Located: 140 Kms From Vadodara, Gujarat
Main Tourist Attractions: Dandi, Dumas, Tithal, Bardoli, Hajira
Best Hangouts: Juhu Beach, Chowpatty Beach, Gateway of India.
About Surat
Since the earliest times , the ancient port of Surat has been renowned for its fine silks and exquisites brocades and its trade in spices. Surat has been one of the most prosperous of India's cities in the 17th and 18th centuary. The East India company established its first warehouses in Surat in 1612.
And it was at Surat that Sir Thomas Roe landed when he came as King James 'Ambassdor' to the court of Emperor Jehangir. In Mughal times, Surat was the main port from which pilgrims sailed to Mecca. Today, Surat is a major industrial centre with many textile mills. It is also an important diamond-cutting centre too
Major Tourist Attractions
Dandi
Situated on the coastline and well known as a salt centre, Dandi has acquired a name in history after the famous 'Dandi March Salt Satyagraha' launched by Gandhiji in March, 1930 AD. While overtly the Dandi march purported to protest against the hateful Salt Tax levied by the British, the underlying purpose was to kindle the spark of Civil Disobedience and thereby attain independence.
On a warm April morning in 1930, Gandhi and his 78 followers marched 241 miles to Dandi and formally breached the Salt Law, an act that would go down in the annals of history as the first salvo to be fired against the British Empire.
Dumas:
A seaside health resort 16 kms from Surat.
Tithal
It is situated 108 Kms. from Surat and 5 Kms. from Valsad on the Bombay-Vadodara Western Railway. A beautiful sandy beach and palm-sheltered cottages is what you would get to see there.
Bardoli
It is situated 34 kms from Surat. Gandhiji had launched a farmers' movement known as the 'Bardoli Satyagrah' in 1921-22 under the leadership of Sardar Vallabhbhai Patel. Swaraj Ashram at Bardoli has become a place of pilgrimage in India.
Hajira
Hajira is situated 28 kms. from Surat. The pleasant Hajira beach is flanked by feathery casurina trees and has a comfortable holiday home for visitors.
How to Reach
Air : Various domestic airlines connecting Bombay, Bhavnagar.
Rail: Surat is on the Bombay - Delhi - Ahmedabad broad gauge line.262 Km trip to Mumbai takes around 6 hours.
Road : State transport buses and private luxury coaches connects various centres of Gujarat, Maharashtra, Madhya Pradesh, Delhi and Rajasthan.
