Coordinates 20.7174145,70.9954062 Condition Restrored Address Kheda, Gujarat | Open to
the public Yes Materials Stone fort Owner Government of India | |
 | ||
Controlled by Portuguese Empire (16th Century-1961)
India (1961-) Similar Bombay Castle, Ghodbunder Fort, St Thomas Fort - Tangasseri, Fort Diu, Worli Fort | ||
Fort St. Anthony of Simbor (Portuguese: Forte de Santo António de Simbor, Gujarati: પાની કોઠા), also referred as Fort of the Sea Portuguese: Fortim do mar or Fort of Pani-Kota, is located on a small island in the bay of Simbor, about 1 nautical mile (1.9 km) east of Diu in India. It was subordinate to the Portuguese Distrito de Diu, defended the supply of the boats on that stretch of coast.
Contents
Geography
Forte de Santo António de Simbor is a gigantic structure built in the shape of a ship on 56,736 sq m area, offshore on the Arabian sea. The rulers of Gujarat and Portuguese jointly made this structure to defend Diu against any possible Mughal invasion. Located about one nautical mile from Diu, it houses a small lighthouse and a chapel dedicated to Our Lady of the Sea. The fortress has ancient cells and cellars where the prisoners were locked. This ancient stone fort is now a major tourist destination as it provides an absolutely stunning view of the Arabian Sea. The fort was once connected to the land by an underground tunnel, which is however in ruins now.
History
In the context of the independence of India the Fort has an invasion in 1954, when the occupation of the Portuguese enclaves Dadra and Nagar Haveli, but the Portuguese have expelled the invaders.
On the afternoon of December 19, 1961, after the act of surrender of Diu, on the morning of the day, the second officer in command of the Portuguese army group in Diu, followed the Indian troops that were occupying Indian Simbor. The army garrison of this small fort, twelve men, arrived at Diu on the morning of December 20.
Characteristics
The Fort is in the form of a square, with stone walls, inside the remains the ruins of a Chapel, originally under the invocation of St. Anthony.