Daman

The nightlife of Daman is brought alive due to the presence of an entire horde, scattered throughout the place and offering an entire range of liquor at low prices. A large number of bars remain open 24 by 7, offering a hangout place at any time of the day or night. Daman also has its share of dance bars, which attract large numbers of tourists as well as locals. Some tourist favourites among the large throng of bars are Royal Bar, Kings Ladies Dance Bar, Mayank Bar and Manpasand Bar.

It is this omnipresence of watering holes which makes Daman a favourite getaway destination for people residing in the neighbouring dry state of Gujarat. A large number of tourists here, come from the dry state to quench their thirst for easily, cheaply, and widely available alcohol.

Almost all residential hotels run their own nightclubs, stocked full with the liquor of many types, offering an in-house entertainment option to their guests. Beachside DJ nights and Saturday night dancing sessions are popular activities among tourists, hosted by lodges, resorts, and hotels.

Paltry taxes and no restrictions on drinking make Daman a famous party town, and it is said that almost every second shop here is a wine shop. So, it’s an entertainment paradise for all party goers, party people, and alcohol lovers who are looking for a vacation filled with fun, frolic, drinking sessions, and all night dancing.

Daman has had a long, motley, and chequered history of being ruled by rulers from different dynasties and nations. Between 2nd Century BC and 13th Century AD, Daman was part of a country known as Lata, which was one of the seven divisions of the Konkan Vishaya. It later became part of the Mauryan empire, somewhere during the rule of King Ashoka. It then came under the successive rule of various other dynasties, including the Satvahanas, Kshaharatas, Satkarnis, Abhiras, Traikutakas, Vakatakas, Mahishmati kings of Kalachuri, different divisions of the Chalukyas, and the Shahs of Gujarat. In the year 1523, Daman was noticed by the Portuguese who made several attempts to conquer it. Many attacks and more than 30 years later, it was finally acquired by them by way of a treaty with the Shah of Gujarat. From this day to the day of its liberation in 1961, Daman remained under the rule of Portuguese. The relics of Portuguese culture are forever imprinted here, in the form of Churches, forts, chapels, and old quarters. Daman was incorporated into the Indian territory in 1961 through military conquest. But, it was not until 1974 that Portugal finally accepted the annexation of Daman into India. It remained a part of the Union Territory of Goa, Daman, and Diu after which a separate union territory of Daman & Diu was formed.

Daman is equally enjoyable for both vegetarian and non-vegetarian preparations and offers countless options. While subtle hints of Gujrati and Parsee food can be sensed in the menu here, the seafood is splendid and the island also has quite a street food culture. Other than these there are notable restaurants along the beaches of the region too offering an enjoyable meal with an equally exquisite scenery.
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Day 1 - Reach Daman, preferably by noon and take some rest. In the evening, you can go to the main market for a stroll, where you can buy some souvenirs, especially handicrafts like leather products, bamboo mats, baskets etc. for your personal collection. The alcoholics can strike gold here, for foreign liquor sells like hot cakes.
Day 2 - You should begin ideally with the Fort of St. Jerome, which is one of the most popular destinations in Daman. Within the premise, itself are a Catholic Church of the Portuguese era and a Jain Temple for the cultural devotees.
Day 3 - You can start the day with the historical church of Bom Jesus, or proceed to the beautiful Mirasol Lake Garden. You can end your day with a visit to the beautiful Devka beach, which is another rare beach in India that is untouched, and pristine.

The top places near to Daman are Silvassa which is 24 km from Daman, Mumbai which is located 149 km from Daman, Umbergaon which is located 27 km from Daman, Jawhar which is located 70 km from Daman, Vikramgad which is located 74 km from Daman

The top things to do in Daman are Devka Beach, Mirasol Lake Garden, Lighthouse, Daman, Jampore Beach, City Shopping, St Jerome Fort. You can see all the places to visit in Daman here

Daman has no direct connectivity to the rest of India by any means. The nearest stop for both roadways and railways is Vapi in Gujarat, which is barely 13.2 km from Daman. Surat is the nearest stop for the airborne travellers. The Diamond City of Gujarat is some 123.2 km away from Daman via NH 48.
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The best time to visit Daman is between October - April when the ambience is heavenly and the climate pleasant. Since Daman is situated near the Arabian Sea, it experiences a tropical climate with mild winters and deary summers. Although Monsoon is a good option, the heavy rainfall in this region might make the trip a little bit inconvenient.
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Ideal for people looking for a touch of culture and history. Suitable for backpackers touring nearby sites like Ahmedabad, Mumbai, Pune, etc. Also for people who are looking for a beach getaway from the nearby states of Gujarat and Maharashtra.

Congested in peak seasons. Not easily accessible.

Abode to beautiful sea life. A nice touch of Portuguese culture available as well.