Surat

Surat (Hindi: सूरत, Gujarati: સુરત) is a port city and administrative headquarters of the Surat District. As of 2011, Surat and its metropolitan area had a population of approximately 4.5 million. It is the second largest city in Gujarat and 9th largest in India. Surat is a major gemstone centre, and over 92% of the world's diamonds are cut here. The city is on the banks of the Tapti River, and was a major port during the British colonial era. However, due to damming projects, the Tapti River become unnavigable and a new port was constructed down stream at the suburb of Hazira.

Surat is largely off the trail for foreign tourists. As a result, travelling there can provide some interest for the experienced traveller of India.

Rickshaw drivers and hotel staff speak almost no English, making ordering food and organizing travel more difficult than nearby Mumbai or Rajasthan. Still, the Surtis are friendly and curious: the occasional English speaker will likely ask why you have come there - and be shocked if your answer is anything but business. If you have even a little Hindi or Gujarati your travel will be more interesting and far, far simpler.

The STD code of Surat is 0261-.

Climate: The climate is tropical and the city receives the full impact of the monsoon. Winter Temperature: Max 31°C, Min 12°C Summer Temperature: Max 42°C, Min 24°C Rainfall: mid-June to mid-September 931.9 mm Lowest Recorded Temperature: 6.5°C Highest Recorded Temperature: 48°C

While the city has a local city bus system, the public transport needs of the city are met by privately operated auto rickshaws.

A lot of road engineering projects have been completed, particularly the elevated roads, or flyovers in the diamond and textile districts of the city. This has significantly cut down on the commuting time for many commuters travelling to the diamond and textile districts.

The bus rapid transit network has expanded rapidly. It has air conditioning. Check apps for schedule.

• Surat BRTS and Sitilink. (updated Mar 2022)
• Surat Metro. Under construction as of March 2022. (updated Mar 2022)

• Chintanamani Jain Temple. The Jain temple was constructed during the regime of Mughal Emperor Aurangzeb in 1699 AD. It is at Muglisara, near mausoleum of Mirjan Sami. It has not only religious importance but also establishes one of the best examples of wooden craftsmanship and drawing with vegetable dye of Gujarat. Though the temple is marked by its outward simplicity, the inner parts of temple is a treasury of art. 
• City Science Centre. at City Light Road near Parle Point. Has a planetarium, science models, art gallery & museum (shifted from Chowk Sardar Patel Museum.) 
• Diamond market. Surat is largely recognized for its textile and diamond businesses: 92% of the world's diamonds are cut and polished in Surat. Lots of diamond factory at Varachha road. Diamond trading and broker offices are situated at mini bazaar Varachha and Mahidharpura. 
• Dutch, English and Armenian Cemeteries. on Karatgam Road 

• Dutch Garden. The ancient Dutch gardens, the Dutch cemetery and Makaipul, the old original port from where the ships sailed to other parts of the world are other attractions. 
• Lake Garden, Piplod. People can spend some private time there with their loved one. Lake View Restaurant is also good one 
• Mugal Sarai. The building which is used as an office complex by Surat Municipal Corporation (SMC) is one of the ancient monuments of Surat city and was built as a 'Sarai' or Musafarkhana (travellers' inn). It was built during the period of Mugal Emperor Shah Jahan in 1644 AD. This building with its considerable architectural qualities as disposed by the skilful composition of its various parts combined with combination of arches, cornices, decorated parapets, sculptured patterns on the exterior facade etc. each being disposed in an artistic and effective manner upon a strong foundation with coherent strength is still intact and is in a very good state of preservation. (updated Dec 2020)

• Nature Park, Sarthana Jakatnaka. Nature Park Sarathana is at the north-east corner of Surat City, which is approachable by Surat Kamrej Road. The site is covered with an area of 81 acres with river Tapi on the north side and Surat Kamrej road is on its south side. Land is fully vegetated with trees of eucalyptus, casurina and mango. The site is an ideal place for the development of a zoo with the new concept of natural habitat design. 
• Rang-upavan. An open-air theatre with a capacity of around 4,000 spectators. This is one of the biggest theatres in the country 
• Sardar Patel Museum. This museum was established at the beginning of the 20th century and has a collection of over 10,000 specimens of arts and crafts. 
• 🌍 Surat castle (Old Fort). This historical castle, which was planned and built between 1540 and 1546 by Khudawand Khan on the banks of the River Tapi, is one of the chief ancient monuments of Surat. The magnificent gateway is a massive structure with strong door shutters furnished with protruding spikes at the exterior facade, and there is a decorative architectural treatment at the interior facade. (updated Dec 2020)
• The entire city on the roads (esp. the Dumas Road) on Sunday Evenings. Amazing to see people spreading bed sheets by the roadside to enjoy the evening with Lari Food (hawker food) adding spice.
• 🌍 Gopi Talav, Rustampura (approach from KotSafil road). Lake is renovated and now has very good garden, restaurant and boating facility available. (updated Feb 2017)
• 🌍 Science Centre Surat (Science Centre), City Light Road. Over and above Science Center (Fun science section), The complex has museum, art gallery, planetarium, auditorium, amphi theater, diamond gallery. It is host of many cultural events and art exhibitions. (updated Feb 2017)
• 🌍 Andrew Library, 76, Chowk Bazar Rd, Nanavat, Gopipura. Daily 9AM-1PM, 3-7PM. In 1850, a wealthy pearl merchant, Naginchand Jhaveri, donated funds for the construction of this library and named it after the British collector Andrews for his help. Its associated hall was used for stage shows and gatherings but later converted into part of the library. Inside are 18,000 books including a large number of Gujarati and Hindi novels as well as reference books on erstwhile princely states. It is associated with the Nanpura Parsi library too. (updated May 2017)
• 🌍 Veer Narmad Saraswati Mandir. (updated Mar 2022)
• Marjan Sami Roza. The Roza is dedicated to governor of Surat, Khwaja Safar Suleimanim. It was built by his son in 1540. Example of an Indo-Persian architecture. (updated Mar 2022)

• 🌍 Causeway. Visit for water sports. Causeway is a low level check dam build on the River Tapi. Water sports facility is available in the upstream water. People flock to this place on weekend and winters. Visitors also include migratory birds such as gulls and terns. Usually closed for visitors during the monsoon (July to September). (updated Feb 2017)
• Watch a Bollywood or Hollywood film at several Multiplexes such as:
  • Cinépolis at Imperial Mall
  • Cityplus
  • INOX at VR Mall
  • PVR at Rahulraj Mall
  • Rajhans Cinema
  • Valentine Multiplex

• Sardar Vallabhbhai National Institute of Technology (SVNIT), SVNIT Campus, Ichchhanath, ☏ +91 261 2259571, fax: +91 261 2227334. SVNIT is an engineering institution of higher education established by the Government of India in 1961. It is one of 30 National Institutes of Technology in India recognized by the Government Of India as an Institute of National Importance. It was established to train scientist and engineers to cater to the country's growing need for R&D and technological manpower. It shares its organizational structure and undergraduate admission process with sister NITs. The students and alumni of SVNIT Surat are informally referred to as SVNITians. The institute offers undergraduate, postgraduate and Doctoral courses in Engineering and Technology, Science, Humanities and Management. 

There are several libraries in the city:

• Gandhi smruti library, Nanpura, Timaliyawad. Open: 8AM-8PM and 8AM-2PM on Monday and public holiday.
• Ganpatram A. Travadi free library, Ambaji Road, pagathiya sheri. Open: 09:00-11:30 and 16:00-14:30.
• Kavi narmad central library, opposite Umra Police Station, Athwa lines. Open: 08:00-20:00.
• Nagindas kazi free library, Ghee Kanta Rd, Haripura. Open: 9-11:30AM and 4-6:30PM.
• Public library, Chhaparia sheri, Mahidharpura. Open: 9-11:30AM and 2-6:30PM.

While there are limited sights of obvious tourist interest, the main attraction of Surat is shopping. The district ‘textile market’ is aimed at wholesale dealers. The endless rows of wholesalers peddling beautiful sarees may or may not sell to retail customers, but you will find excellent deals here on fabrics you would otherwise likely pay far more for. If you are not interested in sarees, there are clusters of upmarket Indian brand clothing stores. The many clothing shops of Gohd Dod road provide an array of beautiful designer Shalwar Kameez, Sarees and Indo-Western dresses. These are likely designed in Mumbai and produced in Surat, and so Surat is the cheapest place to by such items. High quality designer clothes cost nearly half as much as they would in Delhi and Mumbai.

For male shoppers, you can find good deals on high quality formal and casual wear here. Australians may be amused by the Indian brand ‘Aussie’ found on Gohd Dod road. It is nothing like what one would imagine a chain store of that name in Australia to be.

• Beauty & Fashions. There are many beauty and fashion shops in the city located at Ghoddod road, Iscoan Mall and many more places. 
• Books. Most of the schooling, engineering and commerce students' book needs are met with in book shops in the Athwa Lines locality. Examples include Lucky Book House and Maulik.
• Clothing. G3+ Store is a fashionable boutique catering for both men and women. The store has high quality eastern and western clothing at reasonable prices. They may be overruns of European designer brands from the local textile industry.
• Diamonds. There are a number of jewellers in the city.
• Shopping Plazas. There are lots, with the latest attractions being the Iscon Mall and the Big Bazaar both located on the Dumas Road.
• Textiles. The city is home to several textile markets.
• There are a number of standard salons in Parle Point & Ghod-Dod Road area.

Some special and unique dishes of Surat include Locho, Surti Undhiyu, Rasawala Khaman, Cold coco and Surti Ghari. Many of the popular types of food of the state of Gujarat originated in this region. Surti cuisine is not as sweet as the stereotypical Gujarati food, but rather on the spicier side.

Come winter and Suratis will emerge at River Tapi's banks to eat Ponk. Ponk is a unique roasted millet.

Surat is also known for its celebrations of Chandi Padvo usually which usually comes around October. This is the biggest full moon day of the Hindu calendar year. On this day, Surtis buy almost 100 tons of Ghari and other Surati delicacies, then head to Dumas where they have dinner/late night snack under full moon.

There is a popular adage in India which translated means if Kasi is a stairway to heaven, Surat is the place for food. The variety of cuisines is quite large, varying from the local Gujarati Thalis to South Indian food. There are a lot of nice eateries like Indian curry, Klassic, Deewan-e-Khaas which will give you the flavour of a traditional Indian food and for South Indians, Mysore Cafe, Vishnu's, and the Mallu Restaurant provide a good eat-out. The roadside stalls (laari in local parlance) provide tasty and inexpensive food.

• Saurashtra Bakery (Behind Marjan Sami Roza). Nankhatai biscuits made by Nanubhai Saiyadwala's shop is worth trying. (updated Mar 2022)

Alcohol is banned in Gujarat. Only foreign tourists and people with drinking licences can purchase liquor. However, the people of Surat are fun-loving and tend to find alcohol in the city. There are some places in Surat such as Golvad, Dumas and Olpad where people can find alcohol more easily under the table from the bootlegger. It's easy for foreign tourists to obtain a liquor permit, but it is not advisable to look for liquor under table as the risk of getting adulterated liquor and suffering from severe health problems is high.

Surat is one of the safest city in India, and even travelling at night is not a matter for concern, as the city night life is such that people don't interfere much with other. Everybody is busy with their own friends and family; leave them alone, and you'll be fine.

• Dumas & Hajira. Dumas 16 km from Surat and Hajira 28 km from Surat are well known health resorts on the creek of Arabian Sea. Hajira has two wells with water rich in iron and sulphur. The pleasant Hazira beach is fringed by feathery casurina trees.
• Vansada National Park. Located in Valsad district, the park is a home to leopards, tigers, panthers and wild boars. The best time to visit is between October to March.
• Water Park: Chhab Chhaba Chhub(near Hazira) is very good water park to visit with friends, families, and couple, where lot of water sports rides are available.