The British East India Company first came to India in 1608 , when its ships docked at the port of Surat in Gujarat.

First arrival in India

  • The Company was founded in 1600 in England with a royal charter to trade with the East Indies, including India.
  • Its first voyage reached the Indian coast in 1608 , landing at Surat , which became the starting point for its Indian trade.

Early factories and foothold

  • In 1611 , the Company set up its first factory (trading post) at Masulipatnam on the Andhra coast.
  • By 1613–1615 , it obtained permission from Mughal Emperor Jahangir to build a permanent factory at Surat , cementing its foothold on the west coast.

Quick timeline table

Year| Event
---|---
1600| East India Company founded in England. 35
1608| Company ships first arrive at Surat, India. 13
1611| First factory established at Masulipatnam. 17
1613–1615| Permanent factory set up at Surat with Mughal permission. 137

So, in short: the East India Company came to India in 1608 , landing at Surat , and then slowly built factories and political influence over the next decades.