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"Daman - the Goa of Gujrat or Mini Goa".

  • KEVAL DOSHI
  • Jun 4, 2018
  • 7 min read

Hello viewers!! this is Sailor of ship "The Voyage" I sailed and i am sharing my amazing and beautiful experience to viewers about my another voyage that ends to beautiful place named Daman

  • History of Daman :-

A person from Portuguese named "Diogo De Melo" was sailing and heading towards Ormuz in 1523, suddenly he was caught in a violent storm and had his boat blown towards the coast of Daman. Hence, there after he settled and set the place as a Portuguese colony for over 400 years ruled by Portuguese government.

Daman comes under Republic Of India from December 1961. It is ranked 6th from 7 union territories with 72 sq. km of land and population approximated at 1.91 lacs bordered by Arabian sea and Gujarat.

How to reach Daman :-

Daman is 12 to 15 km far from Vapi, 125 km from Surat and 195 km from Bombay and easiest way to reach daman via BOMBAY is by reaching VAPI Station by getting a train from any of the following stations: Bandra terminus,Mumbai central or borivali. Once arriving at Vapi you can get a share taxi plying passengers to and fro vapi to daman bus stand.. from daman bus stand one has to take autos to visit spots in daman..

Encyclopedia of daman :-

Daman territory is basically divided into two parts named NANI DAMAN (small daman in Gujarati) and MOTI DAMAN (Big Daman in Gujarati). People usually knows daman as the mini Goa or the Goa of Gujarat as it is near Gujarat. local language of Gujarati is spoken more frequently but having a good knowledge of Portuguese might help you for knowing history of Portuguese rule in India.

  • Moti Daman :-

Moti daman, also known as the old city consists of all the major offices, judiciary and municipal councils/corporations, High court / jurisdiction court, Secretariat, Central jail , Government Offices , Administration Offices that controls the Territory. Moti Daman is connected by a bridge named Rajiv Gandhi Setu and separated by a river named Daman Ganga River.

The people who loves the old architecture, Portuguese culture, Indian history must visit this part because it is a best place for them and would love to explore it more..

Best places to visit in Moti daman:-

  • Dominican monastery

Formerly Catholic monastery of global repute with great seats of theological studies which attracted scholars from across the world & place of worship which included small church, now ruined but with many standing walls.It was built in 1567 and originally had an alter on the northern side with rectangular prayer hall in front and dormitories to the right. people traveling to this site has to be careful and cautious as this site cannot be easily found as it is located in interior part inside the fort and you won't get an faster access to this site until and unless you spot a local person and ask him route or get help of G maps. It is usually closed on Sunday and as it is not easily accessible it may happen that you may the only one present in the Monastery site except the Caretakers.please do take care if you are on your solo trip.

  • Church Of BOM Jesus -

The church dedicated to BOM JESUS was completed in 1603 AD. It was a Parish Church for Portuguese during their rule.There was a doorway with the elevated facade and richly decorated interior with lofty ceiling carved and guilded alter embellished with statue of six saints that attracts attention and invites aesthetics. It is located inside the confines of Moti Daman Fort

  • Lighthouse -

The Lighthouses are sure to leave an imprint on your mind. Every tourist who visits Daman loves this site. Standing Tall, the light house offers a magnificent view of sunset.it is a major landmark of the town which is inside a fort. an excellent view of the sea traffic can also be seen from here.There are two lighthouses : old and new.

The Old Lighthouse is located just inside the outer wall of the fort whereas The New Lighthouse is located outside the walls of Moti Daman Fort. Both Lighthouses are on the south side of the entrance to the Daman Ganga river.

  • Moti Daman Fort -

Moti Daman Fort in Daman features among one of the popular monuments and popular tourist attractions of Daman, the place is characterized by a dream-like ambience.One can expect to delight in mesmerizing and breathtaking views across the river to Nani Daman from the bulwarks near the lighthouse.

It is spread about 30,000 sq. mts. and features ten bastions and two gateways and in shape of polygonal structure with unique aspect of projections that jut out at regular intervals.There is deep trench and flight of steps that connects the terraces to the inner ground surface that indicates to defend fort during attack. The low wall along the edge of the roof is provided with loop holes.The defense personnel were housed in the barracks.There are ancient Portuguese tombstones. Marvel at the altar that is made up of an exquisitely carved gold-painted wood.

  • Jampore Beach -

The one of the best beach located in moti daman and approximately 8 to 9 km from main Daman Bus stand.one of the beach present in daman is best for morning walk and jogging and to get a good and amazing view of Sunrise. This Beach is usually peaceful in Morning and also less crowdy. so photography lovers and people who loves to test their camera and photography skills must visit it in the early morning. you can have a good breakfast and have coconut water by sitting on the chairs and enjoying view of sunrise. this beach is happening for the people who have visited Daman with family and kids. the group of teetotalers may enjoy this beach as they can play outdoor games near shore.

NANI DAMAN :-

Nani daman is the modern Daman Which Consists of hotels,beaches,Tourist spots, gardens , colleges , restaurants , Bars , Temples , major hospitals , supermarkets, major residential areas and resorts. Nani-daman is the larger of the two parts.Daman is basically famous for alcohol consumption as Gujarat is a dry state and alcohol is easily available at a cheaper rates then compared to other states and cities. people usually comes to have a scenic view of sea and nature with a glass of wine or whiskey. and this place is best for people who loves history of old architecture,forts and Culture.

Best Places to visit In Nani Daman:-

Mirasol lake Garden:-

Mirasol Lake Garden is a man-made marvel which serves as one of a popular tourist attraction in the area with a water park located just next it, this Garden serves as a location for many film shootings.

The lush garden paints quite a picture with fountains and is a perfect setting for a quite and peaceful evening with your loved ones. Along with the stunning garden, there is an equally gorgeous lake between two artificial islands, connected with a picturesque bridge. Enjoy an evening of boating in this picture-perfect setting to release all the worries and tension out of your system. There is even a toy-train for you to hop on in and reminiscence your childhood. And if you have kids, this will surely get them excited. This garden surely is a heaven for families and couples.

St Jerome Fort and Nani Daman Fort :-

This huge fort is also known as the Nani Daman Fort. The most conspicuous part of this place is its magnanimous gateway that faces the river with a huge statue of St. Jerome, one of the most eminent fathers of the Catholic Church and 2 gigantic human figures on both the sides of the gateway. It is Located towards the north of the River Damanganga. It is an ancient citadel that gives detailed insights into Daman's rich colonial history.

Nani Daman Fort encircles an area of 12,250 sq. mts. and features three bastions and 2 gateways making it one of the most spectacular sites in Daman. It has elegantly laid out high stone walls.

The complex contains other attractions namely the church of Our Lady of the Sea which is the principal building in the premises of the Fort and boasts of refined paneling and a Jain temple. The fort on the whole offers a beautiful view of the fish market below and the hustle-bustle that comes along with it. The scenery is beautiful and this is one of the most pretty and popular tourist attractions.

Devka Beach -

Devka Beach, Daman can easily compete with the other spectacular beaches that India boasts of. Daman boasts of some amazing beaches that have the potential of seducing even the most discerning of beach lovers. Devka Beach is the enchantment of the mesmerizing beaches and there is no way one can dismiss the call of this idyllic place.The most important part is there are many restaurants and bars for the people who love alcohol and also there are many resorts in the area. people usually buy alcohol from wine shops and sit near the garden at devka beach and enjoy the mesmerizing view of sunset or else sit at the stalls near the shore.. kindly do not worry if you have kids because there is a kid’s corner that holds out the promise of keeping the kids occupied.

Those who have even a remote interest in sea, sand and surf can check out the Devka Beach in Daman. The long shoreline of Daman’s Devka Beach has captivated the fancy of many a tourists traveling to Daman. The amusement park and the multi-hued musical fountain have a lot to do with the interest that the beach generates. The amusement park is highly well-maintained and beautifully decorated and is quite popular with the tourists who won’t be able to take their eyes off it. The Devka Beach is an attraction for all audience including kids and old age people. The thrilling pony-rides and Camel Rides are major attraction of the beach. Be careful as there are rocky patches while you do some photography.

Trip Expert's Talks / experience from the point of view of traveler -

So, Basically i personally visited all the places mentioned above except St Jerome Fort and Mirasol garden as i wanted to spend more more time resting and viewing the sunset and just gazing at the view of the sea and sea shore at devka beach with my companion having all sorts of chitchats over some alcoholic and non alcoholic beverages. I always think that for people who love traveling for them sky is the limit and they can plan whole trip in a single day as we did but the best part is forget the earlier line and go for unplanned trip as we did except booking the tickets before 2-4 days.

It may happen that you might get bad experience or you might feel low but at the end trust me you all would love the trip and it's experience after all as it is said -"All's Well that ends Well"

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