Surat travel guide

Best time

October to March

Ideal time needed

2 to 3 days

Nearest airport

Surat, under 15 km from the centre

Known for

Diamonds, textiles, street food

History

The city grew as a trading settlement under the Gujarat Sultanate, which built walls to protect it. In the Mughal period it became the main port of the empire and the point from which pilgrims sailed for Mecca. The British East India Company set up one of its earliest factories here, and Surat remained a leading port until Bombay overtook it.

Its modern fame comes from diamonds: most of the globe's rough diamonds pass through Surat's workshops for cutting and polishing. Textiles, synthetic fabrics and zari embroidery are the city's other big industries.

Places to visit

Heritage sites sit mainly in the old city, while the coast to the south has several beaches.

• Surat Castle
• Mirza Sami's Roza (Marjan Shami Roza)
• Parsi fire temples (agiaries)
• Chintamani Jain Temple
• Gopi Talav
• Jama Masjid and Nav Saiyed Masjid at Rander
• Sardar Patel Museum
• Narmad House Museum
• Dumas and Suvali beaches

Beyond the city

The south Gujarat coast has more to offer within a few hours' drive: Dandi, linked with the Salt March, the beaches at Tithal and Nargol, and Udvada and Navsari, which are important to the Parsi community.

Food and shopping

Surat is a food lover's city. Try locho, a soft steamed snack, the rich sweet ghari, papdi gathiya and the local cold cocoa. For shopping, look for bandhani sarees, textiles and handicrafts.

Best time and how to reach

October to March is the best time to visit; summers are hot and humid. Navaratri in autumn brings nights of garba and dandiya. Two or three days are enough to see the city.

Surat sits on the main Mumbai to Ahmedabad and Delhi rail lines. The domestic airport, under 15 km from the centre, has flights to Mumbai, Delhi and other cities, and national highways connect it by road to Mumbai, Vadodara and Ahmedabad.

Also nearby