Best Places to visit in DIU Island
Namaskar ! my friends today we are going to witnessing natures best creation in India and you going to be surprises to learn about Best Places to visit in DIU Island “I grew curious about this place and wondered – how would I feel if I ever got there? So, I did”
I never travelled solo, until I decided to visit Diu. I did it to experience the exhilaration of travelling solo itself, and to somewhat break open my comfort zone.
Information about Diu from the pages of Best Places to visit in DIU Island
The island was occupied by the Indian military on 19 December 1961. The Battle of Diu involved overwhelming land, sea and air strikes on the enclave for 48 hours until the Portuguese garrison there surrendered. It was declared a union territory of India, Goa, Daman, and Diu.
Diu is a coastal town at the eastern end of Diu Island, India. A bridge connects the island to the state of Gujarat. Overlooking the Arabian Sea, Diu Fort, a 16th-century Portuguese citadel, features a lighthouse and cannons. Inland, centuries-old St. Paul’s Church was built in elaborate baroque style. Nearby, whitewashed St. Thomas Church is now home to the Diu Museum, with wooden carvings and religious artifacts.
Diu island is an island off the southest coast of Gujarat’s Kathiawar peninsula, separated from the mainland by a tidal creek. It has an area of 40 km and population of 44,110. Diu Island is an apt place to experience a dream vacation in ones’s life. The island offers excellent opportunity for swimming, surfing. It offers an although unique and impressive sight of sand crowned beaches and allures.
Admiring Diu Island in its Own way from the pages of Best Places to visit in DIU Island
Now let’s consider that you’ve decided to visit this place (use your imagination) – and you need to pack your bags
So, here’s a list of things you might want to take along with you, considering that you’d be closer to beach and travelling frequently.
• IDs and their photocopies
• Slippers or sandals
• Mobile Waterproof Cover
• Cell phone Power Bank
…and any other stuff that probably doesn’t need to be mentioned.
So, all set
How to reach Diu Island from the pages of Best Places to visit in DIU Island
Iin this age of trends, where the people are equipped with endless modes of communication and transportation; getting out to a particular place is not a tedious job but the prominent prospect to be considered in this scenario is reaching one’s destination comfortably in an economical manner.
The closest railway station to Diu is Veraval. This railway station falls at a distance of 90 kilometres from Diu and it is very well connected to the major cities of Ahmedabad and Rajkot.
Best time to visit Diu Island from the pages of Best Places to visit in DIU Island
Diu is undoubtedly a phenomenal place on this planet. It is a beautiful island which allures tourists from the all over the world with its exotic beaches, tribal culture and architecture. The place offers a great blend of beauty, peace and tranquility to all the tourists.
Moreover, in the summer season, the tourists can enjoy a range of water sports to mark their pleasant journey. The temperature in summers is recorded at an average of 31 degree Celsius which is pretty good to visit an Island like Diu.
Spectacular Places to visit in Diu Island from the pages of Best Places to visit in DIU Island
Diu is a beautiful Island located nearby the coast of kathiyawad region at Veraval port. Cambay bounded by the Chassi River on the North and the Arabian Sea on the remaining three sides with the coastal length of 21 kms. In this age of trends, where the people are equipped with endless modes of communication and transportation.
Talking about the places to visit in Diu, one can cherish the serene and composed atmosphere of Diu by admiring these places.
What is Diu famous for? from the pages of Best Places to visit in DIU Island
Diu is a coastal town at the eastern end of Diu Island, India. A bridge connects the island to the state of Gujarat. Overlooking the Arabian Sea, Diu Fort, a 16th-century Portuguese citadel, features a lighthouse and cannons. Inland, centuries-old St. Paul’s Church was built in elaborate baroque style. Nearby, whitewashed St. Thomas Church is now home to the Diu Museum, with wooden carvings and religious artifacts.
Diu was a Portuguese settlement till the 90s and was reclaimed by India after that time. It has many beaches, forts, monuments and loads of beauty to explore. There are many places to visit in Diu with friends, family and alone.
Best places to visit from the pages of Best Places to visit in DIU Island
Nagoa Beach: Laze Around
Located at a distance of just 3.5 km from the Diu Island, Nagoa Beach is one of the most popular picnic spots in Diu. The highlight of this place is its structure which resembles the shape of a shoe. Owing to its exotic beauty and ambience, this palm-fringed beach witnesses a huge tourist traffic throughout the year from all over the world.
Location: Diu, Daman & Diu
Timings: Sunrise and Sunsets
Entry Fee: Free
Nida Caves: Explore the Rock Formations from the pages of Best Places to visit in DIU Island
Carrying a rich history of Portuguese along with, Diu represents a number of sculptures from this period. Naida caves are one of those sculptures where the Portuguese hacked out their building material. These caves have a natural opening in the ground, which extends beyond the zone of light. The formation of these caves is said to have undergone the geological processes. This place is just 7 km away from the Diu Island.
Did you know that? It is believed that when the Portuguese ruled over Diu, they broke down sections of a huge rock formation, that they used for construction. This is how the caves got shape eventually. However, it is also studied that the caves were formed due to geological irregularities and processes over a significant amount of time.
Location: Diu, Daman and Diu 362520
Timings: 10 AM to 2 PM
Entry Fee: Free
Gangeshwar Temple: Seek Blessings from the pages of Best Places to visit in DIU Island
At a distance of just 6 km from the Diu Island lies the spiritual centre named as Gangeshwar Temple. This place is famously known for its 5 Shiv Linga’s dedicated to Lord Shiva. Displaying an example of ancient beliefs and traditional architectural designs, this temple is a superb place to visit in terms of inner peace and obtaining mythological stories. This temple makes Diu Island a much-visited place in India as well.
This temple is 5000 years old, the establishment of temple and installation of five Linga’s on rocky surface of the sea shore was done by five Pandav brothers (Yudhishthira, Bhima, Arjunna, Nakula and Sahadev), while they were spending their anonymity in exile for worship of Lord Shiva on daily basis at the period of Mahabharata. The temple has five Shiva Linga installed by Pandava brothers depending on their individual sizes, the bigger one was made by (one of the brothers of Pandava’s) Bhima, as he had huge physique and subsequently.
Location: Diu, Daman and Diu 362520
Timings: 8 AM – 6 PM
Entry Fee: Free
Shell Museum: See Colourful Seashells from the pages of Best Places to visit in DIU Island
Shell Museum in Diu is a rare structure showcasing a collection of rare and unique sea shells from around the world. Diu Island and its surrounding attractions are known to provide a lifetime experience through their exquisite beauty and uniqueness per se. Before there was a Shell Museum, there were the shell collectors. They were passionate about this special place—Sanibel Island, one of the best shell-collecting spots in the world. They dreamed of establishing a museum dedicated entirely to shells and the environmental importance of mollusks, the animals that create them.
In 1989, three local brothers, Francis, Samuel, and John Bailey, generously deeded eight acres of wetland on Sanibel Captiva Road to the Museum. They used the gift to memorialize their parents, Frank P. Bailey and Annie Mead Matthews, whose names the Museum now bears.
This landmark is located 6 km away from a town based in Nagoa road.
Location: Nagoa Beach Rd, Daman and Diu 362570
Timings: 10 AM – 5 PM
Entry Fee: Free
Diu Museum – A Restored Church from the pages of Best Places to visit in DIU Island
This edifice came under various functions like an Orphanage, Old Age Home, Police Station and prior to liberation, it housed the Angolan Battalion. Post-liberation, it was abandoned for many years. Later in 1992, the church was converted into a museum.
Has a very old collection of wooden Catholic saints going back to the 16thC. Once a year, on All Saints Day, it is used for Mass. The place would barely make the cut as a museum as it is very small place which used to be a church. The place itself is in ruins with wall paint information. Just to point out it is next to St Paul Church, which tourists visit, so everyone scraped at multiple places and birds making it their home. It has some 30 wooden statues with just the names for the just visits the museum as well.
The Diu Museum is among the most famous Diu tourist places and is a part of the St. Thomas Church which was converted into a museum shortly after it was built in 1598. While the museum part is relatively new and well-kept, the church area has been allowed to restore its former glory and ancient look.
You’ll find that the building bears a worn out look and has faded portraits and paintings that the Portuguese had left behind. You’ll also be mesmerised by the beautiful garden path that leads up to the museum, one of the most attractive places to see in Diu.
Location: Diu, Daman and Diu 362520
Entry fee: Nil
Timings: 8 AM – 9 PM
INS Khukri Memorial – Plunge into The History
Indian Naval Ship Khukri was a frigate of the Indian Navy. During the Indo Pak War in 1971, she fell prey to three torpedoes fired by a Pakistan submarine on 9/12/1971 and sank 40 nautical miles off the coast of Diu taking down with her a crew of 18 Officers and 176 Sailors.
There is a memorial to the sailors in Diu. The memorial consists of a scale model of Khukri encased in a glass house, placed atop a hillock facing the sea.
INS Khukri Memorial is a monument built commemorating the INS Khukri that sunk during the 1971 war between Pakistan and India. The submarine was shot with torpedoes and started to sink when the 18 officers and 176 sailors on it were issued the orders to save their lives and hand them over to the invaders. However, the officers chose to embrace death rather than surrendering to the enemies.
Later the commanding officer Captain Mahendra Nath Mulla was awarded Mahavir Chakra posthumously. The monument stands till date a reminder of the valiant soldiers, and is visited by many tourists every year.
Location: Diu, Daman and Diu 362520
Timings: Open 24 hours
Entry Fee: Free
Diu Fort – Must-Visit Place from the pages of Best Places to visit in DIU Island
The fortress, which borders on the town of Diu, was built in 1535 subsequent to a defense alliance forged by Bahadur Shah, the Sultan of Gujarat and the Portuguese when Humayun, the Mughal Emperor attempted to annex this territory. It was strengthened over the years, till 1546.
Fort Diu is located right beside the sea or on the sea shore and is one of the most iconic places to visit in Diu. You can enjoy a surreal view of the horizons from the fort and hear the crashing sea waves on the fort walls sending foam to its upper reaches! The lighthouse is closed to the public. The fort was built by the Portuguese people and its jetty is still in use.
The fort was once an important entity on the trade route with Cambay, Surat and Bharuch in Gujarat. The parapet has an array of cannons and cannonballs are littered around the entire land surrounding the fort.
Location: Fort Road, near to PWD Office, Diu, Daman and Diu 362520
Timings: 8 AM – 6 PM
Entry Fee: Free
Pani Kotta
Pani Kotha is a structure dating back to the 12th century that is bang in the middle of the sea without any landmass connecting to it and can be viewed from the Fort Diu near the India Union Territory of Diu which is a set of islands. Built by the Portuguese colonial forces that invaded Goa and many other parts of coastal India, the Pani Kotha as it is referred to by locals, was an isolated complex structure built in the middle of the sea to house prisoners.
The Portuguese had named it Fortim du Mar and it was built in the shape of a towering fortress with no windows and a single entrance and it used to be a massive spiralling prison reservoir in those days.
Pani Kotha or Fortim do Mar as named by the Portuguese is a 12th-century edifice. Once a fort it was made to look like a ship to mislead invaders. Since it is located on an islet at the mouth of the creek of the Arabian sea, now it is a historical monument and one of the top tourist places in Diu.
The fort was later used as a prison and was controlled by the Portuguese along with the Diu fort. This stone fort was fortified in the year 1588 by adding a few structures. Besides this, a small chapel was erected in the year 1638 as a dedication to Our Lady of the Sea.
The fort also houses barracks, a warehouse and a lighthouse from where you get a panoramic view of the Diu fort, jetty and even the Ghogla village. One sight to behold is the colourful lights projected at the fort along with the music as part of a light and sound event is magnificent.
Things to do in Diu from the pages of Best Places to visit in DIU Island
The above discussion creates an interesting prospect to know more about the Diu Island. Together with this, another important thing to be mentioned over here are the activities that one must do at this place. There are a number of prominent things to be mentioned over here. Let’s discuss a few of them.
1. Swimming in the Ghoghla Beach
There are a number of awe-inspiring beaches at and around the Diu Island. These beaches have been tagged as safe places for swimming and playing water sports.
The largest beach of Diu is the Ghoghla Beach which offers an excellent opportunity to play numerous water games and spend time by swimming in the lap of nature.
2. Exploring Portuguese History
The history reveals that Diu remained a Portuguese colony for almost 240 years. This place holds a rich history in this regard. The Diu Fort is the best option to view the remnants of this community and allows the history lovers to capture these remains in the camera. The stonework is brilliant over here.
Portugal traces its national origin to 24 June 1128, the date of the Battle of São Manmade. Afonso proclaimed himself Prince of Portugal after this battle and in 1139, he assumed the title King of Portugal. In 1143, the Kingdom of León recognized him as King of Portugal by the Treaty of Zamora.
The Battle of Diu (1509), was the culmination of a global trade war. On one side were allied forces of the Sultanate of Gujarat, the Zamorin of Calicut, the Egyptians, and the Venetians, the ‘old’ order and on the other, the Portuguese. The decisive victory of the Portuguese in this naval battle heralded the end of the old trading giants and led to centuries of European naval and trade dominance, that shaped the modern world.
Roam around splendid markets
Bangles
Colourful plastic bangles hang gracefully in every shop of Diu as they represent the culture of the town and are widely purchased by the visiting tourists. The plastic bangles are polished on a buffing machine and sold in a variety of sizes, patterns, and designs. The bangles in Diu will embrace your hands and you will not be able to resist the temptation to buy them, we guarantee!
From Where to Shop: Princess Park
About Princess Park: This is another good place for shopping in Diu as it is most famous for the attractive bamboo items, gift articles etc. Princess Park is the most ideal place for buying handicrafts in Diu and decorative jewellery made of pearls by the local craftsmen. Lastly, you must check out the bangles at this market for they are known to be vibrant and colourful!
Address: Devka beach road, Nani Daman, Diu
Timing: Open 24 hours
Dry Fruits
Dry fruits are something that literally everyone in India loves as it finds its way to our favourite delicacies and sometimes, even the breakfast table. Shopping in Diu Island is incomplete without buying the exquisite and high-quality dry fruits that are a specialty in the town. This is indeed one of the best shopping places in Diu. Cashews are the most famous of such dry fruits and you can buy salted, plain or masala cashew nuts at really reasonable prices in Diu.
From Where to Shop: M.K. Dry Fruits & Grah Vaastu Bhandar
About M.K. Dry Fruits & Grah Vaastu Bhandar: This shop is located in Diu and is really famous for dry fruits such as cashews and almonds. You can shop from an eclectic range of dry fruits here for a reasonable price.
Address: 3, Kanyakumari Building, Daman – Kunta Rd, Nani Daman, Daman, Daman and Diu 396210
Timings: 9 am to 10 pm
Custom Goods from the pages of Best Places to visit in DIU Island
You may wonder what these custom goods are? Basically, these are household appliances, customized items, electronic items, foreign goods, gadgets, leather slippers, toys, and other stuff that is available at good pricing in Diu. If you are looking to purchase any of these products then you can get a chance to avail them at a good bargain.
From Where to Shop: Khawaja Custom
About Khawaja Custom: Since Diu is an island, there are a lot of items such as seashells that are sold on the streets; these seashells make up as good souvenirs as well as items for memories of your trip. A place where necklaces and jewellery made out of seashells are sold is the Khawaja Custom. Here, you can also buy items made up of terracotta, bamboo, and brass.
Address: Opposite gold moon restaurant, Diu, 362520
Timings: Open 24 hours
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