Baroda | Bhavnagar | Jamnagar | Junagadh | Rajkot | Surat

SURAT

For  centuries, Surat  has been  known  as  a  center  of  trade  and  textiles. It  was  a major  port  during  the Mughal  period,  and  all powers  including  the Portugese  vied  for  power  of  the port. From  the  16^th-19^th  century,  the British, French, Portuguese  and Dutch  established  factories  in Surat. Today, Surat  is  known  for  it’s  textiles,  with  thousands  of  weavers  engrossed  in making  cotton,  synthetic,  silk  and  art  silk  textiles.

It  is  also  the  staging  post  for   going  down  to   large  industries  of  Hazira, Valsad, Vapi, Silvassa  and Umbergaon. 

The Surat  castle was  built  in  the  16^th century  by  the Gujarat  sultanate  on  the  foundations  of  an older  fort  of  Dehli  sultan Ferozkhan Tuglaq,  and is  worth  a  visit  for  it’s  history  and  views  of  river Tapti.

There  are  some  remains  of  the Gujarat  sultanate-the Khawaja Diwan Saheb’s  mosque,  Khudavad  mosque and  the Marjan  Shami  maqbara,  all  3 of  the  1530s  and `40s. The Mughal  remains  include  a 1630s  caravan  serai  and Sayyid Idris  mosque. The old English  factory, Dutch tomb,  1820s christ  church, Anglican  church,  numerous  cemetery. Surat  is  also  a  delight  for  shoppers,  specially  textiles.

A  highlight of Surat  is  it’s  proximity  to some  fine  beaches-Hazira, Dumas  and  Dandi(where  Gandhiji’s  march  ended) have  pleasant  sea  shore  spots  to  unwind, Ubhrat  has  a  beautiful  beach  and  the  Maharajah of Baroda’s  old  mansion retreat. Tithal, Davier  and  the  fine  beaches  of  Daman Union  territory  are  worth  visiting over  the  weekend.

Baroda | Bhavnagar | Jamnagar | Junagadh | Rajkot | Surat

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