Are you the one confused about how many days are enough for a Daman trip? Is Daman worth visiting or not? I say yes, Daman is worth visiting, and 2 days are enough to have an enjoyable vacation covering almost all major attractions without getting bored. Read here itinerary for Daman and Diu based on our last trip.
You can say Daman is a mini version of Goa, especially for those living in Gujrat & North Maharashtra. It’s like a water well for the neighboring “Dry State” (Gujrat), gives them Goan vibes without driving a thousand kilometers, perfect for a weekend getaway.
Being a valid substitute to Goa, Daman offers lot of beach activities at the same time Portuguese history to explore. Unlike Goa, Daman is a place for all, whether you’re age 5 or 65. Although there are many differences between Daman & Goa, read till the end to find out.
We spent 2 days in Daman, visited during its 1st Anniversary of Nirman Diwas which turned out to be an interesting and eventful trip. Those who don’t know anything about Nirman Diwas can read it here in detail.
In this post, I am gonna describe every single detail of our 2 days trip (Ex-Nashik) to help you get a brief impression, but to know more about the places and things to do, availability of parking & parking fees, etc., then you need to read our next blog which is more explanatory and get yourself up-to-date with budget-friendly tips.
This itinerary will be useful for families who want to have fun as well as for couples who want to explore places and looking for leisure. I can help you with choosing the right hotel/resort for you as per your vacation need.
October to February– By far, winter is the best time to visit any coastal places be it Goa, Konkan, Andaman and Nicobar Islands or Daman and Diu. To enjoy various water sports activities, roaming around in daylight with less humidity and pleasant sun, to get the clear skies and to watch the perfect sunsets, you gotta go in winter only. You may find tourists rush and surges in hotel prices during November-December due to New Year’s & Christmas holidays.
March to June- It is summer time where weather can be hot and humid. If you are looking for a leisure staycation, just chilling in a resort, plunge in to the swimming pool or may be go to Mirasol Water Park, then this time of the year is perfect.
July to September– It’s the Monsoon season, where the rainfall is unpredictable and not an advisable to visit.
2 Days Itinerary for Daman and Diu
Day 1
How to Reach? Routes & Road Conditions
Let’s start with Day 1, where we will be driving from Nashik to Daman. Google showed us two routes, first was via Trimbak-Jawhar and then the Mumbai-Gujrat highway (NH 48) with a total distance of 190km & the other one via Maharashtra State Highway 22 & National Highway 848, which goes through Umrale Bk., Karanjali, Peint (Peth) with 145km. We choose the latter due to its shortest distance & time.
Hotel Marina (Stays for 2 Days)
We reached our Hotel Marina by noon. Hotel Marina is located in the heart of Nani Daman city, within walkable distance to Nani Daman Beach, Maharaja Market, St. Jerome Fort also known as Nani Daman Fort & Jetty area.
I instantly fell in love with the ambiance of the hotel, which was built in 1864, with Portuguese-themed hotel rooms, rustic furniture, and a wooden staircase provided with facilities like AC, Toiletries, free Wi-Fi, In-house restaurant and free parking, absolutely safe for families & couples that too in a reasonable rate.
After 4.30 hours of journey, we were tired so decided to order lunch from the hotel’s restaurant & took a quick much-needed nap to charge ourselves for the evening.
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Evening: Jampore Beach, Maharaja Market & Nani Daman city
Jampore Beach is known as the most happening beach in Daman, family-friendly with lots of amusing things for children like Camel rides, Horseback rides, Slides & Swings, See-saw, Toys & Balloons, Snacks to eat, etc.
There are some water & beach sports activities for elders. Click here to know more. We spent a beautiful evening, watching the sunset by sitting on the beachside compound wall.
Drive along the beach: It’s a 4 km drive starting from Jampore Beach to the famous ‘I Love Daman’ signboard. You may spot locals, who come here after sunset to jog, walk & enjoy the cool breeze. Driving by this beachside road feels great after the streetlights are turned on.
Shopping at Maharaja Market & explore Nani Daman city at the night:
We didn’t want to conclude our day so early. So, we decided to explore shops in Nani Daman city, bought some fresh bread & cakes from a Goan bakery, and went to Maharaja Market (Mercado J. M. Falcao De Carvalho) for shopping.
They have Clothes, Electronics, Fashion & Beauty products, Accessories, Bags, Wallets, and whatnot. You might have guessed from its name that it’s a very old shopping complex since the Portuguese era, now selling imported goods at cheaper rates, you just need to level up your bargaining skills.
Dinner- For dinner, there are many options available, we didn’t have any specific recommendations for you in this category. We preferred to eat in our hotel’s restaurant as the food was good.
Day 2
The next day, it was 26th January-India’s Republic day as well as the 1st anniversary of Merger Day (i.e. Nirman Diwas), so obviously there were grand celebrations & festivities lined up for the day. I’ve written a separate post on Nirman Diwas, click to know more.
Morning to Afternoon- Devka Beach, Nani Daman Fort, I Love Daman Sign, Moti Daman Fort & Lighthouse
Day 2 was so occupied, in the morning we went to Devka beach, hardly 10 min drive from our hotel. It’s a rocky beach with black sand, which seems like a regular one.
It is popular among tourists only because of the beachfront hotels that give direct access to the beach. We proceeded to Nani Daman Fort after clicking some photos. You will find more details in our separate post.
Daman has two main attractions, where you can clearly see the Portuguese influence, Nani Daman Fort (St. Jerome Fort) & Moti Daman Fort, built in the 16th century reminded us of the era of Portuguese colonies that lived there for almost 450 years.
St. Jerome Fort/ Nani Daman Fort:
Nani Daman Fort is used as an outpost protected by a high stone wall and inside the fort, you will see a vintage Portuguese-style church (The Church of our Lady of the Sea) & Cemetery, and a School with a playground.
The highlight of this fort is the huge entrance gate that grabs your attention with the sculptures, inscriptions, biblical messages, human figures, and unique symbols carved on the stone. A Holy Cross & St. Jerome statue on the door is captivating.
‘I Love Daman’ Sign:
After crossing the Daman Ganga river bridge you will enter Moti Daman city. Stopping over by this sign to take a photo has now become mandatory.
Moti Daman Fort & Garden, Lighthouse:
It’s again an old-fashioned fort with a massive stone wall making a pentagon, definitely larger in terms of area than the Nani Daman Fort evidencing its name. You can climb up on the wall to take a stroll. The entry and exit of the fort are very narrow and short.
This was built by the Portuguese for protection against the Mughals and is now occupied by Government Administrative offices, a Post office, Court, Central Library, and servant’s quarters.
Inside the Fort premises, there are some touristy places where you are allowed to visit like Dominican Monastery, Bom Jesus Church, and the lighthouse.
All those structures have been preserved. We advised you to spend a couple of hours exploring all the attractions inside the fort and get a sneak peek of the 400-year-old history.
There is access from inside the fort to climb up on the lighthouse to get 360-degree views of the surroundings. We stroll around the fort and stopped by the Fort Garden to take some pictures of an Indian Army Tank T-55, which was used in battles with Pakistan.
Moti Daman Beach:
Get stunning views of the lighthouse, Nani Daman Fort & Moti Daman Fort from this beach. It’s a nice and clean beach with white sand. On the occasion of the 1st anniversary of Nirman Diwas, there was a presentation of Sand Art on the beach celebrating the merger of union territories Dadra and Nagar Haveli, Daman, and Diu.
Evening- Sunset at Moti Daman Beach, Nirman Diwas celebration
This is the second most popular beach for the evening vibes, where you will find many people enjoying the sunset, playing water sports, and taking pictures. As I said, it was not a regular day, there were events like a Flower show, Sand Art, Book Fest, Heritage exhibitions, Flea Market, Light & Sound show, Fireworks, etc. spread over Moti Daman Fort Premises.
There were lighting and flower decorations everywhere just like a festival. We had an interesting and eventful evening thanks to Nirman Diwas!!!
And this is how we ended our last day in Daman with an interesting & eventful evening. All Thanks to Nirman Diwas!
Note:
If you are interested in attending the Nirman Diwas, please check the official website before making any plans. Daman thrives over the weekends, tourists came from Valsad, Vapi, Surat, Mumbai & Nashik for an escape from the routine.
Daman Vs Goa
- All beaches in Daman are family-friendly.
- Daman is less expensive than Goa.
- Food inspired by nearby states – Gujrat & Maharashtra. Seafood is not their specialty cuisine, unlike Goa.
- Daman is a short place, and all attractions are very close to each other, not much more to explore than Goa.
- Almost all attractions are free to visit.
- Beaches in Daman are either rocky or with black sand. Whereas, beaches in Goa are more beautiful, picturesque, and white sand.
- In Daman, swimming in the sea is not possible because waves are not great unlike Goan beaches.
- Being a union territory, taxes are lower in Daman as compared to the other state.
- No nightlife & no music on the beaches in Daman.
- No shacks & no drinking on the beaches. (It is not legitimate in Daman but some irresponsible people do not follow the rules).
- There are beachfront hotels & resorts offering access to the private beach available at affordable prices. (It can get expensive over the weekends & prices may vary as per the facilities they offer).
- Parking will not be a big issue in Daman and mostly it is free.
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