HISTORY ofDaman

HISTORY

Both these islands are associated with the Portuguese attempts of colonization and one can see its evidence in the rich architecture. These foreign invaders seized Daman in 1531 and formally took it over by 1559 from the last Gujarati king. Attempts to take over Diu had begun from 1531 but the Portuguese were successful only by 1535 taking advantage of the internal conflict of the king and the Mughal emperor, Humayun. After the peace treaty in 1539, the Portuguese took over full control of the island. Both the islands came under Indian rule by as late as 1961.

TOURISTS ATTRACTIONS

In Daman, one can visit the Fort of St. Jerome at Nani Daman, where there is a Jain temple as well. The 17th-century-old Se Cathedral and the Church of Our Lady of Rosary in Moti Daman are also worth a visit, and one can see the exquisite Portuguese carvings on the walls of these churches. Built in ancient Gothic style, these are a feast for the eyes. The stately Light House, the amusement park and the Gandhi Park at Daman jetty are also places of interest. Among the beaches, Devka beach is the most famous. Others include the Jampore beach, which is of interest to the swimmers and is very near the Gujarat border. The lake garden of Satya Nagar Udyan is famous for its fountains and promenades.

In Diu, the Zampa Gateway is of particular interest. It has carvings of lions, angels and a priest and has a chapel inside with an inscription dating back to 1702. The artificial Zampa waterfall is also attractive. St. Paul's Church is the only active church till date. Nearby is the old St. Thomas's Church that has now been taken over by the authorities and converted into the Diu Museum. The Church of St. Francis of Assisi has been converted to a hospital. The Marwar memorial commemorates the victory over the Portuguese. The massive fort built in 1541 is now weathered and weak. It is of major tourist interest. Other places include Jallandhar and Gangeshwar temple.

The Nagoa beach is the most famous in Diu. Gomptimata, Chakratirth and the beautiful Sunset Point are the other famous beaches. The Jama Masjid is also famous.

PLACES AROUND DAMAN

The 1000-feet-high hill resort of Saputara near Daman is quite famous. The name means the Abode of Serpents and one can see a holy serpent image on the banks of the river Sarpaganga. To visit Mahal Bardipara Forest Wildlife Sanctuary (60 km) and the Gira Waterfalls (52 km) Saputara is a popular base.

Fudam, near Diu town, has a big church dedicated to Our Lady of Remedies. At the western frontiers of the island, Vanakbara has a Church to Our Lady of Mercy, a fort, a lighthouse, and a fishing fleet.

HOW TO REACH

BY ROAD - The tourist office in Daman (Tel. No.: 55104) is near the bus stand.

BY AIR - Daman is provided with an airport and is connected to Baroda and Mumbai. Only traveler's cheques are exchangeable.

BY RAIL - The main railhead is Vapi, which is 10 km away. Vapi is about 170 km from Mumbai and 90 km from Surat. Buses and auto rickshaws are available to Daman from Vapi.

BY AIR - For Diu, there are regular air services of Gujarat State Airlines that fly to Mumbai.

BY RAIL - The nearest railhead is Delwada, 8 km from Diu. It is located between Una and Ghoghla.

BY ROAD - For road services, Una is the access point and there are direct buses from Bhavnagar (180 km), Veraval (90 km), and Talaja. There is a ferry service from Vanakbara to Kotla village, from where one can get buses to Kodinar. Auto and cycle rickshaws are available to commute within the city. Cycling is the most common mode of local transport. The tourist office is on Bunder Road (Tel. No.: 52212). One can exchange money at slightly lower rates in the banks.

WHERE TO STAY

In Daman, most of the cheap hotels are located on Seaface Road. There are many decent places to stay at the beach sites. In February, Daman is known for its papri, which are boiled, sweet and salty peas. Crab and lobsters are delicacies in October. The streets of Daman have bars that sell beer, Scotch whisky and feni. Tody is also found in abundance.

In Diu, rates of hotels are high in the peak season of October to June. Most restaurants have their own eating joints. Food in Diu can be very cheap to expensive. Good seafood and Chinese dishes deserve special mention. With some luck, one can also taste Parsee food here.

We offer excellent accommodation facilities in and around Daman and Diu.


One is forbidden to take alcohol out of Daman into Gujarat unless there is a permit. The local police authorities are quite strict about the implementation of prohibition.

Tourism-of-India.com provides complete information about hotels in Daman and Diu. Tourism-of-India.com offers package tours in order to make your visit to Daman and Diu Pleasant.