Surat
Surat is a city in the western Indian state of Gujarat.
The word Surat directly translates to countenance in Gujarati, Hindi and Urdu. Located on the banks of the river Tapti near its confluence with the Arabian Sea, it used to be a large seaport. It is now the commercial and economic centre of South Gujarat, and one of the largest urban areas of western India. It has well-established diamond and textile industry, and is a major supply centre for apparels and accessories. About 90% of the world's diamonds are cut and polished in Surat. It is the second largest city in Gujarat after Ahmedabad and the eighth largest city by population and ninth largest urban agglomeration in India. It is the administrative capital of the Surat district.
Getting to Surat
- 01Surat Airport
Many domestic flights available from cities like Delhi, Mumbai, Kolkata, Bangalore, Chennai, Pune, Hyderabad, Ahmedabad, Jaipur and Goa, as well as international flights to Bangkok and Dubai.
- 02Surat WR
Surat is on the Mumbai–Ahmedabad line, connecting the city to Mumbai to the south, and Vadodara, Ahmedabad, Gandhinagar and Delhi to the north.
- 03Udhna Junction WR
A larger alternative to Surat station, and the terminus of the Udhna-Brahmapur Amrit Bharat Express from Odisha.
Worth seeing
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.
- 01Surat
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.
- 02Gopi Talav
Rustampura (approach from KotSafil road).
- 03Science Centre Surat
Over and above Science Center (Fun science section), The complex has museum, art gallery, planetarium, auditorium, amphi theater, diamond gallery.
- 04Andrew Library
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.
- 05Veer Narmad Saraswati Mandir
The Roza is dedicated to governor of Surat, Khwaja Safar Suleimanim.
Things to do
- 01Causeway
Causeway is a low level check dam build on the River Tapi.
Where to eat
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.
Getting around Surat the local way
- Get aroundWhile the city has a local city bus system, the public transport needs of the city are met by privately operated auto rickshaws.
From Wikivoyage: Surat, CC BY-SA. Not yet checked by us. Last edited 2026-08.
Text adapted from Wikipedia and Wikivoyage, CC BY-SA 4.0. Photograph: Crawlmybiz (CC BY-SA 4.0), Wikimedia Commons.
