Diu - Information about Diu - Diu Tour

Diu

Daman and Diu are the two tiny Union Territories which were the Portuguese enclaves. Geographically, Daman and Diu are the part of the Gujarat State. Diu is a tiny island in the Arabian Sea, about 11 kms. long and 3 kms. wide, separated from the coast by a narrow channel running through the swamp. Diu covers an area of 38.8 square kms. It is very difficult to reach this island so one has to travel through the town of UNA to reach Diu. It is connected to the mainland of Gujarat by a causeway. Diu is a sensuous blend of sun, sand and deep blue sea. The people of Diu consists of Hindus, Muslims and Christians, mainly Catholics. These people enjoy the rich traditional values, with folk dances forming an integral part of the culture. This beautiful island has excellent golden beaches,

Diu Fort, Diu

a small bazaar and a massive fort built by the portuguese in 1536. Diu is also one of the few places where the endangered great Indian bustard can be still seen. Gujarati, Hindi, English and Portuguese are the main languages which are spoken in Diu. The best time to visit Diu is from September to May.

Diu Church, Diu

History of Diu
Diu has a very long and glorious history that stretches back into legends and mythology. It was believed that Pandava brothers of the Mahabharata spent a part of their fourteen years exile in Diu. According to the legends, Diu was once ruled by the great king Jallandhar who was a demon and was killed by the Lord Vishnu with his sudarshan chakra. Diu was the first settlement in India of the Parsis fleeing from Persia in the 7th century. Diu was also ruled by the Mauryans during 322-320 BC and was the main trade center on the Saurashtra Coast. When the Mughal emperor Humayun attacked the Sultan of Gujarat, the Gujarat Sultan entered into a treaty with the Portuguese in 1535 for their help against him. Diu was also rewarded to the Portuguese governor Nuno De Cunha, who constructed a fort in Diu and raised his arsenal. Governor Joao de Castro finally seized Diu in 1546 and it remained a Portuguese enclave till its liberation in 1961 along with Daman and Goa. Diu was also an opium exporting centre and still is an important centre for smuggling goods into India or out of it.

Tourist Attractions in Diu
The major tourist attractions in Diu are the Diu Fort, St. Paul's Church, Jallandhar Shrine, Gangeshwar Temple, Diu Museum and Nagoa Beach. Diu Fort is an expansive and imposing structure, situated on the coast of the island. It was constructed between 1535 and 1541 AD and offers a magnificent view of the sea. St. Paul's Church is dedicated to our Lady of Immaculate Conception. This church was built during the 17th century and adorned with curiously treated volutes and shell-like motifs. Diu museum houses wooden carvings, statues, idols, shadow clocks and other important artifacts collected from various sites. Nagoda beach stretches about 2 km from one end to the other and is very beautiful and quiet and is in the shape of a horse shoe.

Festivals in Diu
A grand festival of culture and sporting activities is held for a period of 5 days from 19 to 23 December every year to commemorate Diu's Liberation Day. In this festival various folk performers and traditional craftsmen expose their talents in order to keep the heritage of Diu alive.

How to reach Diu
Diu has excellent all weather road links with the major cities of Gujarat like Ahmedabad, Bhavnagar, Rajkot and Baroda. The nearest railway station is located at Veraval, which is about 50 kms away.