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                SURAT TRAVEL GUIDE

Surat is a port city in the Indian state of Gujarat and administrative headquarters of
the Surat District.Surat is a major gem stone center, and over 92% of the world's
diamonds are cut here. The city is located 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.

Local traditions fix the establishment of the modern city in the last years of the
fifteenth century, and in 1514 the Portuguese traveller Duarte Barbosa described it
as an important seaport, frequented by many ships from Malabar and all parts of the
world. There still is an irregular picturesque fortress on the banks of the river built in
1540. One particular village in the suburbs of Surat is Barbodhan Village, possibly
named after the explorer Duarte Barbosa (it derives from "Bab-ul-Aden"—Doorway to
Aden, Yemen—where it has strong cultural and trading links).

At the end of the 16th century the Portuguese were undisputed masters of the Surat
sea trade. In 1608, ships from the British East India Company started docking in
Surat, which was established as a trade transit point. In 1612, the British Captain
Best, and after him Captain Downton, destroyed the Portuguese naval supremacy
and obtained an imperial firman establishing a British factory at Surat following the
Battle of Swally. The city was made the seat of a presidency under the British East
India Company after the great success of the embassy of Sir Thomas Roe to the
court of emperor Jehangir. The Dutch also founded a factory.

GENERAL INFORMATION

Time zone           IST (UTC+5:30)
Area                     327 km² (126 sq mi)
Elevation             13 m (43 ft)
District(s)            Surat
Population          40,39,358 (2007)
Density                12,352/km² (31,992/sq mi)


PLACE TO VISIT

Dutch Garden - The ancient Dutch gardens, the Dutch cemetery and Makaipul,
the ancient original port from where the ships sailed to other parts of the world are
other attractions.

Old Fort - The Old Fort was built by Muhammed Tughlak in the 14th century to
fortify the defence against the Bhils. It is now used for Municipal Offices.

Sardar Patel Museum - About hundred years old this museum has a
collection of over 10,000 specimens of arts and crafts.

Rangupavan - It is an open air theater with 18 meters by 10.5 meters stage and
a capacity of around 4000 spectators. This is one of the biggest theater in the country.


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.

Gaurav Path - One of the most happening places of Surat. Built by Surat
Municipal Corporation.

Choppati - It's also very popular place of city, It's big garden and it's also known
for fastfood like Paav Bhajee and Paani puri.

Vansada National Park - It is situated in Valsad district is a home to
leopards, tigers, panthers and wild boars. The best time to visit is between October
to March.

Water Fun Park - It is situated in Hazira Road 16 km away from Surat City, is a
famous for weekend in Summer.

Beaches - There are a number of beaches near Surat. Only 16 km away, Dumas
is a popular resort with locals. Hajira is 28 km from the city and Ubhrat is 42 km out,
while Tithal is 108kn away and only five km from Valsad on the Mumbai to Vadodara
train line. Twenty-nine km south of Surat, Navsari has been a headquarters for the
Parsi community since the earliest days of their settlement in India. Udvada, only 10
km north of Vapi, the station for Daman, has the oldest Parsi sacred fire in India. It is
said that the fire was brought from Persia to Diu, on the opposite coast of the Gulf of
Cambay, in 700 AD. Sanjan, in the extreme south of the state, is the small port where
the Parsis first landed. A pillar marks the spot.


HOW TO REACH


By plane - Surat Airport has opened on 6th May 2007. Indian has 1 flight daily to
and from Delhi which can be booked by internet.

By train - The city is connected to the national railway system through the
Western Railways connecting it to Mumbai and beyond to the south as well as New
Delhi, Ahmedabad, Vadodara and other cities to the north. The Surat Railway station
is in the eastern-central part of the city and is very conveniently located near major
hotels and businesses. There is also a connection to the Central Railways through
the Udhana Junction and the Tapti line.  4 hrs each from Mumbai and Ahmedabad
and 2 hrs from Vadodara by train.

By car - The Golden Quadrilateral highway system will pass through Surat at its
expected completion. At present the city is connected to the National Highway 8
through a 16 k.m. connector highway. National Highway 8 corridor is one of the most
industrially developed area in the country and Surat is one of the most industrially
active cities that connect to it. National highway 6 starts from Hazira and connects the
city to Dhule, Nagpur, Raipur, Sambalpur, Kharagpur and Kolkata.

By bus - The city has a local city bus system. Surat is connected with majot cities
of Gujarat as well as Mumbai and other Indian cities. Raj travels Volvo a/c buses run
throughout the day to various cities of India. Daily More than 700 buses departs for
various parts of Saurastra (Eastern part of Gujarat), and vise-versa.