Daman-Places Worth Visiting

Devka Beach 

Getting at Devka Beach is to hire kon auto from Nani Daman. An eye pleasing ride on the coastal road of about 3kms will reach you to sandy shaded Casurina trees with beautiful recreation Children Park. Children can enjoy hours of playing in this park, with slides, swings, see-saw and merry-go-rounds. You can enjoy a stroll on the sands or sit and watch glorious sun-set in the Arabian Sea - under the colourful umberellas fixed on the beach.

Jampore Beach

Yet another picturesque sea-shore Jampore Beach in Moti Daman side to extreme south point of the district. The Jampore Beach is a long stretch of warm sands shaded by groves of Casurinas. Soft and hard gales of wind blow through Casurina trees to the surging and receding waves during the high and alternately low tides. IT is a quite peaceful spot. A great stretch of the beach is plane and flat. On the way to this place lush green belt on bothside of the road enchant the tourist.

Fort Moti Daman 

The fort itself will give a glimpse of the Portuguese monarchy. Inside the fort area you find Pargola Garden with a rock monument in the centre of the garden. The collector's office complex, the Circuit House - formarly the Governor's Residence, remind us of the Portuguese past. All government Offices, Municipal Office, Collectorate, Secretariat, Educational Institutes, Schools are found inside the fort.
        Impressive churches are worth visiting The wood carving done by the craftsman inside these churches are a marvel.
         Recently developed Hilsa Aquarium is a special attraction to the tourists. It has a good collection of exotic and colourful fishes.

From here you can climb up the fort wall and walk up to the Light House. While walking you get a beautiful view of river Daman Ganga, ever busy Bridge, anchored boats, Fort of Nani Daman Jetty Garden and ofcourse sometimes Aircraft of Coast Guard. Entire fort area is very clean, tidy, well-planned roads with some 
colourful mini gardens and flowering trees.

Church of Bom Jesus 

This early 17th century church dedicated to Bom Jesus is one of the most impressive holy places in Daman. It was completed in its present form in 1603 AD and is a living tribute to the excellence achieved by Portuguese architects and artisans in ornate and intricate Church buildings. The richly carved doorway and the highly decorated interiors together with the lofty ceiling are aesthetic and pleasing. There are six finely made statues in the best traditions of Roman Church art and architecture. In the early days of the Portuguese rule, Bom Jesus was a parish church. The church now attracts both tourists and pilgrims in large numbers.

Church of The Lady of Dolorous 

The Church of the Lady of Dolorous in Moti Daman, dates back to the 16th Century. It has outstanding architectural features, partly Gothic and partly Byzantian. This Church has a wide hall of prayer and beautifully carved figures.

Satya Sagar Udyan 

Satya Sagar Udyan about 3 kms from the taxi park at Nani Daman and very close to the Coast Gaurd Air Station, on the Daman-Valsad Road squats a spell-binding lake-garden "Satya Sagar Udyan" with its colourful fountains and shrubs-skirted promenades offers an enchanting view. The restaurant and snack-bar provide a variety of dishes of different regional flavours. One can unbend for hours on a lakeside seat sipping a soft beverage of one's choice.

Damanganga Tourist Complex 

An unique integrated project with a Cafeteria, Cottages, Conference Hall, Health Club (Under Construction), Amphi Theatre, Gaint Water Falls, Water sports, Island Garden, Fountains which provide the visiting tourist all facilities in one location. This complex will mesmerise any tourist visiting Daman with its beauty, facilities and size.

Nani Daman 

Your entry in this territory starts from Custom Check Post at Dabhel about 7 km to Nani Daman. As you enter this territory you begin to feel fresh by the breeze from the sea lifting your spirit high. After 15 minutes of drive you are in Nani Daman. Market complex of Nani Daman was built by Portuguese. This is the centre where you can spend hours Shopping, Walking towards riverside on main road you will reach to Municipal Children Park Jetty. On the right side of Jetty is Nani Daman Fort, Light House, Ships, River Bridge and the infinite sea. The bridge connecting Nani Daman with Moti Daman is beautiful and picturesque.

Nani Daman Beach

Nani Daman beach provides a different picture. Fisherfolk are busy in multifarious activities. Foot-steps on glittering wet sand in low-tide time is enjoyable.

Fort of Nani Daman

Recovering from the damage of the Mughal invasion, Dom Jeronimo de Azevado, the twentieth Portuguese 'Viceroy of India' started the construction of this Fort in 1614 AD on the northern bank of Daman Ganga river. The Fort named after St.Jerome, one of the most eminent fathers of the catholic church was completed in the time of Dom Francisco da Gama in 1627 AD.

The small fort with high stone walls encloses an area of 12250 sq.mt. It has three bastions and two gateways. The most conspicuous part of the Fort is the giant gateway facing the river with a large statue of St. Jerome and two gaint human figures, on either side of the gateway. The imposing church of Our Lady of the Sea is the principal building within the Fort.

The Catholic Church at Nani Daman 

This Church is within the Fort walls of Nani Daman and is one of the ancient seats of office. It has a fine altar and superb panelling. Close to the church is an cemetery. The Fort walls girdle the Church and wide, well laid steps lead to the ramparts.

Misty Dome Fountain at Mirasole - Daman

Culture & Festivals

People

A large number of the population is fishermen. You can find traditional way of weaving nets, making ropes, repairing boats after their fishing hours. Other occupations is agriculture. Main crops are rice and some pulses. Many people tap toddy from the toddy palms, a common man's drink. There is a sizable population of Catholic Christians who speak Portuguese. They have maintained some of the tradition of the Portuguese. Parsis, Hindus, Muslims and Jains have lived here in harmony earning their livelihood either in business or industry.
Discovering people of this land is one of nicest feelings one can experience.


Festivals

 

Nariyal Poornima 


The sea-farming people of Daman look forward to the end of the monsoon in order to resume sailing in quest of action and adventure. Nariyal Poornima marks the  commencement of the fishing season and the people of Daman flock to the sea-shore to offer coconuts to the mighty Gods who preside over wind and water. Nariyal Poornimal is a day of joy, feasting and revelry. The Administration of Daman & Diu and West Zone Cultural Centre celebrate this event at Daman as a regional festival. Hundreds of tourists come to Daman to witness a variety of colourful water sports and to attend the cultural programmes put up by the West Zone Culture Centre. One of the highlights is the coconut food festival organised as part of the celebration.

Daman can boast of a rich and multi-faceted cultural heritage. Dance and music are very much part of the daily life of the people of Daman. Here is a true fusion of Cultures-tribal, urban, European and Indian. This ornate amalgam is reflected in the traditional dances of Daman. Various forms of Portuguese dance are well-preserved and are widely presented. Tribal dances with caustic social comment are very much in vogue.

Christmas 

Daman explodes with light, laughter, song and dance during the happy season of Christ's Nativity. Houses are gaily decorated to receive the Infant Jesus. Bright and colorful Christmas lamps cheer up the nights. Cribs and managers are found at every  turn. It is a season of good-will and fellowship. The Administration of Daman celebrates the Christmas festival as part of its tourism promotion programme and people from far and wide come to witness the fascinating Portuguese dances and to taste the famed Christmas cookies of Daman.




Art