Daman and Diu
Daman and Diu are two districts that form one of the Union
Territories of India. These two districts are 792 kilometers apart.
Daman
Close to Mumbai, but still far away from the crazy crowds, 'Daman' is a
Portuguese enclave. A picturesque port town and a popular getaway for the
inhabitants of Mumbai. Located on the west coast, Daman has been the home away
from home for the Portuguese untill it was liberated in 1961 and became a part
of the Indian Union.
Diu
Also a Portuguese colony, like Goa. Diu is an
island on the western coast, off the Gulf of Cambay. It is a beautiful and
secluded island about 786 km from Daman. The island has a coastal length of 21
km and is about 11 km long and 3 km wide. It is connected to the mainland by two
bridges. One is near Tad vilage and the other near Ghoghla village in Gujarat.
Getting There (Daman) :
- By Air : Mumbai airport.
- By Rail : Most of the Express and Passenger trains from Mumbai
Central and Bandra Terminus to Surat, Baroda, Ahmedabad and Delhi stop at Vapi,
where the traveler to Daman must get off.
- By Road : Buses from Mumbai to Ashmedabad and Saurashtra pass
through Vapi.
Getting There (Diu) :
- By Air : Gujarat Airways is operating a daily flight between Mumbai
and Diu.
- By Rail : Nearest rail station is Veraval. From Diu train service
is available from Veraval to Rajkot and Ahmedabad.
- By Road : Regular busesare operate from Diu, Ghoghla and Una to
various cities in Gujarat.
Fast Facts :
- Area: 1000 Sq. Km
- Capital: Daman
- Languages: Gujarati and Marathi
- Religion: Christianity (major), Hinduism and Islam
- Literacy rate: 88.49 %
- Best Time To Visit: September to May
Tourist Attractions :
Diu Town :
Diu Town is protected by the fort in the
east and a wall in the west. Fishermen make daily trips from the north coast by
wooden boats. A few churches built by the former European inhabitants are still
in use, although the Christian population is decreasing. The Church of St.
Thomas is now a museum which lies to the north of St. Pauls.
