A Glimpse of Surat's

HISTORICAL LANDMARKS | City's architecture a cultural blend of colonial period & the now forgotten era

- Freya Christian

Surat, the busy and bustling city of Gujarat was once a flourishing port during the Mughal era. Surat is considered to be a treasure when it comes to historical landmarks. While today Surat is known for its trade and commerce, especially the diamond industry, the architecture marvels of the city narrate different stories of colonial period, cultural blend and the eras that are now forgotten. The historical monuments of Surat stand as a witness to its vibrant past right from the European cemeteries to the ancient forts and Churches.

Surat Castle: the guardian of the city Surat Castle, the formidable fort stands on the banks of Tapi river as a symbol of the city's rich past. It was built in 1540 by Sultan Mahmud III of the Gujarat Sultanate. The castle was built in a way that it could defend Surat from the Portuguese invasion. It was constructed with iron-bonded stone masonry. The walls of the castle are over 13 feet thick; they were built to withstand the cannon fire, this made it one of the strongest forts of its time. The fort also has secret passages like hidden tunnels and underground escape routes which makes the fort even more impressive.