Surat Castle / Surat Fort, Surat - Timings, History, Architecture, Best Time to Visit

At a distance of 3 Km from Surat Railway Station, Surat Castle, or Surat Fort is an ancient fort situated on the banks of River Tapi in Surat. It is one of the heritage forts in Gujarat, and among the must visit places as part of Surat packages from Ahmedabad.

Surat Castle, commonly referred to as the Old Fort, is a historical edifice from the 16th century located amidst the vibrant streets of Surat. Surat Castle was constructed in 1546 under the orders of Sultan Mahmud III of the Gujarat Sultanate to protect the city from persistent Portuguese raids. He assigned the task to Safi Agha, a Turkish soldier who had been honored with the title of Khudawand Khan. During the construction phase, the Portuguese made numerous attempts to thwart Khudawand Khan's efforts through both bribery and force. When these tactics failed, they launched attacks with several cannon-armed vessels, yet they were unable to stop him from completing the castle. The construction of this fortress was finalized in the year 1546.

Following the capture of Surat by Emperor Akbar in 1573, the fortress was managed by commandants appointed from Delhi until it was taken over by the Sidhi admiral of the Mughal fleet in 1751. However, the Sidhi did not retain control of the castle for an extended period, as it was seized by the English in 1759 along with the rest of the city. Over the years, the fort has undergone various renovations and modifications. It currently accommodates government offices and a museum, thereby preserving its historical importance. In 2015, the Government of Gujarat entrusted the Surat Municipal Corporation with the responsibility of conserving and restoring the historical Fort of Surat.

Inspired by Portuguese architectural styles, Surat Castle was erected on the banks of the Tapi River, covering a land area of nearly 1 acre. The fort features an irregular square layout, with walls that raise 20 Gaj (yards) high, and large round bastions at each corner, standing at a height of 12.2 meters and a wall thickness of 4.1 meters. To enhance defense against Portuguese assaults, Khudawand Khan fortified the structure by integrating cannons and employing innovative construction techniques, such as bonding masonry with iron strips and filling joints with melted lead.

There is a massive gate on the eastern wing of the castle, having strong door shutters furnished with protruding spikes at the exterior side, and a decorative architectural treatment at the interior side. Also, the Surat Castle has the Anglican Church by Bishop Hebenn and the well-known Victoria Garden.

Timings: 10 AM - 6 PM, Closed on Monday

Entry: Rs. 100 for Adults, Rs. 500 for Foreigners, & Rs. 500 for Camera/Video