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Explore Daman: Your Ultimate Coastal Travel Guide – Last weekend, we embarked on an unforgettable journey to Daman, a tranquil coastal town in India that effortlessly blends rich and ancient history with natural beauty. From exploring the ancient forts and pristine beaches to savoring local delicacies, Daman offered a perfect weekend escape from the hustle and bustle of city life. Join us as we share the highlights of our trip, complete with hidden gems and must-visit spots that made this weekend getaway truly special and memorable.

Things to know about Daman

Nestled along the serene western coast of India, the union territory of Daman is a captivating blend of sun-kissed beaches, lush greenery, and a rich ancient colonial heritage. Once a Portuguese dominated area, this charming town mingles seamlessly with its vibrant and colorful local culture. From the majestic forts that let us remember the tales of a bygone era to the bustling markets offering exquisite local crafts, Daman is a hidden gem waiting to be discovered by a lot of people. Whether you’re a history enthusiast or a beach lover like us, Daman promises an experience that is as enriching and relaxing.

How to reach Daman

There are several ways you can reach Daman :

By Railways

The nearest railway station is Vapi, which is about 12 kilometers away from the main city.. From Vapi, you can easily get a taxi or take a local bus to reach Daman.

By Roadways

Via roadways, you can drive from cities like Mumbai, Delhi, Bangalore, Chennai etc. Regular state-run and privately-owned buses also operate from these cities to Daman

By Airways

The nearest airport to Daman is Surat International Airport (STV), which is about 123 kilometers away. Another option is Mumbai’s Chhatrapati Shivaji International Airport (BOM), which is approximately 170 kilometers from Daman. There is a new airport which is getting built in Daman which will be inaugurated soon.

Explore Daman: Your Ultimate Coastal Travel Guide: Day 1

We reached Daman from Pune at around 12 pm in the afternoon via train and checked in to our hotel near Devka Beach in Nani Daman.

Daman is divided into two main areas : Nani Daman and Moti Daman. Nani Daman, also called as Little Daman, is the larger of the two areas. It is known for its beautiful beaches, historical sites, and vibrant local culture where as Moti Daman, or Big Daman, is known to be the older part of the town and is home to many important historical and administrative buildings. The coastal sea beach in Nani Daman is known as Devka Beach and the one in Moti Daman is known as Jampore Beach.

You can choose your accommodation accordingly. Devka beach has lot many beach side cafes and restaurants to explore hence we chose to stay there.

We checked into our B&B the day we arrived and went straight to Devka Beach in the evening to relax and roam around. The beach offers stunning views of the Arabian Sea, making it a superb spot for sunsets. When you are in Daman dont expect a vibrant ocean like in other places of Goa, Kerala or coastal areas of Bay of Bengal. You’ll find local vendors selling snacks and other refreshments, adding to the authentic beach experience.

Explore Daman: Your Ultimate Coastal Travel Guide : Day 2

On our day two we woke up early morning and completed our breakfast. We hired a two wheeler to explore the place which costed us around 600 rupees per day. With our petrol refilled, the first place where we went was :

Moti Daman Fort

Moti Daman Fort, also known as St. Jerome Fort, stands as a witness to the architectural prowess of the Portuguese era. Constructed in the 16th century, this imposing fort spans an area of approximately 30,000 square meters in total. It houses a number of historically important structures, including churches, barracks, and government quarters, which realizes a sense of the colonial past. One of its most unique features is the grand gateway, when you are about to enter inside.

Bom Jesus Church

Just at a walking distance from the main entrance of the Moti Daman fort, you can see the beautiful Bom Jesus Church of Daman. It is established in the early 17th century, and is dedicated to Bom Jesus, meaning “Good Jesus.” It is renowned for its impressive facade adorned with beautiful carvings, ornate altars, and proper woodwork that reflects the artistry of its time.

The Chapel of Our Lady Of Rosario

Just opposite to the Bom Jesus Church you can witness the beautiful Chapel of Our Lady of Rosario. When we went there, it was closed for renovation. Surrounded by lush greenery and the fort’s huge walls, this Chapel stands as an example to the long lasting legacy of Daman’s colonial past and its continued devotion to faith.

Daman Light House

If you walk straight past the fort main area, around 200 metres take the left to find the beautiful Daman Lighthouse. Established to help maritime vessels safely to the shore, this lighthouse stands tall and offers beautiful panoramic views of the sea and the surrounding coastal landscape.

After visiting the light house, we stopped at a local eatery to have our lunch near the Nani Daman fort. So to get from Moti Daman to Nani Daman you need to cross the Daman Ganga river on a bridge. The name of the restaurant was Infinity Café & Multi-Cuisine and their food is delicious. Definitely try their stuffed mushroom.

Nani Daman Fort

Once the lunch was completed, we entered the beautiful Nani Daman Fort. This fort, with its magnificent gateways, huge walls , showcases the architectural prowess of the bygone era. We took a walking tour to learn about its history and importance during the Portuguese occupation. Inside, you can witness the Church of Our Lady of the Sea and the lighthouse, which offers 360 degree views.

Quarry Lake

Around 7km from Nani Daman fort you can witness an offbeat place known as the Quarry Lake. Located in the small town of Bhimpore, this beautiful lake was once a quarry but has changed into a stunning waterbody surrounded by greenery all around. The clear, shiny water of Quarry Lake reflects the surrounding trees and sky, creating a mirror-like effect , so its definitely a beautiful place to click some nice pictures.

Note – Dont go by the Google Maps, we got misdirected, When you reach nearby, asks the locals. They will be the best person to guide you. Also the road which leads to the lake is not good and polluted.

After visiting all these places, we returned to our hotel and spent the remainder of the day at leisure.

Explore Daman: Your Ultimate Coastal Travel Guide – Day 3

After covering almost all the places on the first day itself, we thought of heading out to a place called Silvassa. Silvassa is the headquarter of the union territory of Dadra and Nagar Haveli and situated around 30km from Daman. Although it shows on map that it will take around 1-1.5 hours to reach Silvassa, but trust us, its not correct. The roads outside Daman are small, narrow, broken and congested. And add to it, the severe hot temperature during the afternoon.

Adding more salt to wound, we were pulled over by the Gujarat State Police as we were carrying a Daman registered two wheeler outside the union territory and was crossing Vapi which falls in the state of Gujarat to Silvassa.

So almost wasting half the day we had to return back to Daman near Jampore Beach. But to cheer up our mood , we had a superb lunch in a restaurant called Daman Culture. You should definitely go there if you are in Daman and try their salads.

After the lunch we went to a newly renovated and first of its kind place called the Daman Aviary.

If you visit Daman, and you dont want to visit any other place also, do not and we repeat do not miss to visit to the Daman Aviary.

Daman Aviary

This walk-in aviary is huge filled with variety of exotic birds, beautifully landscaped surroundings, and interactive exhibits by zoo keepers. There are designated time slots and ticket prices are Rs 100 per person for adults, till 5years entry is free and till 12years its 50 rupees. It’s a wonderful opportunity to connect with nature and learn about different birds specially if you have children. It is one of the most unique and best places we have seen in India. The aviary is similar to what we have seen in Dubai. If you are planning to visit Dubai, do read our blog here.

Time-morning 9:30 to 1:30pm but you are not allowed to enter after 12:30pm

Evening-3:30pm to 6:30pm is time slot and entry is not allowed after 5:30pm.

Monday closed for maintenance.

Mukti Dham – Shiv Statue

Around 2 km from Aviary if you take the Jampore Beach road and go towards the lighthouse, on the way you will witness the beautiful Shiva Statue of Daman. The serene surrounding and the gigantic presence of the Shiva statue make it a popular destination for those seeking spiritual solace and a connection with the divine.

Jampore Beach

We enjoyed the rest of the evening in the Jampore Beach and watched the sunset. As the sun sets, Jampore Beach transforms into a mesmerizing spectacle of colors, creating a beautiful backdrop for evening strolls and reflection. In the morning there are water activities as well.

We returned to our hotel and spent the rest of the day at leisure.

Explore Daman: Your Ultimate Coastal Travel Guide – Day 4

On our next day we checked out from our hotel and headed back to Pune via train early in the morning. We already pre booked an auto from the hotel which costed us Rs 400 for one way to Vapi Railway station.

Things to know before visiting Daman

1. Like we said earlier, if you are planning to visit Daman dont expect big waves with surfing conditions with the Arabian Sea. We hardly touched our feet in the waters as mostly there were low tides.
2. Roads in and around Daman city are good but not everywhere and specially when you go outside the city. There is construction going on and its dusty as well.
3. Alcohol is cheap in Daman being a Union territory but do not try to carry alcohol back to your home because as soon as you cross Daman, you will enter Gujarat which is a dry state in the country.
4. Do not loiter the sea beach with plastics and waste materials.
5. Try to avoid spending late night roaming around lonely or anywhere in Daman just to be on safe side. We found the place a lot different from something like a Goa or a Pondicherry. Again not telling its not safe, but we found people looking in an weird manner at girls at times and probably they were not locals. The locals we interacted were very nice and helpful as well.
6. You should pre book your hotel in advance because over the weekends, rentals goes up by double be it room rent, two wheeler or food, as this place is known as a weekend gateway for folks from Gujarat and Maharashtra.

Conclusion

Overall Daman its definitely worth visiting once in your lifetime. But if you ask us, would you like to visit it again, well, we need to think twice. May be for the Aviary………

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