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 16th-19th 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 16th 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.