“People seem to think embracing life means to jump off
cliffs and kiss strangers. Maybe it’s just slowly learning to love yourself.”
Move over Gokarna, make way for the newest kid on the block –
DIU!! With pristine beaches, old churches and forts, quaint Portuguese houses,
caves and reefs and cheap alcohol supply next to Gujarat, Diu fulfils every
requirement on the checklist to the become the next beach-hot spot-getaway
(though I pray with all my heart and soul that it does not, just to maintain
this very same sanctity)!!
So firstly, one must be warned that reaching Diu is not the
easiest task ever. Redbus said the journey will take 18 hours from Mumbai, but
after a few helpings of dhokla and thepla, that creeps to a good 22 hours. Yes close
to a day in a bus with Govinda movies on repeat, so one can well imagine how
beautiful Diu must have been to be worth it!
The first thing that strikes you is how clean the place is!
You’ve got to give it to a Union Territory for such brilliant development and
spic and span maintenance and a fabulously shot video to show the world the
same. (Watch it here in case you still haven’t). The roads even have a separate
path for cyclists!! *chuckles*
So we stayed at the Hoka Beach Resort, on Nagoa beach. Named
after the Hoka trees on the beach (apparently the only place in India where
these trees are found), the resort is cute, extremely hospitable, the staff a
tad too slow in the kitchen but they make it up in their kindness.
First up was the Diu
Fort. Built by the Portuguese in 1535, the fort was strengthened over the
years till 1961 (which is also the longest period of colonial rule anywhere in
the world!) Located at the southern tip of Gujarat at the mouth of the gulf of
Khambat, the fort also has a large light house. It takes a good couple of hours
to peacefully unravel all the gateways and arches and revel in the magnificent
views of the sea. Around the Fort area
is the main city, and barring the heat at this time of the year it is a
pleasure to walk around the narrow, albeit well-maintained roads, speak to the
locals, sit in one of the several churches, or just sit by the dock and watch
the ferries come and go.
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| View from the lighthouse, Diu Fort |
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Lighthouse, Diu Fort |
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| Colourful houses in the city |
A few kilometres away to the south is the Gangeshwar temple. The Shiva temple has
5 shivalingas, said to have been constructed by the 5 Pandavas. Once a cave
temple, now the shivalings lie open to the crashing of the waves and are
completely submerged during high tides. The coast here is extremely jagged, in
fact the beach is nothing but walking on reefs and hence not very tourist friendly
and that’s what adds to the charm. With a few solitary benches placed across
the entire stretch, one can just sit and hear the waves crashing and be at
peace! Close by are the two “dakhmas” or Towers
of Silence, a memorial for the undying spirit of the ancestors of the Parsi
community.
Nagoa beach, is
by far the most famous beach in Diu and rightly so. With clear waters (and water
sports), lined by swaying Hoka trees, and reefs at one end, the beach, when not
crowded can be a solace for many.
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| Near Gangeshwar Temple |
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| Nagoa Beach |
For our second day we decided to cycle the entire perimeter
of Diu (at least 25km) and even though our butts were not very pleased post the
effort, our senses and souls will forever be indebted!
There are hardly any places to rent a cycle from in Diu, its
mostly motorbikes and scooty’s. We found our saviour in Safar Bike Rental
(thanks Ixigo!). Starting from Diu city, we cycled through the narrow lanes to
look for the Nagar Sheth Haveli, an
old mansion, now a tourist attraction, done up in some of the most psychedelic
colours! A few more kilometres took us to Naida
caves. Enough cannot be said to describe the magnificence of these caves.
Drama at it’s best. Apparently created after the Portuguese hacked away
building material, with crevices and unfinished steps, beams of sunlight
interspersed with darkness, dead leaves and dangling roots, the caves are a must
visit for anyone in Diu!
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| Colourful Nagar Sheth Haveli |
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| Naida Caves |
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| More Naida caves |
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| Near the fishing village |
And finally, the last leg of our missive bike ride ended at
the Gomtimata beach. Not a lot of
people
go there and it isn’t a beach in the usual sense (less sand, more reefs
and cliffs) and yet again this only adds to the unbridled charm.
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| Near Gomtimata beach |
All I can say is, we found our Island of Calm, and so must
you!
