Surat, historically called Suryapur, is the second-largest city in Gujarat, India. Textile and diamond slicing and refining industries are key employers in the city. Textiles, ivory handicrafts, embroidery, and jewellery are all prominent in Surat. Surat's silver and gold jewellery is sought after all over the world. Underneath the city's opulence as a corporate and financial centre lies a city steeped in history.

Traveling through the ancient areas of the city, divided from the modern suburbs by a canal, with small streets and heritage landmarks dotting the landscape, one may get a sense of the city's history. This city contains a lot of historical structures that are pretty interesting. Surat Castle, Chintamani Jain Temple, Marjan Shami Roza, Vir Narmad Saraswati Mandir, Parsi Agiari, Navsari, Bilimora, and Udvada are just a few of the must-see attractions.

Surat is located on the west coast of India, facing the Arabian Sea, which most people ignore because of its significance as a commerce and financial centre. Surat has a number of lovely beaches, including Nargol, Dandi, Dumas, Suvali, and Tithal. The majority of the beaches are remote, making them ideal for vacationers seeking peace and quiet.

Learn About the History of Surat

Surat's rich history can be traced back to the masterpieces Ramayana and Mahabharata, and it is reported that Lord Krishna slept here while travelling from Dwarka to Mathura. Named as Suryapur in the past, the tactically positioned port city was a source of struggle between several European forces, including the British, Portuguese, Dutch, and French, all vying for dominance. By the nineteenth century, the British had taken possession of the city. Shivaji, the renowned Maratha warrior, assaulted the city several times in order to seize control of its expanding wealth and success. The city has grown into a key industrial and economic powerhouse of India since freedom.

Cuisine of Surat Says 'The Belly Rules the Mind'

Surat is well-known for its cuisine. The range of cuisines available here is fairly extensive, and Gujarati Thalis are the ideal way to experience them. The inhabitants' favourite cuisine is Locha, which is made with graham flour and cooked lentils. Ghari is a popular dessert in India. Undhiyu Rasaawala Khaman, Surati Khaman (spicy), khakhra, thepla, and other dishes are also popular. Surti food is known for being quite spicy. Ponk is a fried cereal that is only found in Surat. In Surat, street shops known as laaris provide a variety of Indian-Chinese dishes such as Dry Manchurian and Chinese Bhel.

Culture of Surat – Invoke Your sense of beauty

The majority of India's important festivals are held here. However, Navratri is the most important event. Individuals of all ages come out to enjoy this event by dancing the 'dandiya raas' and 'garba' dances. The Uttarayan kite-flying festival is also performed with fantastic pomp and joviality here.

Things to do at Surat 

• Uncover the truth of Dumas Beach: This typical picnic location, located 21 kilometres south-west of Surat, is far more than a sandy beach. Dumas is said to be one of Gujarat's most cursed locations, as it is a known burial cemetery that is said to have experienced weird occurrences. The beach is a lush semi-urban area that stretches into the Arabian Sea. Visitors may take in the sunset while snacking on local delicacies such as the renowned Lashkari Tomato Bhajiya.
• Hold communion with God at ISKCON Temple: While visiting Shri Radha Damodar's religious devotion, the ISKCON Temple in Surat is a venue to find spiritual importance. This serene refuge is situated away from the city's hustle and bustle, and is recognized for being a spiritual environment for many Krishna worshippers. The temple, which was built in 1979 and is nestled on the banks of the River Tapti, is a work of architectural splendor.
• Go watch birds at Gavier Lake: Step into Gavier Lake's diverse wetlands, a well-known bird-watching haven. The enormous array of migrating birds that fly to the waters of Gavier Lake are a magnificent sight to see in the early morning for nature aficionados. The wetland, which was once on the verge of being destroyed, was really preserved by a group of local children.
• Treat yourself at the Bazaar of Surat: Surat, which is known for its textiles, has a slew of emporiums and handicraft centres packed with tourists and inhabitants. Explore Rander's streets and look for gold souks along the route. On Ghoddod Road, the Ratnasagar Jewelers dazzle their clients with stunning gemstones and colourful beads. While shopping for wonderfully crafted saris and other traditional apparel in the New Textile Market, have a look at the original zari work.
• Disclose Art At Rang Upavan Open Air Amphitheater: Surat's most well-known jewel, the Rang Upavan Open Air Amphitheater, showcases Gujarati history and culture. With an impressive building and old architectural features, this cultural stage is India's largest amphitheatre, seating over 4,000 people. This lovely theatre, set against a magnificent backdrop, hosts cultural events, Gujarati skits, dance recitals, and much more.
• Have A Good Time At The Jagdishchandra Bose Aquarium: The Jagdishchandra Bose Aquarium features a vast array of marine species ranging from brackish to marine life, making it a delightful adventure for kids. Over 100 species, ranging from exotic species like Angel fish to freshwater Piranhas, are housed in the multi-disciplinary environment aquariums.
• Take a trip down memory lane at Dandi: Take a tour of Dandi, one of India's most historically significant structures, where the Namak Satyagraha brought the legendary Dandi March, also renowned as the Salt March, to a close. Your trip to Surat isn't whole without a stop at Dandi, so don't forget to enjoy a relaxing evening with your family at the Dandi Beach.

Places to Visit

• Dutch Garden: Surat's Dutch Garden is one of the city's most popular tourist sites, and it's situated in Nanpura. This park is located in a lovely and natural setting. Aside from its beauty, the area has a rich history, which encourages visitors to investigate. This garden was created in the European style and offers a taste of western culture.
• Swami Narayan Temple: This Hindu shrine is solely dedicated to Vaishnavism's Swaminarayan branch. Surat residents consider it to be extremely auspicious. The temple was originally established in honour of Sahajananda Swami and was magnificently made of pink coloured stone and ornamented with marvellous decorations.
• Sardar Patel Museum: The Sardar Patel Museum, which is accommodated within the grounds of Moti Shahi Mahal, is devoted only to the antiques and personal effects of Sardar Vallabhbhai Patel. Within the two multimedia rooms, there are several displays that throw light on Sardar Vallabhbhai Patel's lifestyle and work through a comprehensive range of participatory and innovative presentations.
• Surat Castle: Surat Castle is a mediaeval fort that was constructed in the 18th century to protect the city from the Portuguese. On the banks of the Tapi River, the fort still stands tall now. Enroll in the video presentation while you're visiting the castle; it will transport you backwards in history and exhibit you the Sultanate of Gujarat's strength.
• Mughal Sarai: The term Mughal Sarai conjures up images of the Mughal era, and travellers flock to the architecture even today to envision what it may have been like to travel at that time. The property was previously a bar or Sarai, and it currently contains the administrative offices of the Surat Municipality.
• Sarthana National Park: The park was established in 1984 and is now the country's largest butterfly park. Many uncommon and exotic butterfly species can be discovered here, and a habitat that is suitable to their growth has been constructed. You may also get a lot of knowledge on butterflies from this location.
• Ambika Niketan Temple: The temple was constructed in 1969 and contains two smaller temples, one devoted to Lord Ram and his wife Sita and another to Laxminarayan. The primary shrine is devoted to Goddess Ambika, and festivals such as Navaratri are celebrated with a lot of fanfare here. Even if you are not spiritual, you should visit this temple complex for its peace and tranquility.

How to Reach?

• By Air: Surat is well networked to other Indian cities due to its importance as a commerce centre. Surat Airport has direct flights to Delhi and Mumbai. Air India provides two trips per day from Surat to Delhi and one flight per day from Surat to Mumbai. Ventura Air, an independent airline, flies daily from Surat to Bhavnagar, Rajkot, and Bhuj. The city is not accessible to international cities because it is a domestic airport. Passengers going to Surat must fly domestically from either Mumbai or Delhi.
• By Train: Surat Railway Station is the city's main railway station. The major Mumbai-Ahmedabad railway line passes through this station. Surat is well linked to most of its neighbouring cities as well as the country's main cities due to its centralized location. Bandra Surat Intercity Express, Karnavati Express,August Kranti Rajdhani Express, Gujarat Express, Indore-Mumbai Avantika Express,  and many other trains pass by the station.
• By Bus: Surat is linked to a massive road network facility. The Udhana-Mumbai Highway and the Surat-Ahmedabad Highway both travel through Surat. The city is crossed by the Golden Quadrilateral highway complex. SMC has agreed to build a multi-level flyover bridge across the Tapi River, connecting Rander-Adajan to Katargam on the other side of the river. Many private bus companies, such as Paulo Travel, VRL Travel, and others, provide a variety of buses that connect all of the nearby cities.