city / town
0 votes
Daman, on the coast, retains something of the atmosphere of its distinctive Portuguese inheritance which linked it both with Mediterranean Europe and Africa. A few people still use Portuguese in everyday speech, but visitors expecting a colonial coastal idyll may be disappointed by the scrappy beaches.
3 votes
To find oneself in the middle of Asia - it's the wistful desire of so many travelers. Few cities are able to satisfy this desire as abund...
History
The 380-sq-km enclave of Daman, along with Diu and Goa, was a Portuguese possession until taken over by the Indian government in 1961. Its association with Goa ceased when the latter became a state in 1987. It is now a Union Territory with its own Pradesh council. Daman developed at the mouth of the tidal estuary of the Daman Ganga River as a trading centre in 1531. Much of its early commerce was with the Portuguese territories in East Africa. Later (1817-1837), it was a link in the opium trade chain until this was broken by the British.Getting there and around
The nearest railway station is at Vapi, 13 km southeast, on the Mumbai– Ahmedabad line. From there you can get taxis for transfer (visitors arriving by car pay Rs 20 entry fee) or walk about 600 m for a bus. Long-distance buses run from the major centres. They arrive at the main bus stand in Nani Daman. The settlement north of the river, known as Nani (small) Daman, has most of the accommodation. To the south, Moti (large) Daman has a few colonial remains. Bicycle hire is available from Nani Daman Bazar. Avoid the Indian holiday periods.Bus
For the bus stand: turn right out of Vapi station, walk 500 m along main road to a T-junction; the stand is nearby, on the left.
Taxi
Shared taxis go to Daman but with 8 others can be a squeeze (Rs 20 each); Rs 160 per taxi. By car, turn off the NH8 at Karmbeli between Bhilad and Vapi.
Train
Not all trains stop at Vapi from Mumbai. Gujarat Exp 9011, 0851, 3 hrs; Saurashtra Exp 9215, 0745, 3½ hrs. From Ahmedabad: Karnavati Exp 2934, 0500, 5¼ hrs; Shatabdi Exp, 2010, 1435 (except Wed) 4¾ hrs.Banks
State Bank of India, Kabi Kabarda Rd.
Post
GPO: near bridge to Moti Daman.Are you a business owner? Click Here to promote your business on tripwolf!
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