Daman and Diu

The districts of Daman & Diu became a Union Territory after de-linking from Goa which attained statehood on May 30, 1987. Daman is separated from Gujarat by the Kolak river in the north and the Kalai river in the south. On its west is the Arabian sea. The main river Daman Ganga divides the town into two parts Moti Daman in the south and Nani Daman in the north.

Daman and Diu (Portuguese: Damão e Diu) is a union territory in India. The place can boast of a lot of greenery as well as an enjoyable atmosphere conducive to inherent peace of mind and serenity not easily found in adjoining areas of the state of Gujarat. For over 450 years these coastal enclaves on the Arabian Sea coast were part of Portuguese India, along with Goa and Dadra and Nagar Haveli. Goa, Daman, and Diu were occupied by the Republic of India on December 19, 1961; Portugal did not recognize Indian rule in these territories until 1974. Goa, Daman, and Diu were administered as part of a single union territory until 1987, when Goa was granted statehood, leaving Daman and Diu as a separate union territory; each enclave constitutes one of the union territory's two districts.

Gujarati is the main language; use of Portuguese is declining because it is not official or taught at school (but still spoken by 10% in Daman). There are Portuguese-based creole languages in Daman (known as Língua da Casa, "Home Language") and Diu (Língua dos Velhos, "Elder's Language"). The Creole of Diu is rapidly becoming extinct by the pressure of Gujarati.

Diu

Diu, a beautiful tiny island, lies on the west coast of India, with a coastal length of 21 kms. The word `Diu' is derived from the Sanskrit word 'Dweep'. Diu was one of the best Sea Ports and a Naval base between the 14th and 16th Century.