accommodation or another confirmed service; do not rely on the museum having a cloakroom. Follow the staff’s instructions on the route, photography and touching the exhibits.
Finding the museum
The museum is on the RK Beach stretch of Beach Road. The district tourism listing puts it around 5 km from Visakhapatnam Railway Station and 5 km from RTC Complex. Check a current route from your actual starting point; traffic and your arrival exit will affect the journey.
A bus, auto or cab is an option for reaching the seafront. If you ride there, use permitted parking and continue on foot. Keep the museum’s name saved separately from your hotel or rental location so your map route ends at the attraction.
If a rented bike is part of your wider trip, Janatha Riders’ Railway Station Road location is in Dwaraka Nagar. Rentals begin there; there is no Janatha Riders counter at the museum.
What to combine with it
RK Beach: leave some time for the waterfront rather than treating it only as the approach to the submarine. A short walk makes a simple addition without another transfer.
TU-142 Aircraft Museum: another naval exhibit on Beach Road, near Kursura. It makes a useful companion visit if you are interested in the different ways the Navy operates at sea and in the air. Check its admission arrangements separately.
For a longer outing, the RK Beach, Kailasagiri and Rushikonda itinerary explains how to keep a coastal day manageable. Allow extra time for Kursura instead of trying to squeeze a museum visit into every stop on that route.