British Cemetery - Cemetery in Surat - Surat, India

The tombs in English, Dutch and Armenian cemeteries at Surat are reckoned among the most important historical monuments in the city. It is reported that there was so much competition between the Dutch and the English in Surat to impress upon the natives their importance and power that they put mausoleums instead of tomb stones. Many of these are so ridiculously large and ornamental resembling Muslim tombs rather than the ordinary tomb stones in Europe. One of the tomb in the Dutch cemetery is quoted as unequalled among the structures of its kind (barring a few) in Europe. However, Mr. A.F. Bellasis who had given a detailed account of these monuments and their epitaphs in the Journal of the Royal Asiatic Society of Bombay for January 1861 was evidently apprehensive that within another fifty years or so the majority of these monuments, totally uncared for as they were in his time, would disappear. Thanks, however, to Lord Curzon's solicitude for India's historical monuments, and to the efforts of the Archaeological Survey of India, established forty years after Bellasis wrote and which has under its charge a legacy of monuments and archaeological sites of national importance that these cemeteries in Surat are declared as protected monuments. In-spite of this, majority of these monuments are showing the signs of serious deterioration and it is feared that if measures to conserve them are not expedited the city would loose its historic memorials of the past. A brief description of the distinguished architectural style of the few of the important tombs in the English, Dutch and Armenian cemeteries along with their historical background is presented here.

This place is playing great role in Surat City's History. Having 70+ grave monuments. Many Sculpture are preserved but the structure is not in good condition. Well Area covered. Place in not good maintained and there is no place for parking.

Its is a very old cemetery which hasnt been maintained by the Indian Government but the architectural structures are worth a visit. Beautifully crafted. Some of the graves here are of kids and you can read the details on your graves. However the details on the bigger structures are in Latin and difficult to understand.

This is British cemetery & all of us know from history that British & other European came to India & started business in city of Surat first. From Surat they went all along in India. This cemetery has as many as 19 big monuments alongwith many small structures. These tombs were influenced by Muslim architecture than simple tombs from Europe. Though this site is under arciology department of India, it is not maintained properly. This requires special attention & can be developed & concerted to great tourist attractions in Surat. No proper entrance or parking place is available for visitors.

If you love historical places or you like old architecture then you should visit this place. Something's are so frustrating about people at there as they sit on the gravestones and walk around on Graves. If you're a photographer then you must go on first floor of the structure! The view from there is good! There are too many graves which makes it difficult for photographers to take a photo from certain angles. Overall I would say it is a place worth visiting once.

A historic place if you like to visit such places. A must see,i visited the place and uploaded pics of it,my friends from Surat itself didn't knew that there's such a place in Surat. Buildings are of the British age, and no work is still done after that. I went to the top of one of the building as well to have a view from the above. A beautiful place for photography as well. There is no entry charge for the place and it's like almost open whole day and evening as well,but not sure though. In reviews it's written 5pm but i don't think so because i myself eas at the place around till 5:30 or 6:00pm and no one told me to go out.

This is British cemetery & all of us know from history that British & other European came to India & started business in city of Surat first. From Surat they went all along in India. This cemetery has as many as 19 big monuments alongwith many small structures. These tombs were influenced by Muslim architecture than simple tombs from Europe. Though this site is under arciology department of India, it is not maintained properly. This requires special attention & can be developed & concerted to great tourist attractions in Surat. No proper entrance or parking place is available for visitors.

About The Place: It is said that the competition between the Dutch and the British followed them even past death. They erected grand mausoleums instead of the normal tombstones in Europe, heavily influenced, ironically, by Hindu and Islamic elements belonging to the very natives to whom they were each trying to prove their superiority as colonizers. Next door to the British and Dutch cemeteries in the churchyard of the Armenians, another important trading community from the 16th century, whose tombstones are heavily inscribed, but forgo the superstructures of the other two communities. The cemeteries have been declared as protected monuments, but they still show signs of deterioration, both from natural weathering and from human visitors. Photography is prohibited at the sites. They may be hard to locate, but you can ask the locals to guide you. By Road Surat lies 267 km from Ahmedabad, 131 km from Vadodara, and 297 km from Mumbai. Bus stations, both ST and private, are on the eastern edge of the city. By Train Surat is on the main broad Gage line between Mumbai and Ahmedabad. By Air Various domestic flights connecting metros and other major cities are operational from the Surat Airport.