World’s oldest Portuguese colony in IndiaDiu Diu is a town of Union Territory of Daman and Diu. Diu, a tiny island, is a booming tourist destination of India. It is the most exotic destination on the west coast. Here is a brief description of the place.
Diu is one of the oldest Portuguese colonies of the world. The place is very neat and clean and famous for its historical past. Diu, located on the outskirts of Gujarat, was a Portuguese colony until 1961. A less populated town, Diu is a great place to relax. Three churches and a fort is Diu’s main claim to fame. Although people refer Daman and Diu but
they are different places. Diu is approximately 786 km away from Daman. A small island filled with palm and coconut trees but not a good option for beach-centric vacation. However, tourists can enjoy variety of water sports.
Somnath railway station is about 63 km away and Delwada railway station is 8 km away from Diu. After getting out from both the railway station, you can hire a car or take a bus to reach Diu. May be the city is small but Diu has its own airport which is connected to other major cities of the country. Once you reach Diu, local transport is easily available for transports. Hotels in Diu also offers accommodations for sightseeing.
The name is adapted from a Sanskrit word “dweep� which means island.
Diu is a witness of different era of history. Diu Fort was mainly constructed by the Portuguese with the order of Bahadur Shah to protect the land from Mughal emperor. The fort wall has five huge windows and it is an impressive piece of Portuguese architecture. From the fort, you can view another stone structure the Fortress of Panikotha in the sea. You can hire a motor launch to explore this fortress. Diu also houses the most elaborate Portuguese church of India. St Paul’s Church is very beautifully built with shell-like wood carving and is dedicated to Our Lady of Immaculate Conception. Do visit the church in the evening for a real treat. Adjoining to this church there is St Thomas’ Church which is now turned into a museum. The wooden statues of various sizes will surely surprise you. Offshore lighthouse and Nagoa beach are also popular destinations. You will also find a Lord Shiva Temple on Gangeswar coast.
Though Diu is a small place but it has ample of hotels for its guests. All the hotels offer modern amenities to the tourists. Most of the hotels are located in the Fort road area. You can choose from a list of budget hotels in Diu according to your preference. Diu is a go to destination for any kind of traveller and it is mostly preferred by visitors from
Mumbai, Pune and Ahmedabad. Except in August, you can visit Diu at any time of the year.
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