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.
History of Sanjan
Sanjan was one of the primary Parsi settlements in India. A number of excavations carried out in Surat’s Sanjan have thrown a new light on the momentous episode of the flight of the Zoroastrians from Iran, about 1,400 years ago. According to the popular belief Surat’s Sanjan was founded by the Zoroastrians who took shelter here after they were compelled to flee Iran. The progeny of those Zoroastrians are, at present, known as the Parsis.
Description of Sanjan
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 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.
Surat is known for its unique Surti culture. Surat has a large concentration of colleges under the Veer Narmad South Gujarat University. Tithal, beautiful sandy beach is just 100 kms from Surat.
