Colonial Clock Tower of Surat City, Gujarat: A British legacy

Old lock tower, Surat city, gujarattouristguide.
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Above image:  The Surat Clock Tower of Surat, Gujarat in 2021completed 150 years and was functional and the structure needs some repair work. There is a spiral  staircase to go to the upper level and  it is closed for the public. The Clock Tower  with four dials facing four cardinal directions had stopped working for many years now. However in the by-gone time  the chiming of the clock  (British made) could be heard  at  a distance every hour, particularly   during night hours. The mechanical  clock is  replaced by battery-operated quartz clock as  the spare parts for the old clock are difficult to get. Further,  no clock experts are available to fix them..............

Old lock tower, Surat city, Gujarat pinrest com. 

Old lock tower, Surat city, Gujarat suratdiaries.in

Old lock tower, Surat city, Gujarat veethi.com

The Surat Clock Tower, a proud emblem of the city’s colonial heritage, stands gracefully in the bustling Zampa Baza area, surrounded by vibrant textile shops and embroidery outlets. Located near Karwa Road, Kumbharwada, Navapura, and Begampura, this 80-meter tall landmark has been a silent witness to Surat’s evolution from a trading hub of the British era to a thriving modern metropolis. Built in 1871 by the Parsi philanthropist Khan Bahadoor Burjorjee Merwanjee Fraser in memory of his father, Merwanjee Hormusjee Fraser, it cost around Rs 14,000—a significant sum at the time. The tower’s purpose was not only commemorative but also civic: in an age when few residents could afford a pocket or wristwatch, the public clock made timekeeping accessible to all.

map of Surat city, Gujarat turkey-visit.com

Clock tower, Surat city,Gujarat. suratfirst.blogspot.com/

Above image: The clock tower is  located ideally  (Karwa Rd, Kumbharwada, Navapura, Begampura)  in  a  busy  shopping area - Zampa Baza  that has lots of   textile and embroidered craft shops........., 

Its striking design, featuring brick-red masonry and four large dials facing the cardinal directions, reflects the elegance of late 19th-century urban architecture. Originally equipped with a British-made mechanical movement, the clock once chimed clearly across the neighbourhood, especially at night, guiding merchants and passers-by. Over the years, as spare parts grew scarce and traditional horologists disappeared, the mechanism was replaced by a battery-powered quartz system, ensuring that the tower remains functional even today. A narrow spiral staircase leads to its upper level, but this section has been closed to the public for safety reasons.

Media reports note that the Surat Clock Tower is among seven heritage structures selected by local authorities for restoration and beautification, highlighting a renewed appreciation for the city’s historic fabric. Standing amid the lively streets of Zampa Baza, the tower draws both tourists and regular shoppers, who cannot help but pause and admire its slender form and dignified presence.

Surat’s celebrated tower is part of a wider tradition in Gujarat, alongside the Saifee Clock Tower in Jamnagar, the Nehru Gate clock tower at Morbi, the elegant Bedi Gate clock in Rajkot, and the famed Aina Mahal complex in Bhuj. Yet the Surat Clock Tower holds a special place, embodying the foresight of its builder and the craftsmanship of its age, while continuing to mark the hours for a city that thrives on enterprise and tradition alike.

https://suratdiaries.in/2019/02/25/clock-tower-surat

https://traveltriangle.com/blog/historical-places-in-surat

https://gujarattouristguide.blogspot.com/2013/03/clock-tower-in-surat.html