ABSTRACT
The Project Mausam Plan (hereinafter “this plan”) is fully known as “Project Mausam: Maritime Routes and Cultural Landscapes”. On June 20, 2014, at the 38th World Heritage Convention in Doha City (Qatar), this plan was announced by the Ministry of Culture of India. It is a cross-country initiative covering various essentials on the World Heritage List (e.g. natural and cultural heritages). As an Arabic word, mausam originally means the season suitable for safe navigation of ships. This climatological terminology cited in this plan means the special monsoon circulation in the North Indian Ocean formed by the influence of the tropical monsoon climate in South Asia. In the summer (May–September), a clockwise ocean gyre is formed under the influence of the south-western monsoon; in the winter (November–March), a counterclockwise ocean gyre is formed under the influence of the north-eastern monsoon. Based on the adaption to and the utilisation of the natural environment, a trade and humanistic exchange inside and across the Indian Ocean area was launched using monsoon circulation since ancient times.
