India · Dadra and Nagar Haveli and Daman and Diu · Daman
Daman and Silvassa in 2 Days
2 DAYS7 placesby WaTrips
Moti Daman Fort, the Bom Jesus Church, the lighthouse and Nani Daman Fort, then Devka and Jampore beaches and Dudhni Lake.
Daman keeps its Portuguese forts and churches beside the sea. Day one visits Moti Daman Fort and the Bom Jesus Church inside it, the lighthouse, and Nani Daman Fort across the river. Day two relaxes on Devka and Jampore beaches and drives to Dudhni Lake near Silvassa. October to March is best.
Moti Daman Fort is the larger of the two Portuguese forts at Daman, on the south bank of the Daman Ganga. Begun in 1559, it has a many-sided wall with ten bastions and two gateways. Old churches, including the Bom Jesus Church, government offices and houses of old Portuguese families still stand inside, along quiet tree-lined streets.
The Church of Bom Jesus stands inside Moti Daman Fort and was consecrated in 1603. Its plain front hides a richly decorated interior, with a carved and gilded altarpiece, a painted wooden ceiling and statues of six saints. It is one of the best-preserved Portuguese churches in Daman and still serves the local parish.
The Daman lighthouse stands at the corner of Moti Daman Fort where the Daman Ganga meets the Arabian Sea. A short old Portuguese tower stands beside the taller modern lighthouse. The spot looks over the river mouth, the fishing boats and the Fort of St. Jerome on the opposite bank, and is a favourite place at sunset.
Nani Daman Fort, also called the Fort of St. Jerome, stands on the north bank of the Daman Ganga facing Moti Daman. Built by the Portuguese in the early 17th century, it has high stone walls, three bastions and a large gateway with a statue of St. Jerome. Inside are the Church of Our Lady of the Sea and a cemetery; the walls overlook the fishing port.
Devka Beach, in Nani Daman, is a long shore of dark sand with rocks that show at low tide. It is better for walking and watching the sunset than for swimming, as the seabed is rocky. An amusement park with fountains and a play area lies along the road, lined with hotels and food stalls.
Jampore Beach lies at the southern end of Moti Daman, a few kilometres from the fort. The wide, flat sand is backed by casuarina trees, and the sea goes far out at low tide. It is quieter than Devka, and popular for horse and camel rides, parasailing and long walks along the water.
Dudhni lies on the Madhuban reservoir of the Damanganga river, about 40 km from Silvassa in Dadra and Nagar Haveli. The broad sheet of water is ringed by low forested hills and villages of the Warli and other tribal communities. Visitors come for shikara rides, speed boats and kayaking from the lakeside jetty.