| *The map showing the official boundaries, district Head quarter of Diu and major places of Daman. |
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The second smallest union territory in India, Daman and Diu is located near Gujarat. Daman lies on the Gujarat coast while Diu is an islet in the southern fringe of Kathiawar peninsula. It is bounded on its north and south by Bhagwan and the Kalem Rivers respectively, on its east by the Gujarat state and on its west by the Arabian Sea.
Diu lies in the Gulf of Cambay near Veraval Port and is separated from the southern extremity of the Saurashtra peninsula by a narrow channel running through a swamp. The island is connected to the mainland by a narrow channel on the north. Daman has a mild and humid climate while Diu has a sultry climate. It has no subdivisions. The Daman region administered by a collector while Diu is under the charge of a civil administrator.
| Facts on Daman and Diu | |
|---|---|
| Official Website | www.daman.nic.in |
| Date of Formation (Declared a Union Territory) | May 30, 1987 |
| Area | 111 sq km |
| Density | 2169/Km2 |
| Total Population (2011) | 243,247 |
| Males Population (2011) | 150,301 |
| Females Population (2011) | 92,946 |
| No. of District | 2 |
| Capital | Daman |
| Rivers | Bhagwan, Damanganga, Kolak, Kalai, Chasi |
| Forests & National Park | Gir NP, Sasangir WS, Fudam Bird Sanctuary |
| Languages | Warli, Agri, Konkani, Gujarati, Hindi, English |
| Neighbours State | Gujarat |
| Literacy Rate (2011) | 92.28% |
| Females per 1000 males | 618 |
| Assembly constituency | 0 |
| Parliamentary constituency | 1 |
The history of Daman and Diu dates back to the 13th century when the region under the rule of Chowda Rajputs. The Rajputs were defeated by the Waghalas who in turn lost the region to the Muslims in 1330. The region was ruled by the Muslim rulers for the next 200 years. In 1534, the region came under the control of the Portuguese. On December 19, 1961, Daman and Diu was annexed into the Republic of India following a military conquest.
Under the Constitution (Twelfth Amendment) Act 1962, Goa was included in the first schedule of the Indian Constitution as a territory of the Indian Union. By the 57th Amendment of the Constitution Daman and Diu was separated from Goa to become an independent union territory. In 1987, Daman & Diu was pronounced a union territory by the constitution of India.
According to the 2011 census, the total population of Daman and Diu is 2,42,911. A variety of people constitute the Daman and Diu population. The density of population in Daman and Diu is 2,400 per square km. The sex ratio is 618 females per 1000 males. More Detail...
The district of Daman is situated on the west coast of India. Daman is bordered by Kalem river on its south, Bhagwan river on its north, the Arabian Sea on its west and the district of Valsad on its east. The Damanganga River divides Daman district in two parts. Three rivers, namely, Bhagwan River, Damanganga River and Kalem River pass through this district. More Detail...
As per the Constitution of India, the administration of the union territories is carried out by the administrator. Similarly, in Daman and Diu the President of India appoints an administrator; but like the governor, he is not the head of the state. Few other officers assist him in carrying out his duties.
Fishing is the main economic activity. Mechanized boats and other requisites are being provided. For agriculture, the area under double crop is being increased by raising irrigation potential. Total area under irrigation is 517 ha. There are 550 industrial units in the territory. The total length of road in Daman and Diu are 191 and 78 km respectively. There are no railway stations and airports in this union territory. More Detail...
Festivals and fairs form an important part of the social life of this union territory. The socio-cultural life here has a multi-faceted character as this region used to be a Portuguese colony at one point of time. Its cultural life represents a blend of European, tribal and Indian elements. The festivals and fairs of the region are celebrated with pomp and grandeur. Music and dance are integral parts of the socio-cultural life of Daman and Diu.
The traditions and customs of the locals are very much similar to Gujarati traditions. The people here share a striking similarity with the people of Gujarat state. Daman and Diu is dominated mostly by Hindus and the predominant language in the state is Gujarati. More Detail...
Many languages are spoken in Daman and Diu. The official languages of the UT are Hindi, English, Konkani and Gujarati. Though the UT was under Portuguese rule, the use of Portuguese language is in a state of decline. Currently, the use of the language is restricted mainly to the elderly population of the state. Dialects of Konkani language, Agri and Warli are also spoken here.
At 87.07%, the literacy rate in the Union Territory is high. Some popular schools in Daman and Diu are Coast Guard Public School in Nani Daman, Sarvajanik Vidyalaya in Nani Daman, Institute of Our Lady of Fatima in Moti Daman and Shri Macchi Mahajan High School in Nani Daman. Higher education is provided by the Daman College, which boasts of the state-of-art facilities.
In Daman, one can visit the Fort of St. Jerome at Nani Daman, where there is a Jain temple as well. The 17th-century-old Se Cathedral and the Church of Our Lady of Rosary in Moti Daman are also worth a visit and one can see the exquisite Portuguese carvings on the walls of these churches. Built in ancient Gothic style, these are a feast for the eyes. The stately Light House, the amusement park and the Gandhi Park at Daman jetty are also places of interest. Among the beaches, Devka beach is the most famous. Others include the Jampore beach, which is of interest to swimmers and is very near the Gujarat border. The lake garden of Satya Nagar Udyan is famous for its fountains and promenades. In Diu, the Zampa Gateway is of particular interest. It has carvings of lions, angels and a priest and has a chapel inside with an inscription dating back to 1702. The artificial Zampa waterfall is also attractive. St. Paul's Church is the only active church till date. Nearby is the old St. Thomas's Church that has now been taken over by the authorities and converted into the Diu Museum. The Church of St. Francis of Assisi has been converted into a hospital. The Marwar memorial commemorates the victory over the Portuguese. The massive fort built in 1541 is now weathered and weak. It is of major tourist interest. Another popular tourist attraction is the Gangeshwar temple.
The Nagoa beach is the most famous in Diu. Gomptimata, Chakratirth and the beautiful Sunset Point are the other famous beaches. The Jama Masjid is also popular; other important tourist places in Daman are Devka beach, Jampore beach, Kachigam Tank, Satya Sagar Udhyan, Dalwada, Kadaiya Pond, Nani Daman Jetty Garden, old churches, forts, light house and summer house. Jallandhar Beach, Nagaon Beach and Children's Park at Ghoghla are some of the tourist centres in Diu.
Daman and Diu can be easily accessed by air and road. Daman is connected to most of the cities in India through a strong air network. Most of the domestic and international airlines operate flights to Daman and Diu. The Union Territory does not have its own railway station; however, the nearest ones are in Vapi and Veraval in Gujarat. Daman and Diu also has a well defined road network. The group of islands is connected extremely well with Gujarat, Mumbai and Goa. There are regular buses that ply from many cities in Gujarat to Daman and Diu.
