At a glance This tiny Indo-Portuguese enclave is tucked between Maharashtra and Gujarat just north of the interstate border, 10 km from Vapi. About the city Devka beach,Daman and Diu, Daman and Diu Tourism, Daman and Diu Hotels, Daman and Diu Travel, Places to see in Daman and Diu, Places to stay in Daman and Diu City, Visit Daman and Diu City The union territories of Daman and Diu lie on the edge of the southern borders of Gujarat, in western India. The northern side of the isolated island, Diu, facing Gujarat, is made of tidal marsh and saltpans, while the southern coast alternates between limestone cliffs, rocky coves and sandy beaches. This wind beaten and somewhat arid island is filled with quarries built by the Portuguese rulers. The rocky and sandy interior reaches a maximum altitude of 29 m above sea level, and palms and coconut trees abound on this island. 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. Nariyal Purnima marks the beginning of the fishing season after the monsoon. Excited boat races, and swimming contests usher in the fisherman's bread with traditional pomp. Church Jesus,Daman and Diu, Daman and Diu Tourism, Daman and Diu Hotels, Daman and Diu Travel, Places to see in Daman and Diu, Places to stay in Daman and Diu City, Visit Daman and Diu City Daman and Diu are easily accessible from various other important cities of India through air, rail and road. In order to make the travel tour to Daman and Diu even more joyful you need to choose just the right kind of accommodation for you and your family or friends in Daman and Diu. The various hotels packages in Daman and Diu offer the best of facilities. How to reach Road: Car: Take NH8 to Bhilad via Manor, Talasari and Sanjan. After Bhilad, watch out for the left turn to Daman at Karambeli Village. If you miss it, continue on across the Damanganga River to Vapi and turn left to Daman. En route halts: KT Hill Resort at Shirsad or Manor hotels. At Charoti Naka in Kasa there's Hotel Ashok with a 24-hr restaurant. There's no other decent stop for 50 km, so eat here if you haven't already. Bus: Buses from Mumbai to Ahmedabad through Vapi. A number of Gujarat State Transport buses operate daily from Vapi to Daman. Rail: Nearest railhead: Vapi (10 km/ 1/2 hr) Best option TO Gujarat Express (dep: Mumbai Central 5.45 am, Dadar 5.57 am, Borivli 6.27 am; arr: Vapi 8.46 am) Best option FROM Valsad Fast Passenger (dep: Vapi 5.21 am; arr: Virar 7.53 am, Borivli 8.21 am, Dadar 8.55 am, Mumbai Central 9.15 am). Non-metered taxis (full cab Rs 150, shared cab Rs 10 per head) take you to Daman. No autos available. Journey Time Road: 4 hrs from Mumbai Rail: 3 hrs + road 1/2 hr from Mumbai Distances 192 km North from Mumbai From Mumbai NH8 from Mumbai to Karambeli, via Talasari and Bhilad State road to Daman. Best Seasons October to May and during the Nariyal Poornima Festival, which marks the commencement of the fishing season, usually celebrated at the end of the monsoons. Daman gets all dressed up at Christmas too. Both the islands enjoy typically maritime climate. The islands are always welcoming to tourists and one can enjoy its pleasant atmosphere throughout the year. Summers of Daman are generally hot in comparison to Diu. Thus, cottons are ideal clothing in DaWinters, though not hot, are warm. The sea affects the climate of the place. The gentle breeze from the Gulf greatly affects the climate of Diu, making it a cool and dry place. The best season to visit Daman and Diu is from September to May. Places in and around The Damanganga River bifurcates the 72 sq km of the Union Territory into Nani Daman (Little Daman) and Moti Daman (Big Daman). The tavernas and restaurants are in the more diminutive bit, while the administrative buildings and churches are in the larger part. There is also the Damanganga Tourist Complex, with caf's, cottages, waterfalls and water sports. Moti Daman The mossy fort walls, beyond the slimy moat in Moti Daman once contained the imposing homes of Portuguese administrators. The Portuguese had made attempts to acquire the territory from the Sultan of Gujarat since 1523, but only gained possession in 1559. That year, were told, the Goan Governor, Constantino de Braganza, sailed north to Daman with a fleet of more than a hundred ships and between 2,000 and 3,000 soldiers. The well-stocked garrison had hoped to hold out until the monsoon, which they believed would force a Portuguese retreat. But the Europeans proved too strong for the Goans and the town fell with little resistance. Soon, it acquired all the machinery so necessary for trade and taxing the natives. Soak up the spirit of times gone by as you saunter down the main street, book-ended by imposing gateways carved with old-fashioned coats of arms. There's the Governor's Palace, with its spectacular flight of stairs and its ornate chandeliers, and assorted office buildings in which the colonisers went about their business of exporting the treasures of the Indies to Europe. But the Portuguese, it must be remembered, harboured ambitions that transcended the merely mercantile as they sailed around the Cape of Good Hope. They were seeking both Christians and spices. So, in addition to buildings devoted to governance and commerce, there are others constructed to elevate the soul. Relatively undisturbed by mass tourism, Daman's churches are said to be among the best preserved examples of Portuguese religious architecture in Asia. The Cathedral of Bom Jesu, consecrated in 1603, is a gilded wonder of wood and brick. The Church of Our Lady, meanwhile, has panels depicting episodes from Christ's life. Nearby lie the tree-grown ruins of a Dominican Monastery. The Lighthouse on the north-west end of the fort offers the finest vistas of the shimmering sea. The fountains and promenades at the lake garden at Satya Sagar Udyan make for a good evening stroll before you amble into the restaurant and snack bar for food of different regional varieties. Nani Daman St Jerome Fort in Nani Daman was built between 1614 and 1627, amidst fears of a Mughal invasion. It has three bastions, with gates opening unto the little town and the mouth of the river, with a statue of the patron saint in a niche. Today, it contains a cemetery and a school. Devka Beach This casuarina-lined, long-shored beach, 5 km to the north of Daman is sandy but unsafe for swimming because of the rocky formations underwater. Come here though for the bright lights of the restaurants, bars and fancy hotels. Devka offers the regular amusement park, pony rides, et al. There is the lighthouse to explore and views of the two Portuguese churches. Jampore Beach This beach to the south of Nani Daman is where the aquatic-minded will head. The waters are safe, there are picnic spots and sunshades, the horizon over the sea looks like a picture postcard and nature puts on a quiet show just for you.