INS Varuna (God of the Ocean) is India's first square rig sail training vessel of the Indian Navy incidentally also in Asia. Varuna was completed in April 1981 by Mazagon Dock Limited at Mumbai. It based at Kochi under the Southern Naval Command. It was commissioned on 20 April 1981 by the Chief of the Naval Staff, Admiral RL Pereira. [1] [2]
INS Varuna has made several goodwill visit to various countries including Australia to participate in its bicentennial celebrations in January 1988, where it participated in "Tall Ship" race from Hobart to Sydney where 250 square-rigged ships were participant. [3]