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Juhi Jhunjhunwala

Diu is an exquisitely beautiful holiday destination with golden beaches, blue waters and historical monuments, sans any commercialisation and environmental degradation.

After enjoying two fun-filled holidays in Goa, the next exotic beach destination on our travel list was the union territory of Daman and Diu. Often regarded as a single place, Daman and Diu are actually two different destinations along the western coast of India.

As the name suggests, Diu (coming from Sanskrit word dweep, and pronounced Div) is a small island situated off the Saurashtra coast and borders Gujarat's Junagadh district. This little landmass in the Arabian Sea is a perfect weekend getaway from the hustle and bustle of city life, especially for the Gujaratis. A bridge at Veraval links Diu to the Indian mainland along the coastal highway of Gujarat.

After a tiring day visiting Porbandar and Somnath en route Dwarka, we finally reached this little bridge. With the magnificent serenity of its ambience, Diu is perhaps one of India's most undiscovered jewels. The small island getaway is a world unto itself in stark contrast to other places.

Once here, the first task was to find a suitable hotel to rest our travel-weary bones. This didn't turn out to be very difficult as much of Diu's economy relies on tourism and hence there are numerous hotels and lodges to suit every budget.

An island of breeze and beauty, Diu is an exquisitely beautiful destination with golden beaches, blue waters and historical monuments sans any commercialisation and environmental degradation. There is an ample spread of greenery thanks to the dense palm groves and Hoka palm trees that grow all over the island. The Hoka palms are unique to Diu as they are found nowhere else in the country.

Being a union territory, Diu is a tipplers' paradise. Alcohol flows freely and cheap as compared to the rest of the country. There are over 276 bars strewn across all the 13-km/3km expanse of the island. The bars are crowded all day, and the amount of alcoholic consumption makes you wonder whether beer and rum form the lifeline of this tiny island.

Diu was a seaport and a naval base of considerable strategic importance from the 14th to the 16th century. It was also a vital link for overseas trade to India. It was liberated from the Portuguese along with Daman and Goa on December 19, 1961.

The island's biggest attraction is its huge fort. This majestic structure stands on the coast as a sentinel. The ancient stonework transports one to a bygone era of gallant soldiers and time comes to a standstill. Several cannons stare menacingly at you from the top of the fort, with the scattered cannon balls pointing out that the fort has been the backdrop for many battles waged in its time. The northern side of the island, facing Gujarat, is all tidal marsh and salt pans, while the southern coast alternates between limestone cliffs, rocky caves and sandy beaches.

Nagoa beach, a horseshoe shaped white-sanded beach, could well qualify as one of the best beaches of the world. Other beaches are Ahmedpur-Mandvi, Chakratirath, Jallandhar and Gomtimata. Apart from swimming and sunbathing, one can also try water sports and parasailing here.

The St Paul's Church located here is worth a visit. This is a historical Portuguese church adorned with shell-like motifs and is also a good tourist spot. The Diu Museum will also make for an an interesting visit; it has on display antique statues, stone inscriptions of the earlier rulers, wooden carvings, idol shadow-clocks and other important artefacts.

Diu displays a colourful culture; it is a mix of Kathiawadi culture harmoniously blended with its Portuguese legacy, under whose reign the island reeled for over 450 years. And to feel this cultural spirit, you ought to venture into the Vanakbara village. Anyway, that's what we decided to do after a bit of lazing around, sunbathing and sipping fresh coconut water.

The Vanakbara area belongs to the fishermen, the original inhabitants of the island. Most of them Christians, the fishermen of Diu have been here for generations. Wandering through the village we reach the Vanakbara jetty, which is lined with colourful fishing boats. Each boat has a distinct name such as Diu Beauty, High Wave or On the Waters. A Tricolour proudly flies high on every boat, as it ventures out to Pakistani waters for a good catch, sometimes not returning for a long spell of up to eight days. From the jetty you can see locals mending their fishing nets, cleaning their boats or sorting out the day's catch. Dried fish hanging on the ropes or lying on the floor is also part of the local scene. The entire atmosphere is charged with energy and every one bustles about his/her own business and there seems to be no time to meddle in the affairs of others. In all, Diu is a perfect short-holiday destination for those who long for some peace and quiet. It is a great place to let your hair down and let the world drift by. It's well worth the long trek to get here.

Picture by the author

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