Weekend Hop

Took me 2 hours to plan this trip. I was relatively excited about the prospect of going to a relatively offbeat place in post lockdown world.
The drive takes around 4 hours from Mumbai to Daman, with an intersection of Gujarat.

Checklist

– Create a rough itinerary of tourist spots with an estimated distance.
– Book a hotel on 26th Dec (Saturday) on Booking.com (2400 INR)
– Book a cab with driver from Savaari.com (6300 INR)

Hotel Fiasco

We left Kanjurmarg (Mumbai) at 5 PM and drove northwards beyond Thane to Vapi.
The toll charges roughly cost us 600 INR with next day return permit bundled in. Our driver had Fast tag to zoom past the toll nakas with the final 100 INR paid upfront while entering Daman territory.

There are two entrances to Daman, we took the smaller one. There was no entrance permit toll here (although they do verify during exit), so we opted for the larger one.

Our trusty Google Map showed Seashore Rooms in central church complex. We entered the premise with nearly no life in sight at 9 in the night and found ourselves struggling to find the entrance. Calling the hotel, we were rudely informed that rooms are booked out and it was duty of the visitor to pre-check on availability.

Quick Book

Booked for OYO – Capital O 76790 Hotel Grand Heritage on the fly. We were charged 2700 INR for standard Deluxe room with no food included.

However the room service food that we ordered was value for money.

Portuguese Heartland

Next morning we drove back to the church area that we took an U-turn in the night before. The huge complex with 50 foot walls fortitude walls is dotted with multiple churches in inner sanctum along with important government buildings. However our disappointment started with the realisation that most of these churches are closed beyond the mass timings.

As we drove out towards the famous lighthouse, we found the entrance to be blocked as well. Till the year before, folks could access the spiral metal stairway to walk up to the crest and look into the ocean.

Moti Daman beach is bang in front of the lighthouse. A distinct brown sand, few hawkers selling food and budget water rides, this beach is tidy and least touristy among all.

You can find the rate chart of water rides mentioned below.

The chapel of our lady of Rosario is the first church on boundary of the inner walls, which as mentioned, was closed.

Past the Church of Bom Jesus (which was also closed) opposite the central Administration Secreteriat, the left turn took us to a place called The Ruined Church.

The church has a maintained garden on left flank but has no idol left. A plastic figure of Christ adorns the tattered walls

Lake/Garden

Mirasol Lake Garden is a resort with hotel, artificial lake, garden, train, restaurants, amusement park and few more. A place for families with kids with ideal entry fee of 5 INR. The hotel feels like a high end residential society complex with all the bells and whistles of one.

Swans seem to be a theme across with popular boat rides above the sparkly water while the real swans could not care less.

Hopping over the toy train track, the three fold intersection has a small temple, hotel and amusement park.

The water park was closed and being renovated due to lockdown times.

Food, on the inside, was terribly expensive and we decided to give a skip. Just opposite to the main gate, there are small eateries (dhabas) as budget alternatives.

Novelty Construction

Nani Daman is on the opposite of Moti Daman as the lighthouse of the latter is visible from fort of the former.

One can climb up to the top of the St. Jerome fort and experience viewing the sea from a vantage point.

St.Jerome fort has a school and (yet another closed) church in complex.

Nani’s most famous beach Devka was under construction when we landed. The popular spot has best hotels, market and food joints.

This huge construction line has ensured the whole beach stays nearly inaccessible with sharp steep climb down to ocean for those who dare.

Final Beach

To the extreme south is Jampore beach, another large stretch of clean and popular beach that is an extension of Moti Daman beach. This flank has only line of trees and cars. There is no hotel option overlooking the beach and it seemed Devka beach will eventually look like a version of this post renovation phase.

The beach experiences countless horse rides, dirt bikes and beach parasails every 5 minutes.

Tip Offs

• Drink for cheap since this is a Union Territory.
• Daman has good food options with large range of hotel options
• Public transport is rare and having personal vehicle is easier mode of transport
• Expensive premium hotels as well as cheap budget decent ones in Nani Daman area.
• Moti Daman has hotels closer to the ocean and are more suited for family outing.
• If you want to take alcohol out from Daman, you have to cross patrol and via Gujarat (which is dry state). Be sure to have a permit if you do so as cops in plain clothes are present to nab you. They have cameras set up around wine shops to specifically target who is carrying bottle outside and fine them.

Recommendations

I would have recommended the lighthouse as the view would have been interesting. I, have no photo to share of the same. So sharing a photo of the lifeguard stand instead.

Till next real travel,

Sayantan