Question

Why is surat called the manchester of east?

Answer 1

Dear student,
Answer to your question is as follows :

Surat which is situated at the bank of tapi river in Gujarat was the emporium of western trade during the Mughal period along with the Cambay and somewhat later Ahmedabad.
Surat is called Manchester of India because it has the highest number of cloth mills and there from raw material for clothes is supplied to each and every corner of India. Even it is exported outside India.
It is called Manchester because of similarity with the famous cotton textile centre of Manchester. Manchester is industrially developed region in U.K. and is particularly developed in cotton industries.
There were also several retail and wholesale shops selling cotton textiles. The textiles of Surat were famous for their gold lace borders (zari) and had a market in West Asia, Africa and Europe.
The state built numerous rest-houses to take care of the needs of people from all over the world who came to the city.
The Kathiawad seths or mahajans (moneychangers) had huge banking houses at Surat.
Surat hundis were also honoured in the far-off markets.
However, Surat began to decline towards the end of the 17^th century.
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Regards