Daman and Diu tourist places

[Raavi]

My friends and I are going to Daman and Diu for a holiday, and we have just realized that we need to put an itinerary together to make the trip better.

To put the itinerary together, we need a list of the Daman and Diu tourist places. We would like to see as much as we can on our holiday, so don't hold back on the list of tourist places.

 

[briannagodess]

Hello, @Raavi! Welcome to the forum!

Daman and Diu is a costal union territory of India. Daman and Diu was inaugurated as a part of India in 1961. Until 1987, Goa, Daman and Diu were a single union territory. But during that year, Goa was separated from the territory, making Daman and Diu a single union territory. By road though, Daman and Diu are about 650 kms from each other.

Daman is one of the two districts in Daman and Diu. It lies at the mouth of the Daman Ganga River. The nearest railway station to it is in Vapi. It is surrounded by the Valsad district of Gujarat in the north, east and south and the Arabian sea in the west. On the other hand, Diu is the second district in Daman and Diu. It is the 9th least populous district in the country.

Tourist Places in Daman

Beaches

• Jampore Beach - This beach is about three kilometres to the south of Moti Daman. It has dark sandy shores and the water is mud coloured. It can get crowded during holidays and weekends though. One of the unique features of the beach is that you can join in many activities here. One of which is camel riding, which is quite unusual in a beach. You'd find camels amidst the shores of the sea and their owners asking around for anyone who wants a ride. Horse riding is also quite usual here but this isn't your typical horse ride. The horses carry colourful carts, sometimes even the tires are in multiple hues. Other activities that you can do here are ATV riding, car raiding, parasailing and playing cricket on the shores. There are also numerous beach shacks serving delectable local cuisines here.

• Devka Beach - This beach has rocky shores with black sands. There are some beach shacks along the shores where you can eat. However, the water of the beach isn't suitable much for swimming. There's also not much activities that you can do here although sometimes, you might be able to spot camels or horses giving rides for a fee in the beach side.

Gardens/Parks

• Mirasol Lake Garden - This is also known as the Kadaiya Lake Garden and is located near Nani Daman. The garden is surrounded by the Mirasol Lake. It has two islands connected by a bridge and there are boating facilities in the lake. Boats include pedal ones, motor ones and family ones. The garden is quite picturesque especially with the beautiful fountains surrounding it. There's also a toy train here that can give you a ride around the garden.

• Mirasol Water Park - This is situated just beside the Mirasol Lake Garden. This is a resort with a water park, swimming pools, discotheque and even a children's play area. The water park has slides, wave pool, children's areas and tubing adventures. They also have a mini-theatre that kids and adults can enjoy. The resort has many rooms that guests can opt to stay in for a more relaxing stay.

• Devka Amusement Park - This is a small amusement park located just beside the Devka Beach. It's more suitable for children with an assortment of rides like water ballon raft, bungy-jumping, swings and cricket pitch. There's also a small garden with benches inside the park for resting or for adults who'd like to spend some quality time together.

• Satya Sagar Udyan - This is a lake garden located near the Coast Guard Air Station. It's a popular picnic spot for locals and tourists. There's a lake inside the garden with lush greenery all around. Several fountains add beauty to the garden. There's also a snack bar and a restaurant within the garden premises.

Religious

• Cathedral of Bom Jesus - The foundation for this church was laid during the year 1559 but it was only finished in 1603. The church is about 400 years old already and was built by the Portuguese. It's reminiscent of the churches in Goa with its design and structure. Its walls are painted beige with white borders. The wooden glass windows and the main door was painted a dark brown. The altar is the main attraction, as it's wooden and carved, and painted in different colours.

• Somnath Mahadev Temple - This is located in the Dabhel village in Daman. This temple has some resemblance to the Somnath Temple in Gujarat. According to local legends, a shivalinga of Lord Shiva appeared miraculously in this site. After which, the locals built a temple on the premises in 1974. It is best visited during the Gangaji Fair which is held annually. During this fair, devotees perform rituals, take a holy bath and then end the festival with colours. It is a fairly small temple dedicated to the Lord Shiva but what makes it unique is its glass interiors. It has also undergone numerous renovations over the years.

• Dominican Monastery - This monastery is located inside the Moti Daman Fort. It used to be the centre for theological studies in the region. Students all over the world used to go here to learn more about theology. For unknown reasons, the monastery reached its downfall suddenly. It's still a great place to visit, just to see the exquisite carvings inside the monastery. Its altar was beautifully decorated with floral themes once. During the third Sunday of December, there's a mass dedicated to St. Dominic held in the monastery.

Historical

• Moti Daman Fort - This fort was constructed in the year 1559 AD. It has over 30,000 square kilometres of area. The fort has 2 entrance passages and 10 citadels. Inside the fort, there are also barracks, structures and houses. It is surrounded by a moat, which links the river to the sea. The fort is shaped like a polygon and you can see various projections from the central fort.

• Nani Daman Fort - This is also known as the St. Jerome Fort, after the statue of the said saint above the entrance of the fort. You can find it on the right side of the Damanganga River. The fort was constructed as a means to keep watch of the sea and the passing ships. The Church of Our Lady of the Sea is also located within the fort premises. There's also a Portuguese War Cemetery within the fort, which is almost as old as the fort itself. The walls of the fort are still intact and show no sign of decay or even its age.

Others

• Daman Ganga Tourist Complex - This is about 8 kms from the Nani Daman Fort. It's a popular recreation centre for tourists as it houses an amphitheatre, health club, sports club, waterfalls, fountains and gardens. There are also some cottages and conference halls within the complex.

Tourist Places in Diu

Beaches

• Nagoa Beach - You need to ride a ferry to reach this beach from Diu. It is about 20 minutes away with a ferry from Diu. The beach is shaped like a horseshoe, which is about two kilometres in length. It is large, deserted and fairly secluded making it a perfect getaway especially for couples. It is also surrounded all around by Hoka trees which adds to the pristine beauty of the beach. It is a very clean beach and there are lots of water sports you can do. Camel rides and horse rides can also be done on the shores. Swimming on the water of the beach is also safe and permitted.

• Ghoghla Beach - This is supposed to be the largest beach in Diu. It is about 15 kms from the city centre of Diu. Despite the distance, it's worth a visit as it's secluded and very well-maintained. There are also water sports activities that you can do in here. The water is very safe for swimming as the waves aren't strong and the water gradually becomes deeper. Some of the activities that you can do here are parasailing and surfing. There are also numerous accommodation options and restaurants around the beach.

• Jallandhar Beach - This is a serene and lesser crowded beach in Diu. The Jallandhar Shrine is also located at a hillock nearby the beach. This is the image of Jallandhar, the demon that Lord Krishna killed. The shores of the beach are rocky so it's not that suitable for swimming. It's best to enjoy the views of the sea here, as it doesn't have many crowds and you can certainly enjoy the isolation.

• Chakratirth Beach - This is just beside the INS Khukery Memorial. During low tide, you can visit the hillock of Bhanslo through the water. There's an open-air auditorium here which doubles as a changing room for guests. You can also visit the Shiva Temple located nearby the beach.

• Gomatimata Beach - This is one of the most underdeveloped beaches in Diu. The advantage of that is that the beach is very clean and practically virgin. However, there are no accommodation options nor beach shacks nearby. If your aim though is just to relax and bask in the sun, then this is the perfect beach for that. Make sure you bring your own blanket, snacks and water though. Also, do visit before sunset as it's pretty isolated from the city centre.

• Vanakbara Beach - You can find this at the extreme west of Diu. Vanakbara is a fishing village and this is where you'd find the beach. It is best visited during the early morning to watch the fishermen gather their catches for the day. The tides are very high here though so swimming is not permitted. You can spot many seashells on the shores which can be a fun activity for kids.

Religious

• Gangeshwar Temple - This is about three kms from the city centre of Diu. It is a temple dedicated to the Lord Shiva. It is located near the sea and during low tide, you can spot the five shivalingams of Lord Shiva in the water. These shivalingas are believed to have been established by the Pandava brothers, after their exile from Hastinapur.

• St. Paul's Church - This church was built during 1601 AD and was completed during 1610 AD. This is the oldest and the only one functioning out of the three surviving Portuguese churches in Diu. You can find it inside the Diu Fort. It was built using a Baroque style of architecture. The wooden cravings of the church are considered as the most intricate in any Portuguese church in India. Some even compare the workmanship and design of this church better than the Bom Jesus Basilica in Goa.

• St. Thomas Church and Museum - This church was built during the year 1598. You can find it within the Diu Fort as well. There's an annual mass held here during November 1. The church has been converted into a museum housing artefacts about Christianity. You can find various stone sculptures of The Virgin Mary and Jesus Christ here. You can also find other artefacts like a 400-year old fossilised wood carvings, marble statues of saints, idols and antique clocks here.

Historical

• Diu Fort - This fort was built by the Portuguese during the year of 1535 but was strengthened even until 1546. The fort is located on an island and two bridges connect it to the town. It has a double moat providing outmost security to its walls. At one end of the fort, there's a large light house. Now though, you can find the ruins of the walls, gateways, arches, ramps and bastions can be seen.

• Fortim Do Mar - This is also known as the Fort of St. Anthony of Simbor or Fort of the Sea. The fort is a ship-shaped structure built by both the Portuguese and the Gujarats to defend Diu from the Mughals. There's a small lighthouse inside and a chapel as well. There was even an underground tunnel connecting the fort to the land, but it's in ruins now. The only way to reach the fort is through a boat ride.

• Zampa Gateway - This is the main entrance or gateway to the city of Diu. Here, you can find a chapel built during the year 1702 AD and also an artificial waterfall. The gateway itself is filled with carvings of lions, angels and priests.

Others

• Naida Caves - This is located just outside the Diu Fort. If you like adventure, then it's a must to visit the caves. With its winding and narrow tunnels along with huge step-like structures, you'll be mesmerised with its natural beauty. The origin of the caves aren't clear though. Some believe that when the Portuguese used the rocks from the caves for construction, they formed these shapes eventually. Some believe that these structures are formed by geological irregularities over time. It's one of the most underrated attractions in Diu.

• INS Khukery - This is a memorial dedicated to the Indian war ship, along with the soldiers, that sank near this coast. Aside from that, there's an open air theatre here that is also worth visiting.

• Shell Museum - You can find various types of seashells in this museum. It is located nearby the Nagoa Beach. The seashells were collected by Captain Devjibhai Vira Fulbaria for over 50 years. And they're not just from Diu, or just India, but from all over the world. There are around 2,500 to 3,000 seashells in the museum alone.

I hope this helps!