TRAVEL
Delightful Diu
SREEVALSAN MENON
20 Feb 2009
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| Mesmerising: (from left) Diu Fort; Gangeshwar Temple |
I undertook a rather uncomfortable journey from Ahmedabad, travelling nearly 500 km by road to Diu. While the first half was pleasant enough, later poor road conditions almost ruined the experience. The journey, however, was certainly worth it.
Diu, primarily a fishing town, is part of the Union territory of Daman and Diu, it is where the Battle of Diu was fought in 1509 between the reigning Portugese forces and the joint army of Egypt, the Zamorin of Calicut and the Sultan of Gujarat. India took over the island in 1961.
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| St Thomas Church |
In this island off the south coast of the Kathiawar peninsula in Gujarat, the most exciting place to visit is the fortress of Diu, an imposing structure projects into the Arabian sea. This Portuguese fortress was reconstructed by Dom João de Castro after the siege of 1545. It includes a giant light house, an unmistakable landmark amidst its protruding canons.
The Nagoa’s horse, a shoe-shaped virgin beach, offers excellent surroundings for various water sports such as para-sailing, water scooter riding and boat sailing. Two other beaches — Ghoghla and Jallandhar — are equally fascinating. A trip to Jallandhar shrine provides a brush with mythology too. A stone-carved face of Jallandhar, a demon killed by Lord Krishna, is the main attraction. Besides, an evening boat cruise from Diu Bunder is an absolute must. A trip to Diu can also be extended to include the famous Somnath temple, Sasan Gir, lion sanctury and the ancient towns of Dwarka and Porbandar.
(Businessworld Issue Dated 24 February-02 March 2009) |
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