Surat Fort (Surat Castle)
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Upcoming at Surat Fort (Surat Castle)
About Surat Fort (Surat Castle)
Surat Fort, also called Surat Castle, stands on the Tapi at Chowk Bazar. Sultan Mahmud Shah III of Gujarat ordered it after Portuguese raids burned the port in 1512, 1530 and 1531, and his officer Safi Agha, titled Khudawand Khan, completed it in 1546 with walls about 4 m thick, corner bastions and masonry bound with iron strips and molten lead. Excavations found traces of an earlier Tughlaq-period fort beneath. The Gujarat government handed its conservation to the Surat Municipal Corporation in 2015; the roughly ₹55 crore restoration re-excavated the moat, reinstated the drawbridge and opened galleries inside, and the Prime Minister inaugurated it virtually on 29 September 2022. It is open from Tuesday to Sunday, 10 am to 6 pm, with entry at ₹100 for adults.
Frequently asked questions
What are the Surat Fort timings?
Tuesday to Sunday, 10 am to 6 pm, with tickets sold and entry allowed until 4:10 pm. It is closed on Mondays.
What is the entry fee?
₹100 for ages 17 to 60, ₹50 for ages 3 to 16 and for those over 60, and ₹500 for foreign visitors, according to the Surat Municipal Corporation.
Who built Surat Fort?
Safi Agha, known as Khudawand Khan, built it for Sultan Mahmud Shah III of Gujarat. It was completed in 1546 to defend the port against Portuguese attacks.
Is there a museum inside?
The restored fort has galleries, and the corporation's site says the Sardar Vallabhbhai Patel Museum collection can be seen here.
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