Located on the banks of Tapti River, Surat represents the business sense of the Gujaratis for which they are known and as such is a fascinating introduction to the state. Once the chief port of the Mughal Empire and reference point for Mecca, this second most populous city in the state became the first English settlement in India in 1613. However, with the rise of Bombay, it was stripped of its status as the chief port by the British.
Today this arc-shaped city nonetheless continues to be the hub of commercial activity for its textile and diamond business. One of the cleanest cities in India, the place is replete with colonial charm.