Surat finds mention in the Mahabharata when Lord Krishna stopped here during his journey from Mathura to Dwarka with his cows. According to the Sanskrit scriptures, this area was under the control of the western Chalukyas in AD 610 and remained under Hindu kings till 12th century when a general of Qutub-ud-din Aibak captured the city. The wealth and prosperity of the city started in the 12th century when Parsis first settled here. Akbar captured the city in 1573 after a long siege and it became an important Mughal trading point. Arabian traders started calling this place Bunder-E-Khubsoorat (the beautiful port), which later shortened to Surat.

In 1612, the British established their trading factory here, soon to be followed by the Dutch and French. Due to political and climatic problems and growing importance of Mumbai, Surat lost its prominence. In 1852, Surat became the first municipality of Gujarat and gradually it became a major business city famous for its textile industry.

Lords Park Inn carries on the mercantile and commercial traditions of Western India's famous Port City -Surat. Lords Park Inn is conveniently located one kilometer from the railway terminal-Surat's throbbing hub.

Places Of Interest :

In 1546, the Sultan of Gujarat built a castle in Surat on the banks of the Tapi. Nowadays, this place houses several government offices.

There are English, Dutch, and Armenian cemeteries around the Kataragama Gate. There is a massive mausoleum of Baron Adrian Van Reede, who died here in 1691.

Sardar Patel Museum was established in 1898 and originally named as Winchester Museum. It displays over 10,000 exhibits of arts and crafts. The museum is open from 11:45 am to 13:45 pm on Tuesday to Saturday and 14:45 pm to 17:45 pm on Sunday. The museum remains closed on Monday and public holidays.

Connectivity :

Getting there by Air
Surat does not have an airport. Baroda, situated around 140 km from Surat, is the nearest airport.

Getting there by Rail
Surat is an important railway station on Western Railway's network and is connected to all parts of the country.

Getting there by Road
The National Highway 8 connects Surat to all parts of Gujarat. The distances to some important centers from Surat are Ahmedabad - 267 km, Baroda - 140 km, Mumbai - 326 km, Bhavnagar - 422 km, Okhla - 706 km, Junagarh - 550 km, Jamnagar - 531 km, Bhuj - 619 km, and Palanpur - 434 km.

There are regular state transport and private buses from Surat to the important centers of the region and Gujarat. Tourist taxis, auto-rickshaws, and city bus service are available from the main bus stand.