Day 201 of Indian places giving you smiles- the beaches and forts of the Union territory of Daman
We were lucky to discover a new weekend getaway from Mumbai – the old Portuguese colony of Daman. We had a smooth drive over good roads and as we entered Daman, the first thing that caught my attention were the innumerable hoardings that were advertising for liquor products. It then struck me that Daman attracts a lot of tourists from a neighbouring State where alcohol consumption is prohibited. This seemed to be the perfect chill out zone for those who wanted to enjoy the high spirit of life!
And why not? With the many resorts along the long stretch of the Devka beach, we found just the perfect place to have a lazy lunch with friends and family, with the breeze on our face and the sound of the waves.
We then decided to explore the quaint city which is divided into two parts by the Daman Ganga river called the Moti Daman (with the big Fort) and the Nani Daman(with the small fort). Daman is also called the city of Twin Forts.
We were staying in the downtown area which had all the trappings of a modern city. Yet as soon as we entered the gates of the Nani Daman Fort, I felt that I was a part of another era. The entrance gates had a huge statue of St. Jerome and two giant human figures on either sides. We walked into the open bastions and looked at the only church inside, called the church of the Lady of the sea. We then climbed up the steps of the fort for a sweeping view of the area. We even peered from above into an old cemetery. Then we had an amazing evening walk on top of the fort walls, going all around the fort and watching the boats that were ferrying the people on both sides of the river.
It was so easy to relax at this place, where time seemed to just stand still. There was an air of a laid back attitude to life which we could sense when we went to the Jampore beach at night. And with no visible restrictions on closing timings, this was the first time in my life when at the stroke of midnight I actually ventured into the waters to feel the waves at my feet .
We left early in the morning to drive across the new bridge and reach the Moti Daman Fort. We entered the gate and saw what seemed to be the ruins of an ancient monastery. We first drove around and saw the many impressive old official buildings like the Collectors office, the Government house and the Municipal council which were also used by the earlier Portuguese rulers. The Secretariat and the Paryatan Bhavan are the modern official buildings.
But what really left me spell bound was our visit to the ancient Portuguese churches of Daman. Our first visit was to the Bom Jesus church. Admired it’s ornate and intricate decorations around the six idols at the alter, I sat in silence to soak in the spiritual power of the place. We next went to the chapel of the Lady of Remedios and admired the beautifully carved figures on it’s walls.
We then climbed the open flight of steps to go up to the terrace adjoining the fortification walls. We had a superb view from this height. We saw the moat surrounding the walls. We could even see where the river joined to the sea. We walked across and actually touched the walls of the majestic lighthouse that we had earlier seen from afar. Even after India got her independence in 1947 the Portugal officials had ruled from this Fort unto 1961 when Daman finally became a part of the Indian Republic.
As I bid goodbye to Daman, I realized how this place could match up with my similar sightseeing experience of churches or beaches in Europe. I was amazed at how diverse India really is!
So, which Indian place made you smile today?
Please share your own experience of visiting Indian places.
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