On May 17, 1498, Vasco da Gama became the first European to land in India. Vasco da Gama took the pilot aboard and after a 20-day journey across the Indian Ocean, he could spot India. On April 7, 1598, the fleet reached Mombasa (now Kenya) where Da Gama met a Gujarati pilot.

He erected one on an island near Mossel Bay, South Africa, two in Mozambique, and one in Calicut, India, to prove that his fleettwo three-masted sailing ships, a 50-ton caravel, and a 200-ton storeshiphad been there. He was not only responsible for Portugal’s success as an early colonising power, but also for linking the West and the Orient. Vasco da Gama was the first European to reach India via an oceanic route. Vasco da Gama was the first European to reach India by sea, linking Europe and Asia for the first time by an ocean route. Not only is da Gama a significant figure in the history of Portugal and Europe, but he is also an important personage in world history. The vessels reassured Da Gama that he was headed towards India, his final destination. During Vasco da Gama’s first voyage, he carried padres (stone pillars) as marks of discovery. Vasco da Gama was a Portuguese sailor and explorer who lived between the 15th and 16th centuries. In Mozambique, Da Gama learned about their trade with the Arabs and found four vessels of gold, silver and spices on the port. On March 2, the fleet reached the Island of Mozambique. Portuguese explorer Vasco de Gama becomes the first European to reach India via the Atlantic Ocean when he arrives at Calicut on the Malabar Coast. On its way to Mozambique, the fleet took rest at one place, where they stayed for a month. During Vasco da Gama’s first voyage, he carried padrões (stone pillars) as marks of discovery. By crossing various rivers, the fleet headed towards Mozambique. Many sailors before him set out to discover India but none of them succeeded.Ĭhristopher Columbus started his voyage in 1492, five years after Da Gama as he wanted to discover the sea route to India but his journey took him to America.ĭuring his voyage, Da Gama's fleet reached the coast of Natal on Christmas Day.

Da Gama was not the first person who started out in search of India - a fabled land of spices and riches.

What did vasco da gama do