Surat was the Mughal Empire's most important port city, and is where the British gained their first foothold along the Western Coast of India. For centuries, Surat has been known as a center of trade and textiles. It was a major port during the Mughal period, and all powers including the Portuguese vied for power of the port. From the 16th-19th century, the British, French, Portuguese and Dutch established factories in Surat. Today, Surat is known for itís textiles, with thousands of weavers engrossed in making cotton, synthetic, silk and art silk textiles.
Image: The City of Surat on the West Coast of India along the River Tapi. 17th century engraving.
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Ancient ports of Gujarat (GIS Development)