Daman, Diu, Dadra & Nagar Haveli Tours Packages
QUARRIES OF MALALA, DIU
This is something you won't find in any guidebook. The limestone quarries of Malala, an amazing labyrinth in the south of the island, could well be one of India's, not just Diu's, little secrets. Watch the sun go down as you rest on the cliffs—It is much quieter here than rest of Diu as the weekend crowd from the nearby states doesn't usually venture this side. That only appeals to the charm of this abandoned quarry, a place that even the locals seem to have forgotten. You can also walk along the beach for kilometres on end; don't be surprised if you don't find another soul.
BIRDWATCHING NEAR HARE KRISHNA MANDIR, DIU
Almost every tourist in Diu is dragged to the Hare Krishna Mandir in Nagoa by the tourist guide. But what the guides don't tell you is that the lake behind the temple is a great place for birdwatching. Only ornithologists probably know about this lake surrounded by greenery. There are some trails in the groves that surround it and, at last count, I am told, more than 200 avian species have been spotted here. The best time for birdwatching here is after the first few showers of the monsoon. Pack a picnic hamper, pick up your binoculars and camp here for the day. It is a very rewarding experience. If you walk along the lake, you come straight on to the Kodidar Beach. There is a lot of action here nowadays— the sequel to the popular Amitabh Bachchan movie
GUJARATI BREAKFAST, SILVASSA
This is the best way to begin your day in Silvassa. And you will find scores of locals giving you company at the sweets shops here. On offer are the usual suspects: thepla, farsaan, jalebis and a whole range of other savouries. But if you want to pick any one thing, go for the khaman. It is the best you can ask for. Patrons will swear that even shops in Gujarat don't make it as well. Have it with the thick tamarind chutney and you will surely come back for more.
FOREST WALK, DIU
Diu's wildlife treasure may not be anything when compared to the wildlife gems across India but it is dear to the hearts of those who live in Diu. The forest lies between Nagoa and Vanakbara, opposite the Gomtimata Beach. A lot of tourists like to spend time on this white sand beach, which is considered safe for swimming. I like to walk in the forest, which is not too deep. It is home to many birds, deer, nilgai, hedgehogs, fox and even leopards. It doesn't take more than two hours to complete the walk and it's best to start early. Even if you do not see any birds or animals, the walk in itself, is totally worth it. The casuarina trees look very beautiful.
BON APPETIT RESTAURANT, DIU
Don't go by its French name. Bon Appetit serves only Indian fare and that too, simple chicken, lamb and prawn curries apart from some other seafood. This restaurant is the brainchild of a Nagoa resident who probably picked up the name from one of the expats who visited the island. There is a machan inside the restaurant but that's the only element worth noticing in the otherwise basic decor. Whet your appetite as you sit and watch your meal being prepared. The restaurant is surrounded by coconut groves.
MINGLE WITH THE FISHERMEN AT VANAKBARA
This is an experience that no one should return without. Be at Vanakbara at the crack of dawn and watch as the trawlers, painted in eye-popping colours, return from the seas. The 'fish market' atmosphere comes alive in minutes and it is an experience to see giant fish—sharks, manta rays and many others—being dragged to the shore. The fishermen are a friendly, hospitable lot. Watch them as they haggle with agents of big fishing companies.
BANGLE SELLERS OF SAN GAR IYA SHERI, DIU
This is an experience that no one should return without. Be at Vanakbara at the crack of dawn and watch as the trawlers, painted in eye-popping colours, return from the seas. The 'fish market' atmosphere comes alive in minutes and it is an experience to see giant fish—sharks, manta rays and many others—being dragged to the shore. The fishermen are a friendly, hospitable lot. Watch them as they haggle with agents of big fishing companies.
DOMINICAN RUINS, DAMAN
Here's some news for the history buff—a light-and-sound show at the Dominican Monastery will soon offer you an experience to look forward to and remember. A recent facelift and creation of landscaped gardens has given this abandoned seat of learning a new lease of life. You can spend hours exploring the ruins. While the first visit can be spent learning about the history behind the grand structure, successive stops should only be about taking in the sights of the sea.
KEYUR RESTAURANT, DAMAN
ThisYou can order food by the kilo here—now that's something you won't find anywhere else in Daman. Locals love this restaurant for its kebabs and barbecued meat. Vegetarians order Paneer Tikkas by the kilo. The Roast Chicken at Keyur is something you must try. Factor in a waiting time of 20 minutes at least. Its popularity has increased over the years though the size of the restaurant hasn't, so be prepared for a meal won't be anything close to the kind you enjoy in big city restaurants.
TRIBAL BEATS IN SILVASSA, DADRA & NAGAR HAVELI
As you turn off the Surat-Mumbai stretch off NH-8, you pass a pretty green landscape along the Damanganga river to Silvassa. The tourism complex here has a muse¬um decorated in tribal-style dedicated to offering an insight into the tribal crafts, music, rituals and life through photo exhibitions, galleries on weapons, masks, ritual objects and arts. In the museum, the foyer is a shop that sells Warli paintings and objects made from bamboo. The tribal flavour continues with dance performances, organ¬ised on request or during special occasions by most hotels and resorts in Dadra & Nagar Haveli. Tarpa, one of the dances, involves dancing in circles around a musician playing a wind instrument made from a gourd. The Varlis and Konas do the Dhol dance, which involves making human pyramids. The Tir and Thali dance of the Dhodia and Dublas is about moving to the beats of a cylindrical drum. The Tarpa, in fact, has been the theme of an annual tourism festival held in December. • The museum in the Tourism Complex is open from 9 a.m. to 6 p.m. daily except Tuesday
MUST DO
STAY KHANVEL RESORT DADRA & NAGAR HAVELI Surrounded by rolling hills and lush forests and bisected by the Sakartod River, Khanvel is one of the most idyllic settings in Dadra & Nagar Haveli. Even the drive to the resort, one of the best in the region, is breathtakingly scenic—during autumn, when the leaves turn to flame and gold; and during the monsoon, when everything is emerald. Make a beeline for the resort, with its tribal-style cottages set around greenhouses and lawns.
EAT PAPRI & JETTY ROLLS DAMAN The Daman jetty area is a hot favourite among travellers and locals selling chaats, bhel and pao bhaji. A speciality of the area is the Jetty Roll, a local version of the popular kathi kebab rolls that is said to have been brought here and adapted to local tastes by Bengali cooks working at one of the hotels. In winters, you will find hawkers selling papri wrapped in newspaper. Papri are boiled sweet and salty beans that are cooked over charcoal fire—the perfect snack to go with your evening cuppa or peg.
SHOP PORTUGUESE MARKET, DAMAN The covered Portuguese market is a custom notified goods market and is a great place to pick up imported knick-knacks at reasonable prices. Choose from a variety of household decor and utility goods, perfumes and chocolates.
SEE PORTUGUESE FORT DIU Tangible reminders of the colonial past scattered across the island are not to be missed. The most important on the list of monuments is the 400-year-old Portuguese Fort. The deep moat, hewn from sheer rock, made the fort impregnable.