DAMAN AND DIU

Daman and Diu 

Daman and Diu /dəˈmɑːn ... ˈdiːuː/ (About this sound locally (help·info)) is a union territory in Western India. With an area of 112 sq. km, it is the smallest federal division of India on the mainland. The territory comprises two distinct regions Daman and Diu, geographically separated by the Gulf of Khambhat. The state of Gujarat and Arabian Sea border the territory. Originally a Portuguese Colony, the territories were annexed by India in 1961 through a military conquest.

History

St. Paul's Church in Diu
For over 450 years, the coastal enclaves of Daman (Portuguese: Damão) and Diu on the Arabian Sea coast were part of Portuguese India, along with Goa and Dadra and Nagar Haveli. Goa, Daman and Diu were incorporated into the Republic of India on December 19, 1961 by military conquest. Portugal did not recognise the Indian annexation of these territories until 1974.

The territory of "Goa, Daman and Diu" was administered as a single union territory until 1987, when Goa was granted statehood, leaving Daman and Diu as a separate union territory. Each enclave constitutes one of the union territory's two districts. Daman and Diu are approximately 650 kilometres away from each other by road.

TOURIST PLACES IN DAMAN AND DIU

DAMAN

Cathedral of Bom Jesus

Daman has a strong link to the Catholics owing to its Portuguese connection and Cathedral of Bom Jesus is among the most important religious monument for them.

Out of the various holy places, the Cathedral of Bom Jesus is a one of the most popular one. Built long back in 1603, the structure is still beautiful. The astounding design, expert architecture and fine craftsmanship surely reflect the passion with which the Portuguese built this cathedral. This site is surely a treat for the eyes

Devka Beach 

Devka beach is a sight of pure beauty. Like so many other beaches of Daman, this too is a massive, picturesque and quite unspoilt.

The place has clean blue waters, well maintained shores and enough beauty for everybody. Also, there is a special Amusement Park here which houses huge fountains and play area for kids.

Lighthouse 

The Lighthouse is sure to leave an imprint on your mind. Every tourist who visits Daman and Diu loves this site.

Standing tall, the Lighthouse offers a magnificent view of the sunset. It is a major landmark of the town and is situated inside a fort. An excellent view of the sea traffic can also be seen from here.

Mirasol Lake Garden 

Mirasol Lake Garden is a man-made marvel which serves as one of a popular tourist attraction in the area.

Surrounded by a beautiful lake and two island connected by a bridge, the place is very calm and peaceful. Boat rides and fountains add to the beauty of this charming garden. The garden also has facilities for other activities like computer games and toy train etc. which makes it_?_s a favourite hotspot for picnickers. With a water park located just next it, this amazing lake garden also serves as a located for many film shootings

St Jerome Fort 

This huge fort is also known as the Nani Daman Fort. The most conspicuous part of this place is its magnanimous gateway that faces the river.

There is a large statue of St. Jerome, one of the most eminent fathers of the Catholic Church, inside the fort premises. The complex contains other attractions namely the church of Our Lady of the Sea and a Jain temple. The fort on the whole offers a beautiful view of the fish market below and the hustle-bustle that comes along with it. The scenery is beautiful and this is one of the most pretty .

DIU

 Chakratirath Beach

Famous For: Beaches
Chakratirath Beach is the central beach of Diu, which is located close to the Jallandhar Beach. This beach is believed to be the same place, where Lord Vishnu left his Sudarshan Chakra after killing Jallandhar, the demon. Near the seaside, there is an open air auditorium, along with the Jallandhar Shrine.

This beach has been named after the story of the killing of demon Jallandhar by Lord Vishnu, who unleashed his 'Chakra' to chop the demon's head. The beach got its name after this 'Chakra', as it was left by Lord Vishnu after defeating the demon.

Diu Fort

The Fort of Diu is a colossal structure that occupies a prominent place on the tourist's list.  It was constructed between 1535 and 1541 AD after a defence alliance, concluded by the Bahadurshah, Sultan of Gujarat, and the Portuguese when Humayun, the Mughal Emperor undertook war to annex this territory. The lighthouse is Diu's highest point, with a beam whose radius reaches 32 km.

The fort is a striking structure on the coast of the Diu island and a jetty constructed on the northwestern side is still being used. There are three main churches located within the fort- Church of St. Francis of Assisi, St. Paul's Church, and St. Thomas Church. Apart from the churches, there is also the Shiva temple, also known as Gangeshwar Mahadev which is a very famous tourist attraction. Venetian Gothic style bungalows and Havelis (mansions), which used to belong to upscale colonial Portuguese and Indian merchants are seen in the Makata bylanes, near the Zapata gate of the fort. The fort also provides sea access for trade and commodities with Cambay, Broach and Surat in Gujarat.

 Fortim-do-Mar

Famous For: Forts
Fortim-do-Mar, also known as the Fortress of Panikota, is a former Diu Jail. Built by the Portuguese, this white coloured building is situated in the Diu Fort. The fortress also has a Chapel of Our Lady of the Sea and a lighthouse. The Fortress of Panikota featured in a Hindi movie, named Qayamat.

It is hardly a few kilometres away from the main seashore and is easily accessible from the Diu Airport. The closest railway station from this jail is the Delwada Railway Station, which is located at a distance of around 8 km. The Fortress of Panikota is located one nautical mile away from the Diu Jetty and can only be reached by a motor launch.
 Gangeshwar Temple

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Famous For: Temples
The Gangeshwar Temple is situated approximately 3 km from Diu in the old Fudam village. This temple is dedicated to Lord Shiva and features 5 Shivalingas that are believed to have been established by the Pandavas during their exile from the kingdom. These Shivalingas are situated amidst rocks that are washed by waves continuously.

Ghoghla beach

Ghoghla Beach is situated in the village of Ghoghla, which is around 15 km from the main town of Diu. This beach is a popular tourist spot that has necessary facilities like food and accommodation.

Considered to be one of the most beautiful beaches in Diu District, this beach has a tourist complex that provides all basic amenities. Parasailing and water scooters are the two most popular adventure activities at this beach.
 Gomatimata Beach
Famous For: Beaches
Gomatimata Beach is situated around 25 km away from the main town of Diu and features a wide stretch of white sandy beach. This beach is also known as Gomtimata and is situated on the western end of Diu. It is a long and secluded beach, which does not have very deep water and is thus not suitable for swimming. It is an ideal beach to relax, sunbathe and laze around on the soft sand.

 Jallandhar Beach

Famous For: Beaches
Jallandhar Beach, named after the demon Jallandhar, features a small memorial at a hill top along with a stone face structure of the demon. It is a sunny beach, which is around 1 km from Diu and houses a temple, dedicated to Goddess Chandrika. Though, water sports facilities are available at Jallandhar Beach, it is also a good spot to relax and laze around.

Nagoa Beach 

The most beautiful and famous beach of Diu is Nagoa Beach. Famous for its pristine beauty and swaying palm trees, it is an ideal and most recommended place for tourists all over the world. The place is well connected with the resorts, hence it makes it easy for the travellers to relax and explore its beauty at the same time.

The beach is located in the Nagoa hamlet of Bucharwada village and serves an attraction for its Hoka trees which produces a unique kind of fruit. It is very much known for its water sports along with camel or pony riding. Sunbathing can turn out to be the most intoxicating experience. Shops and restaurants act as refreshments which are one of its kind.

Naida Caves 

The Naida caves are located on the periphery of the Diu fort. These caves have a big network of tunnels with square hewn steps.

Shell museum

Shell Museum, one of the shell museums in the world, has a wide personal collection of Captain Fulbari. He was a sailor, who spent most of his life in the region collecting different kinds of sea shells. This museum also features reading materials on the history of shells.

Visitors are provided with magnifying glasses for closely looking at the wide range of shells, like spider, scorpion, cockle and abalone. It is the first shell museum of Asia. This museum is also the first museum in the world where visitors can see sea shells of multiple sizes displayed through magnifying glass. There are about 2500 to 3000 different varieties of sea shells in this museum, which is situated towards the east of Diu Airport.

Sunset Point 

A beautiful hillock located near the Chakritirath beach in Diu, offers its visitors a mesmerizing view of sunset from here. The hillock and the surrounding areas have been beautifully landscaped and illuminated. Chakratirth Beach is centrally located and contiguous to the Diu Town.