From Wikitravel

Surat is a city in Gujarat, India.

For other places with the same name, see Surat (disambiguation).

[edit] Understand

Surat is a port city and administrative headquarters of the Surat District. As of 2007, Surat and its metropolitan area had a population of approximately 4 million. It is the second largest city in Gujarat and ninth largest in India. 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.

The city is located at 21.17° N 72.83° E.[1] and is very low lying.

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

[edit] Get in

[edit] By plane

Surat Airport [1] was opened on the 6th May 2007. Indian has 1 flight daily to and from Delhi which can be booked by internet. Kingfisher also started operation from surat from Oct'07. However, due to the air-traffic being very feeble on its route, the servies have been discontinued indefinitaley. Airport Transfers from Mumbai Airport is provided by Sanver Travels

[edit] 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.

The variety of passenger trains range from local trains that stop at all stations on the way, to super fast express trains like the August Kranti Rajdhani Express. In addition there are plenty of goods trains that move the goods produced by the city to the rest of the country and beyond, and bring supplies to the city.

4 hrs each from Mumbai and Ahmedabad and 2 hrs from Vadodara by train.

[edit] 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 km 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. AC cars are provided by Sanver Travels

[edit] 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.

[edit] By boat

There is a port at Hazira, but passenger boats/ships are not frequently operated. Heavy ships are usually used by the Hazira based industries like Reliance, L & T, Kribhco, etc.

[edit] Get around

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

The city has recently seen the completion of a large number of road engineering projects, 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.

[edit] By Car (Local)

You can easily visit Surat through Car. There are many Car Rental Companies available which Provide world Class Services.

• Enterprises Car Rental
• Savaari Car Rental,Savaari Car Rental Surat has a reputation for providing quality luxury car rentals Surat.For more information on online booking of Rental Car in Surat, Website:[2]
• Hertz Car Rental

[edit][add listing] See

• The Castle, on the banks of tapi near old bridge.

• The Dutch, English and Armenian Cemeteries in Karatgam Road.

• Chintanamani. A 400 hundred year old wooden temple at Shahpor.

• 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.

• 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.

• Rangupavan. An open air theatre with 18 meters by 10.5 meters stage and a capacity of around 4000 spectators. This is one of the biggest theatre in the country.

• 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 adding spice.

[edit] Learn

There are several libraries in the city:

• Kavi narmad central library, opposite Umra Police Station, Athwa lines. Open: 8AM-8PM
• Gandhi smruti library, Nanpura, Timaliyawad. Open: 8AM-12noon and 4PM-7PM
• Nagindas kazi free library, Ghee kanta, Haripura. Open: 9AM-11.30AM and 4PM-6:30PM
• Ganpatram A. Travadi free library, Ambaji Road, pagathiya sheri. Open: 9AM-11:30AM and 4PM-6.30PM.
• Public library, Chhaparia sheri, Mahidharpura. Open: 9AM-11:30AM and 4PM-6:30PM.
• Ubharat is the very nice place for a journey in Surat.

[edit] Work

[edit][add listing] Buy

• Shopping Plazas. There are lots of such Shopping Plazas mushrooming in the city. The latest attractions being the Iscon Mall and the Big Bazaar both located on the Dumas Road which always find a huge crowd within.
• Diamonds. There are a number of private jewelry stores in the city.
• Textiles. The city is home to several textile markets.
• Clothing. G3 Store is a fashioanble boutique catering for both men and women. The store has high quality eastern and western clothing at reasonable prices. Keep your eyes open and you may stumble across designer brands with European labels - These may be overruns from the local textile industry.
• Books. Most of the schooling, engineering and commerce students' book needs are met with in book stores in the Athwa Lines locality. Lucky Book House and Maulik to name a couple of them.

[edit][add listing] 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. Contrary to popular belief, Surti cuisine is not as sweet as the stereotypical Gujarati food, but rather quite on the spicier side.

Come winter and Suratis will emerge at river Tapi's banks to eat Ponk. Ponk is a Roasted Millet variety that is available only in this part of the world.

Surat is also well known for its celebrations of Chandi Padvo usually which usually comes around October. This is the biggest full moon day of rthe 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 road side stalls (laari in local parlance) provide some really tasty and inexpensive food. You can find people parking luxury cars and eating in these laaris. For more detail www.texpalazzohotel.com

[edit] Budget

You can fill your stomach on almost any budget in Surat.

You can take food in the laaris if less on budget. There are Laaris for Dhosa, Sandwish, Pizza, Wada-Pav, Pav-Bhaji, Pani-Puri, etc throughout the city. You can easily find one at any corners of the city.

[edit] Mid-range

Surat has very good food and restaurant chains. It includes all major brands. Pizza Hut, McDonald's, Subway etc. Besides Chinese Room (Nanpura) and Sugar n Spice (Ring Road) offer good food at a decent cost.

[edit] Splurge

• Yellow Chilly (Iscon Mall), Little Italy (Platinum Plaza, Athwa Lines), Taste of India (Ring Road) are likely to fall under this category.

• Kandeel Revolving Restaurant [3]as it is famously known, is located right in the heart of the Textile Market area and gives a spectacular view of the city any part of the day. They have a fixed buffet system and cater to both vegetarian and non-vegetarian dishes.

[edit][add listing] Drink

Alcohol is banned in Gujarat State. Only foreign tourists and people with drinking licence can purchase liquors.

[edit][add listing] Sleep

[edit] Budget

• Raj Kamal Guest House, Station Road. Rs. 40 to 100.

[edit] Mid-range

• Hotel Park Inn, near station/ring road. It can be noisy due to the close proximity to the main road but the rooms are of a reasonable standard.

• Tex Palazzo Hotel, [4] at Surat is a Business leading Hotel in Surat. Situated in the heart of Surat's textile market area. Great ambience, well appointed rooms and the revolving restaurant "Kandeel".

[edit] Splurge

Hotel Taj Gateway Inn Near Ambika Niketan Temple, Parle point. The rooms are not as good as the foyer but in an acceptable condition. The gardens and river view compensates for this. It seems to be known as the best hotel in Surat.

[edit] Stay safe

Surat is the safest city in Gujarat, and even traveling at night not a matter for concern as the city has very limited night life.

[edit] Cope

[edit] Get out

• 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.

• 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 Umbharat is 42 km out, while *Navsari. Twenty-nine km south of Surat, 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.

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