Vasco da Gama's Arrival in India
- When
- 1498
- Where
- Malindi, Kenya; Indian Ocean; Kappadu near Kozhikode, India
- Episodes
- 4
In 1498, Vasco da Gama's fleet sailed from the East African coast to Kozhikode. After stopping at Malindi to secure a guide, the expedition crossed the Indian Ocean and arrived at Kappadu near Kozhikode on 20 May 1498, establishing the first direct maritime link between Europe and India.
Episodes
- Arrival at Malindi
Da Gama arrived at Malindi on 14 April 1498 after leaving hostile Mombasa.
- Trade Agreement and Guide
Da Gama signed a trade agreement and hired a guide in Malindi.
- Crossing the Indian Ocean
The fleet crossed the Indian Ocean in 23 days using monsoon winds.
- Arrival at Kozhikode
The fleet arrived at Kappadu near Kozhikode on 20 May 1498.
Background and detail
Malindi Stopover. After encountering hostility in Mombasa, da Gama arrived at the friendlier port of Malindi on 14 April 1498. There, he met local authorities to sign a trade agreement and hire a guide for the voyage to India. He erected a padrão, known today as the Vasco da Gama Pillar, before departing for India on 24 April 1498.
Arrival in India. Sailing with the summer monsoon winds, the fleet crossed the Indian Ocean in 23 days. They arrived at Kappadu near Kozhikode on the Malabar Coast on 20 May 1498. This landing opened a direct trade route between Europe and India, marking a landmark event in world history.
People involved
- Vasco da Gama · Portuguese mariner, explorer, and fleet commander
Sources
- Vasco da Gama Wikipedia, revision of 2026-09-16
- Kozhikode Wikipedia, revision of 2026-08-29
- Malindi Wikipedia, revision of 2026-09-13
Machine-drafted from the cited Wikipedia passages and checked by a reviewing model, not by a human editor. Every passage cites the revision it was written from; dates and places follow those passages.