Daman and Diu (દમન અને દીવ) Travel Guide, India

Tweet

Daman and Diu (Gujarat: દમન અને દીવ, Marathi: दमण आणि दीव, Portuguese: Damão e Diu) are small territories on the coast of Gujarat that are today a Union Territory in India. It comprises two separated districts covering 112 sq km (43 sq mi) and having a population of 243,000 (2011 estimate). Daman District is an enclave of Gujarat while Diu District comprises Diu Island and Diu mainland, which has a border with Gujarat.

Daman, India
Author: Cláudia Nunes (public domain)

Daman and Diu were formerly colonies of Portuguese India, similar to nearby Dadra and Haveli. The colonies of Goa, Daman and Diu were merged with India in 1961, "by military conquest", meaning it was annexed.

Portugal only formally recognized Indian administration of these former colonies in 1974. They were administered as a single unit until 1987, when Goa was made a state of India, while Daman and Diu remaining as a union territory.

Diu Fort and Lighthouse
Author: Aotearoa (Creative Commons Attribution 3.0 Unported)

The people of Daman and Diu speak Marathi and Gujarati, with English being used mainly for commerce. The use of Portuguese has declined since the change in administration, and today only elderly people are able to understand it. There are also two Portuguese-based creole languages spoken namely Língua da Casa ("Language of the Home") and Língua dos Velhos ("Language of the Elders"), both endangered speeches not commonly spoken outside the local homes.

How to go to Daman and Diu

There are 6 flights a week connecting Diu and Mumbai.

Main Sights in Daman and Diu

Chapel of Our Lady of Rosary
Roman Catholic chapel in Daman.
Church of Bom Jesus
Roman Catholic Church in Daman.
Diu Cathedral
Portuguese cathedral on Diu.
Diu FortOld Portuguese fort on Diu.

Return to India Travel Guide

Get my latest updates on Google+

Tips to become a smart traveler: Useful tips to remember, to get the best out of your travels.

Preparing for a Trip: Systematic approach to help you prepare for your trip.

How to plan your travel itinerary: Step-by-step build to creating the itinerary for your trip.

How to compare hotel room rates: Learn to use a booking search engine to compare rates across all major booking sites.

How to pack your luggage: Useful steps to take when packing your luggage.

Packing List (PDF): Print out this free packing list to make sure you don't forget anything for your trip.

Voltage, Frequency, Plugs & Sockets of the World: Learn about the mains electricity supply in the world.

Travelers' List of Plugs and Sockets (PDF): Easy-to-use list of electricity and plugs for all countries.

Making International Direct Dail Calls: Learn to make IDD calls from anywhere in the world.

IDD Call Prefixes & Country Codes (PDF): Listing of Call Prefixes and Country Codes on one page for you to bring on your trip.

Safety Tips When Traveling Alone: Useful advice for when you travel on your own.

Guide to Health Matters related to Travel: Comprehensive coverage of different issues related to your health when traveling.

Getting Travel Insurance for your trip: Benefits of travel insurance, and advise on when you should signing up for one.

Improve your travel photography: Tips to improve your photography skills, especially when traveling.

Guide to Traveling Around the World: Useful tips for encircling the globe.

Find a hotel

Guests:

Rooms:

Point - Click - Discover!

Thanks for visiting this webpage. To continue exploring, choose another destination!

My World Travel Guides - celebrating a beautiful world beautifully.

Earning a living as a Happy Jobless Guy

I am a Happy Jobless Guy! I am one of the few people who is fortunate enough to earn an income from my websites that I don't to go out to work. My sites get thousands of visitors every day. It has been a long process, but it is something everybody can achieve, and that means YOU. The following are some articles which you might want to read if you want to do what I do: