The fort crowns a low hill above the Narmada and was the centre of Bharuch's long life as a trading port. The ramparts and gateways that survive date mostly to the medieval period, rebuilt repeatedly by successive rulers — Hindu, Muslim, and eventually the British, who maintained a factory here from the early 17th century. The views from the fort walls over the wide Narmada estuary are excellent.
Within the fort compound stands the Jami Masjid, a Friday mosque built in the 14th century on the site of a Hindu temple. The mosque's columns — some clearly reused from earlier temple construction — are a visible reminder of the layered history of the site. The fort area is walkable from the old town; rickshaws can take you to the base.