The port of Surat, located in Gujarat, was famously known as ‘Bab-ul-Makkah’ (The Gate of Mecca) during the Mughal era. This designation reflects its enormous religious and economic significance. Surat was the largest and most important port on the Arabian Sea, serving as the main embarkation point for Muslims undertaking the annual pilgrimage (Hajj) to Mecca. It was also the headquarters for European trading companies and a major center for Mughal maritime trade and customs revenue.