As you set foot in Surat, the city greets you with a pleasing sight of pristine streets and neatly aligned lanes without a trace of garbage or waste in sight. Moving deeper into the city you are caught on by a nostalgia evoked by the elegant colonial structures lining the alleys – remembrances of a bygone era. The first whiff of one of its bazaars and you are suddenly shaken back to reality with the blaring bustle of the city’s markets. A former colonial stronghold, a major mercantile port, a vibrant market town, Surat is a warm blend of all of these and more; it is a journey and a destination in itself.
The small hamlet of Surat prospered to an important trading port under the Mughal reign. Ever since, it has served as a commercial hub; from the European colonies in the pre-independence period, to the current developing economy of India. Surat is as popular for its cultural heritage as it is for its booming textile and diamond industry. From serene and sandy beaches to noisy bazaars, Surat promises you a thrilling ride.
You can be assured of a thoroughly enjoyable, if somewhat bumpy, experience in Surat. Having been the stronghold of British, Dutch and Portuguese colonies, the city is marked with several important monuments that are worth exploring. Surat also boasts of a connection to India’s historic freedom struggle, with areas such as Dandi and the Swaraj Ashram. Its shoreline is adorned with quite a few beaches providing ample opportunity to unwind and relax.
One can hardly be in Surat and not explore its markets. Surat is known for its fine quality textiles and handloom fabrics. The zari designs and patterns are a specialty of Surat, where clothes are decorated with patterns woven with golden and silver threads. Surat Textile Market and New Bombay Market are among the popular textile markets in Surat. Surat is also the world’s largest diamond manufacturing center by volume and you can see many huge complexes occupied by diamond cutting companies. Surti cuisine is spicier in contrast with that found in other parts of Gujrat and you must partake of delicious ‘thali’ meals served up at a few iconic eateries in the main part of town.
The various parts of the city are well-connected to each other through a local bus network. This is the preferred mode of commuting to work for locals in Surat. Auto-rickshaws are also available for plying across the city. The commercial progress of Surat has also reflected on its transport infrastructure. Several amenities like flyovers and elevated roads have contributed to the ease of travel within the city.
Considered to be one of the safest Indian cities, there are very few things one needs to be careful about in Surat. Once you’ve taken these cautions, there is nothing to stop you from having a good time.
On a daily basis there are approximately 4 flights that operate at Surat Airport.Air India is the popular airline brand that fly frequently to this airport.
Besides flying you can also reach Surat through train.Surat, Udhna Jn, Bhestanare some of the most popular train stations in Surat.On an average about 300+ trains pass through Surat on a daily basis.Vadodara to Surat, Mumbai to Surat, Ahmedabad to Suratare some of the most popular routes to Surat with 348, 346, 254 trains weekly respectively.
By road Surat is surrounded by Navsari, Bilimora, Bharuch which are 17.55 km, 29.93 km, 39.08 km away respectively. These places are ideal spots for people to plan their short weekend break.
Surat has a total of 29 hotels.There are 29 hotels in Surat with the popular ones being The Taj Gateway Hotel Athwalines, Lords Plaza, The Grand Bhagwati Surat, Ginger Surat, Best Western Yuvraj Hotel, Budget Inn Bellevue Surat etc.
'Popularly known as the Hare Rama Hare Krishna temple, the ISKCON temple in Surat was established in the year 1978. The temple is one of the city’s most frequented religious sites. The temple compl...
Know More →'The Dutch Cemetery or the Dutch Gardens is a set of memorials and mausoleums built by the Dutch community living in Surat for trade purposes. It is situated next to its British counterpart, the En...
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