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Diu

Pop: 40,000 Area Code: 02875

The relaxed island of Diu, just south of the southern tip of the Saurashtra Peninsula, is a good place to take a break. Diu is a fairly popular place with travelers because of its nice laid-back beaches. Diu is an island 13km long and 3km wide, which also includes Ghoghla, a strip of land connected to the mainland. This area is popular with Gujaratis because Gujarat has prohibition laws and many of them come here to drink.

Diu, along with Goa and Daman, was a Portuguese colony until 1961, when India took it over. The Portuguese established their first fort here around 1539. There is still a Portuguese influence in the town, shown by the churches, old buildings, and the impressive fort. Diu and Daman are governed as a Union Territory by Delhi.

Information
The Tourist Information Bureau (52212), Burder Rd, near the Main Square, has a map of Diu. You can arrange camping here. Open Mon to Fri 9.30 am to 6 pm, Sat 9.30 am to 1.30 pm.
Travelers cheques can be exchanged at the State Bank of Saurashtra, near the GPO. They may not change cash.

St Francis Hospital (102) is located in St. Francis of Assisi Church, 250m north of Jallandhar Beach.
The GPO is located on Burden Rd in the Main Square. Postal Code 362520.

Diu Fort
This large, interesting fort, built in 1541, is surrounded by a moat. There are a few cannons in the fort and the views of the sea and town, especially at sunset are excellent. The city jail is within the fort. Open daily 9 am to 5 pm.

What to See
The old city is full of Portuguese buildings and villas, and this along with the winding streets makes it an interesting place to visit. The Portuguese Nagar Seth’s Haveli is one of the most impressive houses.

There are three old churches in the town of Diu. St Paul’s has excellent paintings and a high ceiling with arches. Mass is still held here. Within St Thomas’s is the Diu Museum, which has Catholic statues and religious paintings. St Francis of Assisi Church is now a hospital.

Beaches
Nagoa Beach, 7km from town, is the longest and most beautiful beach in Diu. It forms a half circle and is surrounded by palm trees. It is a good place to relax.

Jallandhar Beach, conveniently located south of town, is small, as is Chakrakirth Beach, which is slightly further west. Sunset Point is where the locals like to go. Women alone should be careful while sunbathing.

Outside Town
Fudam village, near Nagoa Beach, has a Portuguese atmosphere with its old houses and an old church. The village of Vanakbara, on the west side of the island, has Our Lady of Mercy Church and is an interesting place to walk around.

Where to Stay—Diu Town
You can request discounts during the off-season, but you have to bargain.
Hotel Pensao (52342), between the fort and the town square, has large, basic rooms with bath for Rs 300/450. It is an old Portuguese villa and is a friendly place with a good rooftop restaurant.
Nilesh Guest House (52319), south of the town square, has rooms with common bath for Rs 175/300 and with bath for Rs 650. The rooms in the annex with bath and a balcony are Rs 700. It has a restaurant and is popular with travelers.
Hotel Mozambique (52223), Market Square, is a popular, friendly place with clean rooms with common bath for Rs 200/225 and with bath and hot water for Rs 250/300. Rooms have a balcony with a good view. Bucket hot water. It is often full.
Hotel Prince (52265) has spacious, clean rooms with bath and hot water for Rs 600 and with a balcony for Rs 700. It is well-maintained.
Apana Hotel (52112), Fort Rd, has large rooms with a common bath for Rs 500, with bath for Rs 600, and with a sea view Rs 1000. You can sometimes bargain for a discount. It can be noisy on weekends.
Hotel Alishan (52340), Fort Rd, has clean rooms with a bath for Rs 800 and with a sea view for Rs 1000.
Ankur (52388), Estrada Lacerda, west of town, is a good mid-range place.
Hotel Samrat (52354), Collectorate Rd, a few blocks from the town square, has comfortable, clean rooms with a balcony, bath, and hot water for Rs 400 and Rs 750 with A/C. It is the best place in town. Recommended.
Hotel Kohinoor (52209), on the road to Fudam. has comfortable villas for Rs 900 to Rs 1350. It has a pool.

Jallandhar Beach
The family-run Jay Shankar’s Guest House (52424), Jallandhar Beach, has small, clean rooms for Rs 100 to Rs 250. It is a good place. The restaurant here is very good. This is a popular place with travelers. Recommended.
Tourist Cottages (52654), right near the beach, has good cottages for Rs 800 and a room for four people for Rs 1200. Some rooms have sea views.
Where to Stay—Nagoa Beach
It is prohibited to camp outside authorized sites. The Tourist Information Bureau (2653) handles camping reservations.
Oasis Camping Site, next to the Ganga Sagar Rest House, rents out tents with fans and electricity for Rs 400. It is only open from Oct to June.
Island Restaurant (52473) on the road between Nagoa Beach and Diu Town has tents for Rs 550 with fan and electricity. Open Oct to Dec. Restaurant open all year.
Ganga Sagar Rest House (52249) has a great location right on the beach. The small, basic rooms are Rs 300/400. 8 am checkout.
Resort Hotel (53036) is a well-managed place with rooms for Rs 400.

Where to Stay—Ghoghla
Tourist Complex (2212), in Ghoghla village, has A/C rooms for Rs 650. There is a good view of the sea from the restaurant.

Where to Eat
The restaurant at the Jay Shankar’s Guest House is good. It is a friendly place on the beach.
Hotel Sanman is a popular rooftop place with a view of the sea. It serves Indian and Chinese food.
Ram Vijay, near the Bank of Saurashtra, serves good ice cream and drinks.
Samrat, Collectorate Rd, is one of the better places. Aavkar, near the main square, has good, inexpensive thalis.

Getting Around Diu
An auto-rickshaw around town costs approximately Rs 10, to Nagoa Beach Rs 40, to Una Rs 80. Expect to pay an extra Rs 20 for night travel outside the town of Diu. There are shared rickshaws to Ghoghla (Rs 5).

Local buses depart from the local bus stand, west of the Main Square, near the petrol station on Bunder Rd. There are buses every three hours to Nagoa Beach (7 am to 4.30 pm). Local buses also go to Delwada.

You can rent a bicycle from places near the Main Square or Jampa Gate for Rs 25 per day. Mopeds can be rented from shops on Burden Rd near the Public Garden for Rs 150 per day. Manisha Electronics, near the Hotel Sanman, rents out mopeds. Reshma Travels, opposite Nilesh Hotel, rents motorcycles and taxis.

Travel
Air The Diu Airport is north of Nagoa Beach, 5km west of the Town of Diu. Gujarat Airways has a daily flight to Mumbai. The agent for Gujarat Airways is Oceanic Travels (2180), located near the post office. A good travel agency for flights is Reshma Travels (2383), opposite Nilesh Hotel.

Train The closest railway station is the Delwada Railway Station, 8km from the town of Diu. The reservation office is open Mon to Sat 8 am to 8 pm, Sun 8 am to 2 pm. There is a daily afternoon train to Junagadh (7 hr) via Sasan Gir (3 hr). In the morning, there is a slow train to Veraval. (The bus is faster.) A shared auto-rickshaw from Ghoghla to Delwada costs Rs 7.

Bus  Long distance buses depart from the Main Square. There are some direct buses departing directly from Diu to Ahmedabad (11 hr), Porbandar (7 hr), Rajkot (7½ hr), Junagadh (5½ hr), and Veraval (2½ hr).

Most of the state buses go only to Una. From Una there are buses that make frequent departures to many destinations all over Gujarat.

There are buses every half-hour from Una to Diu via the village of Ghoghla (6 am to midnight, 40 min, Rs 8). There are also shared auto-rickshaws that depart to Ghoghla from Tower Chowk in Una. From Ghoghla you take another shared rickshaw to the town of Diu.

Private bus companies, located around the Main Square of Diu Town, run comfortable buses and minivans to destinations all over Gujarat. RR Travels, Main Square; and Reshma Travels, opposite the Nilesh Hotel, are good companies.
It is best to avoid traveling on Sunday nights, as many drunken locals will be on the bus.

If you know of a informationthat is not correct or if you would like to help update our listings, please e-mail us at:

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