What makes Diu different?

The tiny island of Diu is linked by a bridge to Gujarat’s south western coast. Diu is different from the other Indian islands in that it has the feel of Portugal on Indian Territory. In fact, Diu was a Portuguese colony till 1961, and the Portuguese touch can be seen everywhere- in the architecture, especially the monuments and churches, in the people and their cuisine, in the language and culture.

There are Portuguese style fortresses, cemeteries, magnificent churches, altars, and mansions. Many of the local people still speak Portuguese, or rather, a quaint dialect that is a mix of Portuguese, and the local language.

Their folklore, literature, vocabulary, art, ballads and theatre are all a charming blend of the Indian and the Portuguese. Diu is today a union territory administered by the Government of India. It is a breezy island of great beauty and serenity, lapped by the Arabian Sea.