The Unnoticed And Unexplored Diu Island

Area-40km²

Deepak Sharma, Inhale Trips Writer, March 19, 2021

Detached from the Indian mainland, Diu Island has evolved its own distinct aesthetic and a fairly compact city. From low-key towns with just the right amount of civilization to unmarked empty roads awaiting exploration, Diu has a charm that keeps those who know coming back for more.

Diu is one of two cities of The Indian union territory, Daman and Diu, but 675 km far from Daman. Stretching around 40 km². A tiny island tucked away off the coast of Gujarat, bordered by crystalline Arabian sea water and sandy and seashell beaches.

How to Reach

Flights: - Diu is not well connected to other major cities of the country via regular flights. So, if you are looking for flights’ options, then you must know that mostly flights come via Mumbai.

Train and Bus: - For budget travellers, Vadodara and Somnath Railway stations will be the best to come by as there are no regular trains from other major cities. And then take a bus from Vadodara Central Bus Stand, which is at a walking distance from the railway station. You need to book online bus tickets for state buses from the GSRTC portal. whether Volvo or sleeper bus. AC buses will cost you hardly Rs.700-800 and sleeper/Non-AC tickets would be Rs.250-400. Buses are available in Morning and evening.

Expert Tip: Taking the Evening bus is a better option. Because It is better to travel at night, so that you reach Diu in morning and as the bus enters Diu City, Arabian Sea seems like welcoming you from both sides and then enjoy the whole day.

When to Visit

Because it is a coastal town of India, you would feel summer vibes throughout the year. But Islands are always awesome to visit the whole year as well. Avoid visiting Diu in the monsoon season from June to September, as being an island, it bears the brunt of strong winds and tricky tides.

Getting Around

If you are a solo traveller or 2-3 people or a couple, you should always opt for bike rentals. When you reach the bus stop, you can easily find the two-wheeler rental points nearby the bus stand. And if you are with your family, then you should take auto-rickshaws, which are also available outside the bus stop. As It is an untouched part, online cab services are not popular in this island.

Expert Tip: Diu is famed for its smooth, traffic-free, empty roads. In fact, the island is one of the safest places in the country to ride a two-wheeler. So, Don’t miss to enjoy bike rides on the beautiful coastal roads of this wonderful island.

Places to Visit

Being an Island destination, you can easily assume the uncountable beaches surround its borders. But this is not all. Some of the popular destinations in Diu are:

Diu Fort - Without doubt the main attraction in Diu is the Diu Fort. Which was built by the Portuguese. No entry ticket needed. The fort’s lighthouse is open to the public and provides panoramic views of the surroundings. And you can enjoy the view of the Arabian sea from the top of the fort.

Ghoghla Beach - The Blue Flag Beach as it is one of the cleanest beaches of India. The entry point of Diu. Most of the tourists miss this place because the bus drops far ahead from this beach. So, people skip to visit there. But actually, it is not so far. You can easily take an Auto-rickshaw or bike to get there. And it is worth visiting. A perfect picturesque, classical, calm, crowd free, crystal clear water beach.

Pani Kotha (Water Jailhouse) - Middle of the sea without any landmass connecting to it, Imposing stone fortress & former prison. The view is especially attractive after sunset where its silhouette is lit up by projecting lights that are synchronized with amazing music for a stellar light and sound display. To get a near view, you can take boat rides and speed boats are also available. But they charge very high for speed boats. Better is to take normal boats. Which are like small sailing boats.

Diu Museum - 400 years old church converted into a museum. In this, not everything about Diu island as its name tells, but only about Christian priests. Though It Needs Maintenance. It's part of Portuguese cultural heritage now.

Saint Paul’s Church- Just AMAZING. Outside view is just fab. You will surely get stunned by its beauty. But from inside it's like any other church. Of course, photography is not allowed inside the church.

Jalandhar Beach - Must Visiting beach as it is the only seashell beach of this wonderful island. If you are looking for absolute serenity, then you go here. Crystal clear water, sea waves will keep you mesmerized.

Naida Caves - When I visited, guards told me that it is permanently closed due to falling stones. But it is not true. Now this is re-opened. They're really clean and have beautiful structures unlike other caves. You would love being here and a perfect spot for photography.

INS Khukri Memorial - Beautifully constructed memorial for our Shaheeds during a clash with Pakistani troops during which INS Khukri along with 194 people were sunk. It was a heart-warming place to be at. Open air theatre, beach view, cubic light show. A great place for photography. Watching sunset over the Arabian sea.

Kohinoor Water Park - When you are in a wonderful beach island city, then you don’t need to go to water parks anyway.

Sea Shell Museum - Museum showcasing a private collection of rare, diverse seashells from around the world. People are amazed after watching Many stuff made from sea shells here.

Nagoa Beach – Bustling, contemporary, most thrilling and most lively beach of the island. Famous sports adventures like parasailing, disco boating, desert bike, motor boat etc are there. Here the cost of parasailing is 1000 per person. It is one of the most crowded beaches of Diu. Nearby the beach you can have easy access to many restaurants and bars.