# Fort St. Anthony of Simbor

- **Country:** India

Fort St. Anthony of Simbor, known locally by names such as Fortim-do-Mar or Forte Pani Cola, is a small stone fortification situated on an islet at the mouth of the Sahil River in the bay of Simbor, approximately 25 kilometers east of Diu, India. Constructed in 1722 during the declining era of Portuguese influence in Asia, it stands as one of the final military structures built by the Portuguese in the region. The architecture was designed as a practical defensive position to suppress the predatory activities of Sanganian pirates who utilized the Gulf of Khambhat to anchor their vessels. Originally a pirate stronghold led by Ramogi Varer, the site was captured by Governor Luís de Melo Pereira, who ordered its conversion into a formal fort complete with a cistern to sustain a garrison of thirty men.

Historically, the fort served as a strategic point for the tiny Portuguese exclave of Simbor, which remained under Portuguese control from its construction until 1961. Despite facing internal debates regarding its high maintenance costs and proposals to demolish the structure to block the river mouth, the fort was preserved and even housed a small chapel dedicated to St. Anthony of Padua. Along with the rest of Portuguese India, the installation was invaded and absorbed by India in December 1961, ending nearly two and a half centuries of foreign occupation. Today, the site is owned by the union territory of Dadra and Nagar Haveli and Daman and Diu.

Currently, Fort St. Anthony of Simbor exists as a ruin and remains abandoned, though it has been earmarked for restoration by local authorities. The structure is often confused with a similarly named fortification called Fortim do Mar located directly in Diu, but it holds a distinct identity tied to the specific anti-piracy campaigns of the 18th century. While no longer actively garrisoned or open to the public in a formal capacity, the site represents a significant historical landmark reflecting the maritime conflicts and colonial history of the Gujarat coast. Efforts are underway to preserve this remnant of Portuguese military engineering for future generations.

![Photo of Fort St. Anthony of Simbor](https://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/7/72/Forte_de_Santo_Ant%C3%B3nio_de_Simbor.gif)

**Source:** https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Fort_St._Anthony_of_Simbor (Wikipedia, CC BY-SA)