Information about Daman and Diu
| Country |  India |
|---|---|
| Established | 30 May 1987 |
| Capital | Daman |
| No. of districts | 2 |
|---|
| Languages | |
|---|---|
| • Official | Konkani Gujarati Hindi English |
Daman and Diu is a union territory in Western India. With an area of 112 km2, it is the smallest federal division of India on the mainland. The territory comprises two distinct regions Daman and Diu, geographically separated by the Gulf of Khambhat. The state of Gujarat and Arabian Sea border the territory. Originally a Portuguese colony, the territories were amalgamated in India in 1961 through a military conquest.
History
For over 450 years, the coastal enclaves of Daman (Portuguese: Damão) and Diu on the Arabian Sea coast were part of Portuguese India, along with Goa and Dadra and Nagar Haveli. Goa, Daman and Diu were incorporated into the Republic of India on December 19, 1961 by military conquest. Portugal did not recognise the Indian annexation of these territories until 1974.
The territory of “Goa, Daman and Diu” was administered as a single union territory until 1987, when Goa was granted statehood, leaving Daman and Diu as a separate union territory. Each enclave constitutes one of the union territory’s two districts. Daman and Diu are approximately 650 kilometres away from each other by road.
Districts
- Diu District, an area of 40 km2. The main settlement is the town of Diu.
- Daman District, an area of 28 sq mi or 72 km2. The main settlement is the city of Daman.
Tourism
Daman and Diu house various buildings and monuments with Portuguese styled architecture.
The nearest railway junction is Veraval, which is 90 km from Diu. Major cities like Mumbai, Ahmedabad, Pune, Jabalpur (Madhya Pradesh), Dwarka and Thiruvananthapuram are directly connected to Veraval Railway Station. Delwada is 8 km from Diu.
- Jain Temple: This 18th-century temple is situated in northern region of Nani Daman Fort and is dedicated to Mahavir Swami. The temple is built with white marble and has beautiful carvings. The walls have an elegant glass cover with 18th-century murals that represents the life of Mahavir Swami.[4]
- Nani Daman Fort
- Diu Fort
- Fort of Moti Daman
- St. Thomas Church
- Nadia Caves
- St. Paul’s Church
- Tower of Silence
- Daman Freedom Memorial
- Fortim do Mar
- Portuguese Fort
- Se Cathedral
- Beaches
- Nagoa Beach is in Diu.
- Ghoghla Beach is the largest beach on the island of Diu.
- Chakratirth Beach is in Diu.
- Gomtimata Beach is in Diu.
- Jallandhar Beach has a shrine. The beach is named after Jallandhar, a mythological demon who was said to have been killed by Lord Krishna.
Source: Wikipedia [Daman and Diu]
