સુરતની ઐતિહાસિક ઓળખ સમો ચોકબજાર સ્થિત કિલ્લો રિનોવેટ કરાયા બાદ લોકો માટે ખુલ્લો મૂકાયો હતો. એ વાતને આવતીકાલ તા.13મી એપ્રિલ 2019ના રોજ એક વર્ષ થઈ રહ્યું છે. મળતી માહિતી મુજબ ઐતિહાસિક સુરત ફોર્ટમાં છેલ્લા એક વર્ષ દરમિયાન 34,501 મુલાકાતીઓ આવી ચૂક્યા છે અને સુરતવાસીઓ કરતા સુરતના બહારના લોકો વધુને વધુ સુરતના કિલ્લાને નિહાળવા માટે આવી રહ્યા છે.
સુરત ફોર્ટમાં ઉપલબ્ધ સુવિધાઓમાં થયેલા વધારા અંગે માહિતી આપતા ભામિનીબેન મહિડાએ જણાવ્યું હતું કે સુરત ફોર્ટ સાઇટ પર વધઉ બે ફેસેલિટી ઉભી કરવામાં આવી છે. એક ફેસેલિટી છે કોન્ફરન્સ રૂમની. 40થી 50 વ્યક્તિઓ માટે કોન્ફરન્સ, પ્રોડક્ટ લોંચ વગેરે કરવા માટે ત્રણ કલાકના સેશન માટે સુરત મહાનગરપાલિકા જગ્યા ભાડે આપશે. એવી જ રીતે આર્ટ ગેલેરીની રચના કરવામાં આવી છે. આર્ટ ગેલેરી પણ જુદા જુદા હેતુસર ભાડે આપવામાં આવશે.
(Photo by Khushi Moda)
By Prakash Hathi, Founder Dharohar
Surat fort was opened for general public last year on 13 April (year 2018). On this 13 April, it completes 1 year. Surat fort has become the benchmark of Surat’s heritage sites in the city and attracts the tourists more than common people. A lot of students from schools also visit the fort on regular basis and it is staffed by expert members from Surat Municipal Corporation.
Some important features are listed below.
About the original fort
Surat fort was built between 1540 and 1547
It was commissioned by Ahmedabad king Sultan Mahmood-III and the in-charge was Khudawand Khan (his tomb is also a brilliant heritage site near SMC main office in Mugalisara)
The fort was built to protect from the repeated invasions by Portuguese rulers.
During the construction, the Portuguese spies had tried to bribe General Khudawan Khan repeatedly, but they did not succeed.
The Fort derives its inspiration from a number of cultures and so today it houses very interesting areas like British barracks, a hammam (popularly found in Turkish cultures), the court-room made in Dutch style, etc.
The cannons installed on the fort were believed to be brought in either from Junagadh or from Diu.
About and after the restoration
The restoration was done by a Surat based company called People for Heritage Concern (PHC), headed by Architect Sumesh Modi & Architect Sonal Modi.
It was reconstructed in almost the same way, and in most parts, by the material used at that time or its replica.
Today it houses an audio-visual room, library, art gallery, hammam, display gallery, reading room, café, etc.
It is being managed and maintained by Surat Municipal Corporation under the curatorship of Mrs Bhamini Mahida.
The current fort is still half of the actual site and the other half will open for public after restoration after a couple of years.
Appropriate people if you want to take more details
Mrs Bhamini Mahida (SMC), Curator Science Centre & Surat Fort – 0261 – 2255947
Mr Sumesh Modi (Chief architect, People for Heritage Concern) – 98251 29961
Prakash Hathi (Founder, Dharohar Foundation) – 98252 34861
