Fort St. Anthony of Simbor

Fort St. Anthony of Simbor is a footnote that most travellers never notice, and that is precisely why it can be a rewarding detour if you have an extra half‑day after Diu. The Portuguese stonework sits on a tiny islet at the mouth of the Sahil River, reachable only by a rickety wooden ferry from Simbor village; the crossing itself is the first test of stamina, as the boat lurches past fishing trawlers and the occasional dolphin pod. Once ashore you are greeted by the skeleton of a 1722 bastion, its cannons rusted but still pointing defiantly out to the Arabian Sea, and the crumbling walls that once kept pirates at bay. There is no ticket office, no guide, and no tea‑stall, so bring water and a sense of curiosity. The view of the bay, with Diu’s white‑washed forts faintly visible on the horizon, is striking at sunrise when the light turns the granite pink; at midday the heat drives the occasional gull into the shadows, and the silence feels oppressive. Skip the “official” tours that charge inflated fees for a guide who will simply recite the fort’s construction date; instead, wander the ramparts at your own pace and imagine the Portuguese garrison’s dwindling morale. The nearest decent stay is the heritage hotel in Diu; otherwise, a night in Simbor’s modest guesthouse lets you catch the ferry at dawn without the tourist rush. The best window is November to February; the monsoon will swamp the islet and the summer sun will make the ruins unbearably hot. In short, two hours here reward the patient, the curious, and anyone tired of polished, over‑photographed coastal forts.

Source · Wikipedia · Fort St. Anthony of Simbor · CC-BY-SA

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