Sanjan - Surat

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Surat known as Silk City & Diamond City is located in western part of India in the state of Gujarat . Surat situated on the left bank of the Tapi River . Surat is second largest city in Gujarat and ninth largest in India. Surat is famous for its textile and diamond businesses. Three-quarters of the world's diamonds are cut and polished in Surat.If history interests you, then a trip to Surat's Sanjan is what you would cherish for the rest of your life. Since February 2002, excavation work is in full swing in Sanjan. Among the ancient relics unearthed were human skeletons, coins, shards of pottery, beads and glasses. The praiseworthy initiative was taken by the World Zarathusti Cultural foundation and the project was jointly sponsored by the ASI and the Indian Council for Historical Research. The articled that were thrown up during the excavations are capable of providing valuable insights into the early history of the Parsis.

Another significant thing to be revealed during the excavation was that there used to exist a large city on the banks of the Varoli River that was inhabited during the period spanning from 8th to 13th century AD. The presence of a considerable amount of the West Asian and Chinese ceramics testify the fact that the city was directly involved in trade relations with these countries. A more concrete and substantial proof of the Parsi settlement in this part of Gujarat is the dokhma or the Tower of Silence which is a uniquely designed Zoroastrian morgue.

Surat, located on the western part of India within the Gujarat state is often touted as the Silk City and the Diamond City. The burgeoning textile and diamond businesses attract many a corporate guests, but the city has also not failed to captivate the imagination of the leisure tourists as well. There are a number of monuments in Surat that play a key role in boosting the value of the place in terms of tourism. If you are planning to take a trip to Surat, then a visit to Surat's Sanjan is highly recommended.

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Dutch Garden:
The Dutch garden in Surat is essentially cemeteries of the officers who landed and settled in Gujarat on their business ventures. Dutch garden is one of the most significant gardens in Surat. Gardens in Surat have been expanding from time to time, under succeeding gardeners to its present state. The striking features of the English and Dutch cemeteries are their huge and imposing tombs. They tell the story of power and glory. Tombs of Christopher Oxenden and George Oxenden, two English traders who took charge of the English Factory in Surat, are the biggest ones in the English cemetery. The tomb of Baron Adrian Van Reede, who was director of the Dutch Company in India, stands out arrestingly in the Dutch cemetery.

Sardar Patel Museum:
The Sardar Patel Museum in Surat is a multipurpose museum which is located in Sonifalia. It plays host to several pieces of antiques such as that made of wood, metal, ivory, stone, sandalwood, porcelain and terracotta. Several old oil paintings, miniatures, textiles, manuscripts and many such other items are also displayed in the exhibition organized by this museum. This is the only museum in Surat that has gained a lot importance owing to its rich collection of ancient historical items that are important part of the national heritage too. One will come across 10, 000 specimen of the various arts and crafts at this place. There is also an open air theater which can accommodate about 4000 people at a time.

Dutch Garden:
One of the most important tourist attraction in Surat is the ancient Dutch garden. Actually it is the cemetery of the Dutch officers who had landed and settled in Gujarat for their business enterprise. The huge striking tombs here are splendid symbols of history and narrates the story of the erstwhile power and glory.

The tombs of Christopher Oxenden and George Oxenden, the two English traders, who were in charge of English factory in Surat are the biggest tombs in the cemetery. Another tomb that stands impressively in the garden is of Baron Adrian Van Reede, the director of the Dutch Company in India who had died in 1691. The well maintained cenotaphs and the pleasant garden area around, attracts a lot of tourists.

Rangupavan:
Rangupavan is an open-air amphitheater that is considered to be the biggest theater in the country which can accommodate about 4000 audiences at a time. Set amidst in a picturesque setting and spread across several acres of land, the theatre that overlooks a height of 18meters has a stage, which has the height of 10.5 meter. This theatre has been recently closed.

Dumas:
The renowned health resort, Dumas is located about 16 km away from Surat railway station. Overlooking the Arabian sea, this beautiful picnic spot has a sandy sea beach that attracts tourists. Cottages are available for accommodation purpose.

Hajira:
Situated 28 Kms. away from Surat, Hajira is another health resort on the creek of the Arabian sea. The Hajira beach, fringed by caserne trees is a popular hangout for the tourists and the local people alike has comfortable holiday homes. The place has two wells with full of water rich in iron and sulphur.

Chintanamani:
A 400 hundred year old wooden temple at Shahpor. Chintamani Jain Temple is considered as an outstanding example of craftsmanship and architecture in Gujarat. The temple boasts some of the rarest paintings of Jain preacher Acharya Hemchandra, Solanki King and King Kumarpala. The sandalwood replica of Chintamani Jain Temple is placed in London Museum 90 years ago.

Tapi River:
The Tapti River, ancient original name Tapi River is one of the major rivers of peninsular India with a length of around 724 km. It is one of only three rivers - the others being the Narmada River and the Mahi River that runs from east to west.

Choppati:
Choppati is a popular tourist destination of the city with a big beautiful garden. It is also a center for enjoying delicious Indian snacks like Paav Bhajee and Paani puri.

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Udvada:
Udvada, near Surat is celebrated for being a very sacred place among the Parsis and is a small sleepy village which is located in the southern coast of Gujarat. It is as important to the Parsis as is Haridwar for the Hindus, Mecca for the Muslims and Vatican City for the Christians. A large number of Parsis flock here every year, both from within the country and from abroad. It was here that the victorious fire or Atash Behram was brought from Persia by the Parsis in the 18th century. This fire is placed in a temple which is strictly meant for the Parsis. As a result, the non-Parsis are not allowed to enter here. This place can be visited from outside. Peace and bliss pervades here that simply enthralls the visitors who come from far and wide.

Navsari:
A large number of tourists from the different places of the country come to have a look at Navsari close to Surat. Several people from the Parsi origin also come here to see this site as this was the first dwelling place of the Parsis who migrated to Gujarat. The excellence of the Parsi architecture can be well understood from the various edifices of this place that are built in the authentic Parsi style. The Parsi Vad is one such structure that has become a heritage site and attracts a lot of tourists. Being one of the important tourist attractions in Surat, Navsari is also popular for its various types of Zoroastrian arts, crafts, food items and many other such items.

Old Fort:
Surat Old Fort was built by Muhammad Tughlak in the 14th century to serve as the defense fortification against the Bhils. Ghiyas-ud-din Tughlaq was the original of the Tughlaqs to rule Delhi. Subsequent to Muhammad Sahab-ud-din Ghori, the next mention of Surat is in 1347 A.D., in connection with the rebellion of Gujarat during the time Surat was under Muhammad Tughlak (1325 to 1351). In 1373 A.D., the emperor Firoz Tughlak(1351 to 1388) is said to have built a fort at Surat to guard the town against Bhils attack who wanted to conquer the land.

Saputara:
This hill station is situated in Dang district at the southeast corner of the state. It has an altitude of 1000m. This place has the Sarpagana river flowing nearby which has a sacred snake image on its banks. Saputara -literally, the Abode of Serpents-is Gujarat's best-known hill resort, situated atop the second highest plateau in the Sahyadri range and in the midst of thick forests. Saputara is picture postcard perfect with lakes, streams, woodlands and hills.

Ukai:
It is situated 94 kms from Surat. A major multipurpose irrigation project of Gujarat, the storage of water at the dam site is almost as large as that of Bhakra Nangal Dam in Punjab .

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.

Tithal:
It is situated 108 kms from Surat and 5 kms from Valsad on the Bombay Vadodara Western Railway. A beautiful sandy beach palm sheltered cottages is what you would get to see there.

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.

Palitana:
Palitana houses perhaps the largest cluster of Jain temples anywhere. From the base to the peak of the Shatrunjaya Hill, where the Palitana temples are located, there are in all 863 temples. These temples were built in two phases-the 11th and 12th centuries as a part of the resurgence of temple building all over India, and in the 16th century. Some of the earliest temples built in the 11th century were destroyed by Muslim invaders in the 14th and 15th centuries. The current temples date back to 16th century onwards. Not any one person or group was responsible for the construction of these magnificent temples. It was the effort of the wealthy businessmen who were followers of Jainism that these buildings came into existence.

Narmada river:
The Narmada river originates from the Maikal ranges at Amarkantak, 1057 m above the sea-level, now in Shahdol district of Madhya Pradesh. In its 1312 km long journey before joining the Arabian Sea, the Narmada flows through the three states of Madhya Pradesh (MP), Maharashtra and Gujarat. Nearly 90% of the flow is in MP, and most of the remaining is in Gujarat. It flows for a very brief stretch through Maharashtra.

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