General Information

About Daman & Diu

Location: Daman and Diu are actually two parts and that too quite far from each other. Both are on the sea side and both are enclosed by Gujarat. Daman is near Surat, in thee southern part of Gujarat, while Diu is near Junagadh in the Saurashtra Peninsula of Gujarat. Daman is a small part in the Gulf of Khambhat and Diu is an island joined to the mainland of Gujarat by a creek. 
About Daman & Diu: Casuarinas windbreaks, placid blue seas, idyllic beaches, sleepy villages and a long history; this is what makes these second smallest Union Territory of India a special place. No wonder then these twin Union Territories make a popular getaway. The proximity of the bigger cities like Mumbai and Surat also boosts tourism here. So near to Mumbai and yet so far from its maddening crowds, Daman and Diu remained with the Portuguese for nearly 400 years. The quaint little towns have always been important, be it the Mauryan, Mughal or the Portuguese. All built ports here and boosted their trade relations with other countries. The history, of these places date back, to the period of the great emperor Ashoka, of the Mauryan Empire. These places were ruled by many kingdoms, later. It was also a part of the kingdom known as Lata. The district of Daman including the coastal stretch from Surat to Mahim continued to be ruled by the chieftains of Ramnagar during the 14th century and the early years of the 15th century AD. Daman was acquired by the Portuguese in the 16th century in a treaty with the Shah of Gujarat in 1559 A.D. It was only in 1961 that the Portuguese conceded to the demands of the free Indian Government, and Daman and Diu joined the Indian sub-continent as Union Territories.

Sightseeing's of Daman and Diu:

1. Fort of Moti Daman :
 The 16th century magnificent structure built by the Portuguese encompasses about 30,000 sq meters with 10 bastions and two gateways. The Fort is protected by a moat on the land side and also connects the river to the sea. All along the inner wall, there are barracks for defense personnel's. The inscription above the southern gate mentions that this gate along with the bastions adjacent to it was completed in 1581 AD. A large number of Portuguese gentry and their families resided within the Fort. From the ramparts you can get a nice view across the river to Nani Daman.

2. The Fort of Nani Daman :
Nani Daman actually means small Daman in the local language. There is a small fort in the region and the biggest highlight of the fort is the imposing structure of the Church of Our Lady of the Sea. The giant gateway facing the river with a large statue of St. Jerome and two giant human figures, on either side of the gateway is other major attraction of the fort.

3. Fort of Diu :
Unlike Daman, the buildings in Diu show a significant Portuguese influence. Completed in 1541, the massive Portuguese Fort with its double moat must once have been virtually impregnable, but sea erosion and neglect are leading to a slow but inevitable collapse. Piles of cannon balls litter the place and the ramparts have a superb array of cannons, many old yet in good condition. The fort rates among the largest fortresses on the western coast of the Indian Subcontinent and one of the greatest Portuguese fortifications in Asia. The highlight of the fort is a massive cannon with an inscription dating its casting to 1624 A.D. Breathtaking views across the ocean is another major attraction.

4. Churches of Damn and Diu :
The St Thomas' Church of Diu, which houses the Diu Museum now, has an interesting collection of Catholic statues. The Church of St Francis of Assisi has been converted into a hospital. The Church of St. Paul built in the 17th century has a perfectly proportioned façade of white marble with intricate workmanship. Among the oldest and best-preserved Christian monuments in Asia are the Churches of Daman. The Church of Bom Jesus in the main square of Moti Daman, built in 1603 is the grandest of all. The Church of Our Lady of the Rosary, on the opposite side of the square, has ornate woodwork including an intricately carved, gold painted altar. The Sé Cathedral is less impressive but dates back to the 17th century and is totally Iberian in its façade. Its high point is the altar, a masterpiece of ornately carved, gold painted wood.

5. The Beaches of Daman and Diu :
Diu is an island located five minutes offshore from the mainland of Gujarat. It is a treasure cove of the Mediterranean. Nagoa is the best and beautiful, white sanded, crescent shaped beach. The blue waters are perfect for swimming, wading and water sports. The Goghla beach is the Diu part of the Ahmedpur Mandvi beach. The Gahirmata and the Simmer beaches of Diu are unexplored and virgin beaches. The beaches at Daman are somewhat cluttered. The Devka and the Jampore beaches nonetheless offer a wonderful site and sand. But Devka beaches have sharp, rock formations below the surface. Jampore is most suited to swimming as it has no rocky formations and is particularly good during low tide, as you can walk far into the sea. The beach is relatively isolated and casuarinas windbreaks make it very pretty.