Daman And Diu: General Information

Daman earlier called ‘Damao’, is situated on the west coast of India, bordered by the Arabian Sea. It is surrounded by the Kolak River on the north, Gujarat on the east, Kalai River on the south and Gulf of Cambay on the west. The clean and picturesque beached of Daman are very inviting to all the tourists especially the ever tensed and tired urbanites. The amusement park on the Devka beach and Nani Daman rejuvenates and recreates the tourists. The illumination on festive days is a treat to the eyes. The Jampore beach offers a very silent and serene atmosphere, an ideal place for ‘solitude-hunters’. Other tourist places in Daman are Nani Daman Jetty Garden, old churches, forts, lighthouse and a summerhouse.

Altitude: 12 meters.
Climate : (deg C)- Summer- Max 36, Min 20; Winter- Max 26, Min 20.
Best Season: October to May.

Places Of Interest:
Fort, Moti Daman,Fort, Nani Daman; Light House (in Moti Daman Fort), Bom Jesus Church and Our Lady of Rosary Chapel (inside fort, Moti Daman fort) Our lady of Sea Church (inside Nani Daman fort), Hilsa Aquarium, Kachigam Water Tank, Nani Daman; Hathi Park, Moti Daman; Bridge Side Garden, Nani/Moti Daman; Municipal Children Park, Nani Daman.

Beaches:
Devika Beach- 4 km, Near Devka Colony, Nani Daman, Jampore Beach-6 km, Near Jampore Village, Moti Daman.

How To Go There:-
By Air: Nearest airport is Bombay 193 kms.
By Rail: Nearest railhead is Vapi 12kms.
By Road: Bombay- 93 kms, Ahmedabad- 67 kms, Diu- 763 kms, Panaji via Bombay- 87 kms.

Diu

Pandavas during their fourteen years of exile are believed to have passed a few days at a place known as Mani Nagar (DIU) which was under the Yadavas led by Krishna Vasudeva during Mahabharata period. According to mythology, Diu was ruled by the great king Jallandhar who was a daitya (Demon) and was killed by Lord Vishnu with his Sudarshan Chakra. The temple of Jallandhar still exists in Diu.
A palm-fringed, largely deserted and secluded beach, Nagoa is undoubtedly one of the most beautiful beaches in India. The unique shoe-shape of the beach makes it all the more beautiful.

The island of Diu, an erstwhile Portuguese colony, is situated off the Saurashtra coast of Gujarat bordering Junagadh district. The other equally beautiful beaches are Ahmedpur, Mandvi,Chakratirath, Jallandhar, and Gomtimata all having their own charm and thrill.The word ‘Diu’ is derived from the Sanskrit word ‘Dweep’. During the period from the 14th to 16th century Diu was one of the best Sea Ports and a Naval base.

SIGHTSEEING

Nagoa Beach: If you are not keen on sightseeing, take a 20-minute refreshing drive through open arid land to dense coconut groves to reach the semi-circular Nagoa Beach in Bucharwada village. An exceptionally beautiful and quiet beach, . it has various facilities for water sports. It is also safe for swimming. Plenty of Palm Hoka trees whisper and sway here in the intoxicating sea breeze all day long. The virginity of the beach and serenity of the surroundings give you peace and pleasure beyond expression.

Jallandhar Shrine: Jallandhar Shrine is located on a hillock close to the beach. This small shrine crowned with a dome and contains a niche wherein a stone carved face of Jallandhar is seen. Nearby there is also a temple of Goddess Chandrika. The beach is at a distance of 1 km from Diu Town.

St. Paul’s Church: is dedicated to our Lady of Immaculate Conception. Begun in 1601, the church was completed in 1610. The main facade of the church, perhaps the most elaborate of all Portuguese churches in India, is adorned with curiously treated volutes and shell-like motifs, and immediately attracts visitors. The facade has been illuminated by floodlights adding to the evening city glow.

Diu Museum: The old St. Thomas Church has been converted into a museum which houses the antique statues, various stone inscriptions of the earlier rulers, wooden carvings, idols, shadow-clocks and other important artifacts have been collected from various sites and displayed.

Diu Fort: Among the places of tourist interest, the Fort of Diu occupies a prominent position. It is an expansive and imposing structure, situated on the coast of the island. … for more on diu …

Fortress of Panikota: The Fortress of Panikota is a magnificent stone structure in the sea, built right at the mouth of the creek. It can be reached only by a canoe or a motor launch. Approximately one nautical mile from the Diu jetty, it also has a lighthouse and a small chapel dedicated to Our Lady of the Sea. Located in the middle of the sea, the fortress makes for a beautiful view whether seen from the jetty, from the Fort, from the village of Ghoghla or from Diu proper.

Ghoghla: The Ghoghla Beach is among the six beautiful beaches in Diu District. A tourist complex built here provides all basic amenities to tourists.

Chakratirath Beach: Chakratirath Beach is centrally located and contiguous to the town at Diu. This beach is a popular haunt for locals and domestic and international tourists as well. The hill and the surrounding areas and landscape has been beautifully illuminated by artificial lighting. An open air auditorium on the sea side of the hillock stands nearby.

Gangeshwar Temple: This is situated 3 km away from Diu in Fudam village. A Shivlinga, known as Gangeshwar, is in the midst of the rocks on the seashore, and is washed by the tidal waves of the sea.

Excursions
Girnar Hill, Junagadh-185 kms, Palitana-195 kms, Somnath Temple- 72 kms, Sasangir-128 kms, Tulsi Shyam- 45 kms, , Chorwad- 97 kms, Ahmedpur Mandvi-130 kms.

Culture
Diu sports a colourful culture. As in Daman, there is a magnificent mix of Gujaratis and Portuguese here which reflects on lifestyle and culture. The friendly fun-loving people of Diu keep alive their priceless heritage of folk arts by singing and dancing.

Festivals
Garba festival: is a popular folk dance of Gujarat and especially of Diu. It is normally performed by women dressed in colourful costumes with typical ornaments, accompanied by singing of song in praise of Goddess Amba. This is the most popular festival of the region. The colourful costumes, the mesmerising music and the graceful steps cast an enchanting spell on the viewers.

Folk Dance festival: The typical Portuguese regional folk dances of the territory include the Mando Dance, Vira Dance, the Verdigao in which happiness and the whole life style of the people of Diu is depicted. In these dances the clean roads, the delicious food and the traditions of Diu are described. Drink, eat, sing and be merry, that is the mote of the song and dance. The traditional dances are in slow motion with the elderly participating in them, but the young are carrying on the traditions of the old.

GENERAL INFORMATION

Area: 38.8 Sq. Kms.
Population: 39,485 (1991 Census figure)
Climate: Cool and dry
Rainfall: 70 cm

Altitude: 29 metres from MSL

Tourist Season September to May
Clothing Required Cotton in Summer, Light woolen in Winter
Languages Spoken Gujarati, English, Hindi, Portuguese
Telephone facilities with STD are abundantly available in Diu.

Getting There
Diu has excellent, all weather road links with Ahmedabad, Bhavnagar, Rajkot and Baroda. Luxury buses ply between Mumbai and Diu. It is also air linked with Mumbai.

Air: Gujarat Airways is operating a daily flight between Mumbai and Diu

Rail: Nearest rail-head is Veraval, about 50 kms. From Diu train service is available from Veraval to Rajkot and Ahmedabad.

By Road: Una- 30 kms, Ahmedabad- 495 kms, Bhavnagar- 225 kms, Bombay- 930 kms, Daman- 763 kms, Sasangir-128 kms, Rajkot- 261 kms, Somnath- 87 kms, Veraval- 77 kms.

Bus: Regular bus services are in operation from Diu, Ghoghla and Una to various cities in Gujarat.