Fort St. Anthony of Simbor

Fort St. Anthony of Simbor is a small ruined fort situated on an islet at the mouth of the Sahil River, located about 25 kilometers east of Diu in India. It was built in 1722 by the Portuguese along with the rulers of Gujarat as a defensive measure against the pirate activities that were common along the northern Arabian Sea coast. This fort was one of the last Portuguese fortifications constructed in India.

The islet, along with two small plots of land on either side of the river mouth, composed a tiny Portuguese exclave known as Simbor, which was administratively linked to the government of Diu during the Portuguese period. The fort itself is rectangular, with stone walls enclosing an area of around 420 square meters, and included a cistern for drinking water and a chapel dedicated to St. Anthony of Padua.

It was maintained by a small garrison and was intended to control piracy and protect the nearby coastal areas. Over time, the fort fell into disrepair, suffering damage from attacks by regional forces in 1780 and later from natural elements, with portions collapsing over the years. The village of Simbor on the mainland was eventually lost due to political consolidations, further isolating the fort. Following India’s annexation of Portuguese territories in December 1961, Fort St. Anthony of Simbor was the last Portuguese military site to surrender.

Today, the fort is abandoned and in ruins, although efforts have been made to prevent further erosion and to preserve the remaining structure. It lies within the union territory of Dadra and Nagar Haveli and Daman and Diu, reflecting a unique historical legacy from the era of Portuguese India. The fort is sometimes confused with another similarly named fort near Diu but remains a significant colonial relic illustrating the strategic efforts of the Portuguese to control the Arabian Sea's coastal region.