Places to visit in Surat

• Surat Castle: Your Surat trip should start with a visit to the city’s oldest structure, Surat Castle. This 16^th-century fort is a testimony to Surat’s history built to protect the citizens from the constant attack of the invaders. The most attractive feature of the fort is its structure which comprises 12 m high battlements and 4 m thick walls.
• Chintamani Jain Temple: Next comes the beautiful temples in Surat, which stand out for religious importance and their architectural excellence. Chintamani Jain Temple is one such example. It is one of the oldest structures in the city that is about 400 years old. Though the temple looks very simple from the outside as you enter it, you ought to get awestruck by its intricate wooden carvings and beautiful vegetable dye paintings.
• Ambika Niketan temple: Another important place of worship in Surat is Ambika Niketan temple devoted to Goddess Asthabhuja Ambika – an avatar of Goddess Durga. The temple is built on the banks of the Tapti River by late Smt Bharati Maiya, who was a devotee of the Goddess. It would be best if you visited the place during Navratri.
• Dutch Gardens: You can even explore some European legacy in the city. Being part of the Dutch Cemetery, the Dutch gardens hold historical significance and comprise massive domes, ancient mausoleums, and impressive galleries. When you visit this well-designed garden, visit the Anglican Church to witness the 10 ft high decorative cross.
• Sardar Vallabhai Patel Museum: If you want to go deeper into history then visit one of the oldest museums in the city, Sardar Vallabhai Patel Museum. The museum has some significant collections of Mughal and British era, including miniature paintings, manuscripts, sandalwood, wooden, metal, and terracotta antiques. It also boasts of an open-air theatre known as Rangupavan, which could hold 4000 people at a time. It’s a must-visit for a history lover.
• Dandi: Your visit to Surat is incomplete if you don’t visit one of the most iconic landmarks of the Indian freedom struggle. One of them is Dandi. The famous Salt March or Dandi march came to an end here during the Namak Satyagraha movement by Mahatma Gandhi. So make sure you spend some time at Dandi beach, especially during the evening and remember the time of India’s struggle for independence.
• Bardoli: Another famous historical place, Bardoli, is considered to be the birthplace of several prime political movements, such as the Bardoli Satyagraha Movement in 1926 that started during the British regime. On visiting Bardoli, you can see various places like Swaraj Ashram, the Jalaram Mandir, Agasimata Mandir and Shree Saraswati Shisu Mandir.

High-end shopping/luxury shopping/shopping malls in Surat

• V R Mall
• Iscon Mall
• Rahul Raj Mall
• Central Mall
• Marvella Mall
• D R World Shopping Mall
• Regent Archade High Street Mall
• Imperial Square Mall
• Heera Panna Mall

Street shopping in Surat

You would have endless options on where to start shopping in Surat. There are various emporiums, handicraft centres, shops bustling with jewellery, textiles, ivory décor and wood carvings items. So start your shopping spree by visiting the jewellery shops and their beautiful designs sprawled across the city's streets.

The best place to shop for jewellery includes shops at Rander road and Ghoddod road. Now, coming to the second speciality of the city, textiles. Surat is known to produce the most elegant silk saris starting with Tanchoi, Gajee, Kinkhab and Brocade.

Garments decorated with zari, kinari and salma are the must-buys. Another speciality of the city includes woodwork or Sadeli work. The artisans are known to create intricately carved boxes or caskets. These are readily available in numerous private shops as well as government emporiums. You can also buy these from street vendors, but you need to be good at bargaining in that case.

Nightlife/party places in Surat

• Neon The Disc
• People Partying at Club Infinity
• Partygoers at Hard Rock The Disc
• Dhua's Hookah Lounge
• Pipes And Hypes
• Tapi Riverfront
• ONGC Bridge

Surat is home to some scenic beaches like Dumas beach, Suvali, Tithal, Hajira and Umbharat beach. So after a hectic sightseeing schedule, relax and unwind yourself at some of these beaches. Wildlife enthusiasts can go to Gavier Lake early in the morning to catch sight of numerous migratory birds like Yellow-fronted pied Woodpecker, Indian Peafowl, Small Blue Kingfisher, Purple Sunbird and others as well.

Navratri

Description of Gujarat festivals is incomplete without Navratri. Celebrated over nine days, Navratri is dedicated to all the nine forms of Goddess Durga. People come together to dance in unison during Garba (a folk dance form), one of the most popular dances, where everyone dances together in a synchronised circular movement and rejoice.