Stand on the causeway over the River Tapi on a winter weekend and you will see the city at play: water sports upstream, gulls and terns working the shallows, families spread along the banks. Surat is a working city of diamonds, textiles and trade, and its pleasures are the ones its own residents take — old forts and libraries, riverfront gardens, a market where stones change hands, and roadside food after dark.
This guide suits travellers who are passing through South Gujarat, or who are in the city on business and want to use the edges of the day well. It covers the monuments and museums of the old town, the river and its gardens, the diamond trade, and the evening food culture, with a one-day plan that strings the best of them together.
Top things to do in Surat
1. Surat castle (Old Fort)
This historical castle on the banks of the River Tapi was planned and built between 1540 and 1546 by Khudawand Khan, and it is one of the chief ancient monuments of the city. The massive gateway has strong door shutters furnished with protruding spikes on the exterior facade, with decorative architectural treatment on the interior facade.
Come here first if you want the old city to make sense, then walk on to the surrounding bazaar streets.
2. Chintanamani Jain Temple
The Jain temple was constructed during the regime of Mughal Emperor Aurangzeb in 1699 AD, at Muglisara, near the mausoleum of Mirjan Sami. It has religious importance but also stands as one of the best examples of wooden craftsmanship and drawing with vegetable dye in Gujarat. The temple is marked by outward simplicity, while the inner parts are a treasury of art.
Pair it with the Marjan Sami Roza nearby, since the two sit in the same part of the old city.
3. Marjan Sami Roza
The Roza is dedicated to the governor of Surat, Khwaja Safar Suleimanim, and was built by his son in 1540. It is an example of Indo-Persian architecture.
Visit alongside Chintanamani Jain Temple, which is close by at Muglisara.
4. Mugal Sarai
The building now used as an office complex by the Surat Municipal Corporation is one of the ancient monuments of the city, built as a sarai, or musafarkhana (travellers' inn), during the period of Mughal Emperor Shah Jahan in 1644 AD. Its architectural qualities — a composition of arches, cornices, decorated parapets and sculptured patterns on the exterior facade — remain intact and in a very good state of preservation.
It is a working office complex, so treat it as an exterior visit and be mindful of people going about their day.
5. Diamond market
Surat is largely recognised for its textile and diamond businesses, and the diamond trade is concentrated in specific quarters rather than one single sight. There are many diamond factories along Varachha Road, while diamond trading and broker offices are situated at Mini Bazaar in Varachha and at Mahidharpura.
Go on a working day if you want to see the trade in motion, and remember these are places of business rather than visitor attractions.
6. Science Centre Surat
On City Light Road, the complex holds a fun science section, a museum, an art gallery, a planetarium, an auditorium, an amphi theatre and a diamond gallery, and it hosts many cultural events and art exhibitions. The museum was shifted here from the Chowk Sardar Patel Museum.
It is a good choice for a hot middle part of the day, and the diamond gallery ties in neatly with the city's trade.
7. 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.
Note that the museum associated with the City Science Centre was shifted from the Chowk Sardar Patel Museum, so check which collection you are going to see before you set out.
8. Andrew 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. Its associated hall was used for stage shows and gatherings but was later converted into part of the library. Inside are 18,000 books, including a large number of Gujarati and Hindi novels as well as reference books on erstwhile princely states, and it is associated with the Nanpura Parsi library too.
It sits at 76, Chowk Bazar Road, Nanavat, Gopipura, and opens daily from 9AM to 1PM and 3PM to 7PM — a natural stop while exploring Chowk Bazar.
9. Gopi Talav
Approached from KotSafil road at Rustampura, the lake has been renovated and now has a very good garden, a restaurant and boating facilities.
It works well as a slower hour between the old city and the riverfront.
10. Causeway
The Causeway is a low-level check dam built on the River Tapi, with water sports available in the upstream water. People flock here on weekends and in winter, and visitors also include migratory birds such as gulls and terns.
It is usually closed to visitors during the monsoon, from July to September, so plan it for the cooler, drier months.
11. Dutch Garden
The ancient Dutch gardens, the Dutch cemetery and Makaipul — the old original port from where ships sailed to other parts of the world — are among the city's attractions.
Combine the garden with the cemeteries on Karatgam Road, which include the Dutch, English and Armenian cemeteries.
12. Lake Garden, Piplod
This is a place to spend some private time, and the Lake View Restaurant is also a good one.
Best kept for a quiet hour rather than a sightseeing stop.
13. Nature Park, Sarthana Jakatnaka
Nature Park Sarathana is at the north-east corner of the city, approachable by Surat Kamrej Road. The site covers 81 acres, with the river Tapi on the north side and Surat Kamrej road on its south side, and the land is fully vegetated with eucalyptus, casurina and mango trees. It is an ideal place for the development of a zoo with the new concept of natural habitat design.
Because it sits at the edge of the city, give it a half-day rather than squeezing it between other stops.
14. Ambika Niketan Temple
Ambika Niketan Temple is one of the popular pilgrim spots in Surat. Situated on the banks of the River Tapti, it was built in 1969 and is dedicated to Mother Goddess, who is in the form of Goddess Ashtabhuja Ambika. There are also shrines dedicated to Ram-Sita, Laxminarayan and Lord Shiva at the temple.
The most auspicious occasion here is the Navratri celebrations, which are conducted with great fervour — worth timing a visit around if you are in the city then.
15. Rang-upavan
This is an open-air theatre with a capacity of around 4,000 spectators, and it is one of the biggest theatres in the country.
Check what is on rather than turning up, since an open-air theatre is only as good as its programme.
16. An evening of lari food on the roads
On Sunday evenings the entire city takes to the roads, especially Dumas Road. People spread bed sheets by the roadside to enjoy the evening with lari food — hawker food — adding spice to the occasion.
Go on a Sunday evening, and go hungry.
If you only have one day
Morning: Start at Surat castle (Old Fort) on the River Tapi, then walk into the old city for Chintanamani Jain Temple and the Marjan Sami Roza at Muglisara, and the Mughal-era Mugal Sarai. Stop at Andrew Library on Chowk Bazar Road, which opens from 9AM to 1PM.
Afternoon: Use the hottest hours indoors at Science Centre Surat on City Light Road, taking in the science section, museum, art gallery and planetarium. If you have time left, add the Sardar Patel Museum, or the Diamond market at Mini Bazaar in Varachha and Mahidharpura on a working day.
Evening: Head to the Causeway on the River Tapi for the water and the birds, then finish at Gopi Talav in Rustampura for the garden and the restaurant. If it is a Sunday, close the day with lari food along Dumas Road instead.
Frequently asked questions
When is the best time to visit the Causeway?
People flock there on weekends and in winter, and migratory birds such as gulls and terns are among the visitors. It is usually closed to visitors during the monsoon, from July to September.
Where can I see the diamond trade in Surat?
There are many diamond factories along Varachha Road, and diamond trading and broker offices are situated at Mini Bazaar in Varachha and at Mahidharpura. The city is largely recognised for its textile and diamond businesses.
What are the opening hours of Andrew Library?
It is open daily from 9AM to 1PM and 3PM to 7PM at 76, Chowk Bazar Road, Nanavat, Gopipura.
What is there to do on a Sunday evening in Surat?
On Sunday evenings the entire city takes to the roads, especially Dumas Road, where people spread bed sheets by the roadside to enjoy the evening with lari food, or hawker food.
Pick the old-city monuments for one morning, the river for one evening, and build the rest of your Surat trip around what the day gives you.