There are 6 beaches to choose from- Nagoa is
the best, a beautiful, white sanded, crescent
shaped beach, enclosing a cove of quiet blue
water, perfect for a swim, wading in the shallows,
relaxing by the sea, water sports(same as in
Ahmedpur Mandvi, but jetskiing and knee board
surfing are being introduced) and camel or pony
riding. Jalandar is pleasant and quiet, less
frequented by tourists, and very close to town.
Chakratirth has a good beach, a sunset point,
a Shiv temple washed by the sea and a summer
bungalow with views. Goghla beach is the Diu
union territory section of the Ahmedpur Mandvi.
The Simmer beach on the mainland is being promoted
for beach sports-beach volley ball, fishing,
sailing. The Gahirmata beach is a 10-12 km virgin
stretch of white sands from Nagoa to Vanakbara,
which is being landscaped-should be a resort
very soon.
Ahmedpur Mandvi beach
Nagoa
beach, Diu
Nagoa beach, Diu
In your rush to spend time at the beaches, do
not miss seeing the imposing, huge battlemented
16th century fortress of Diu, which spanning an
area of over 5 1/2 sq km, rates among the largest
fortresses on India's west coast and one of the
greatest Portugese fortifications in all of Asia.
It is easy to imagine why Diu must have been an
impregenable enclave even for the mighty forces
of Greek born Ottoman ruler, Sulaiman Pasha, as
you gaze at the massive walls, streghtened by
bastions named for various Christian saints, gaurded
by the sea on one side and a dual moat, one being
tidal, cut into rocks on the other, and the imposing
gateways. The fort is now a ruined complex of
the governor's palaces, churches, cathedrals,
barracks, dwellings and prisons. A highlight of
the fort is the massive rampart, gaurded by canons,
one of them with an inscription dating it's casting
to 1624 on order of Don Diego De silva Conde De
Porta Legre during the reign of Don Phillippe,
Rex D' Esp, with breathtaking views of the sea
and the island fort of Panikhotha.
A
short distance from the fort, the church of St Paul,
built in the 17th century, has a perfectly proportioned
facade of white marble, with intricate workmansion,
a tall rounded arch door flanked by smaller rectagular
entrances, the whole surmounted by a cross. Inside,
we saw intricate wood carved galleries, an impressive
altar and arcaded Jesuit seminary, and behind it a courtyard
with rounded arches and greenery. Wood carvers from
Goa are said to be responsible for this church to Her
Lady of Imaculate Conception. Another church nearby,
Sao Tome or St Thomas church, is now a museum with a
good collection of wooden sculpture and archeological
finds. St Francis of Asisi church at Fudam,dedicated
to our Lady of Remedies, is now a primary hospital.
Bucharvada village in the Fudam locality of Diu has
a strong Portugese flavour. Vanakbara has a fishing
pier, fort and church.
