Uru (Big Boat)

The "Uru", or "Big Boat", is made in Beypore, a village in south Calicut, Kerala, in southwestern India. A couple of boat-building yards can be found near the Beypore port. These have been used by the Arabs since ancient times as trading vessels, and even now, "uru"s are being manufactured and exported to Arab nations from Beypore. It is built of several types of wood, the main one being teak. The teak was taken from Nilambur forests in earlier times, but now imported Malaysian teak is used.

A remarkable feature of the technology of Uru making is that, there is no documents, technical data sheets or drawings right from the beginning till end of the manufacturing. The construction details are assigned on a day to day basis to the assistants and carpenters by the master carpenter.

Another amazing feature is the pre calculated "water line" marked around the hull, will be precisely on the water-level while the boat is launched.