Surat, city and port, western India, in Gujarat State, on the Gulf of Khambhat, near the mouth of the Tapi River. The city is a center for inlaid work and for the manufacture of carpets, textiles, gold and silver thread, soap, and paper. Under the Mughal emperors of the 16th and 17th centuries, Surat was the leading seaport and commercial center of India. The city thrived until the 19th century, when much of its commerce was diverted to Bombay (now Mumbai), which had better harbor facilities. In 1612 the first English factory in India was established in Surat by the East India Company; until 1687 the city was the seat of the British government in India. In 1796 the population reputedly totaled 800,000. Surat then greatly declined in importance; it revived again starting in the late 19th century. Population (1991) 1,498,817.Microsoft® Encarta® Online Encyclopedia 2001
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