Diu is the Union Territory situated in the Western Part of India near Gujarat. Diu is a small island city dotted with beaches from all sides. It also showcases a rich heritage and exquisite architecture. You can easily spend 3 nights 4 days stay over here. You can also combine your visit with Somnath temple which is a very famous Jyotirling among the 12 Jyotirling of Hindu culture. You can plan the Sasan Gir trip (The only place to visit Asiatic Lions) along with the Diu trip too. At all nearby places viz Somnath / Gir you have Club Mahindra Properties available. In this travel diary I will only concentrate on planning the vacation at Diu.

You can visit my Travel diary of Gir too… There are many places to visit in and around Diu. Let me show you some places:

1) Diu Fort: Diu Fort has a glorious history and was built in Portugal style architecture in 1535. Surrounded by azure water from all three sides, the fort offers mesmerizing views of the sea.

2) Naida Caves Located outside the city wall of the Diu Fort, the Naida Caves are a group of interlinked caves constructed by the Portuguese. The caves are only a short distance away from Diu town and they feature a big network of tunnels with square-hewn steps that remain completely unexplored. Naida Caves is one of the most underrated tourist attractions of Diu but it is as wholesome for an explorer or a history buff as for a photographer

3) Nagoa Beach Famous for its pristine beauty and swaying palm trees, Nagoa Beach in Diu is an ideal and recommended place for tourists all over the world. The place is well connected with the resorts, hence it makes it easy for the travellers to relax and explore its beauty at the same time. The beach is surrounded by beautiful palm trees swaying in the cool breeze which creates an exotic environment for the travellers to laze around. The serene beauty of the beach due to its white sands and quiet blue water is worth experiencing and enjoying. The beach is located in the Nagoa hamlet of Bucharwada village and serves as an attraction for its Hoka trees which produces a unique kind of fruit. It is very much known for its water sports along with camel and pony riding. Sunbathing can turn out to be the most intoxicating experience at Nagoa Beach. Shops and restaurants act as refreshments that are one of a kind. The beach extends over an area of 2 km from one end to the other. A walk along the shore mixed with witnessing the sunrise and sunset is a great way to relax one's mind.

4) Gangeshwar Mahadev Temple: Gangeshwar refers to Lord Shiva who is considered to be the Lord of River Ganga since it descended to earth starting from the tresses of Lord Shiva who is also the presiding deity of the Gangeshwar Mahadev Mandir. Situated amidst serenity and scenic beauty, the Gangeshwar Temple is dedicated to the transformer of the Hindu trinity, Lord Shiva. This ancient Hindu Temple is located 3 km away from Diu in the Fudam Village of Gujarat. Believed to have been built by the Pandavas, this temple is famous for its five Shiva Lingas, i.e. rocks in the shape of Lord Shiva which are present in the middle of the sea. Only the tip of these rocks can be seen whenever there is a high tide because the sea water submerges them.

5) Ghogla Beach One of the most attractive places in Diu is Ghoghla beach. Located in the north of Diu town with not many people, it catches the attention of the tourists who prefer to stay aloof and not with the crowd.

6) Sunset Point and Chakritirath Beach A beautiful hillock located near the Chakritirath beach in Diu, offers its visitors a mesmerizing view of the sunset from here. The hillock and the surrounding areas have been beautifully landscaped and illuminated.

7) St. Paul Church The church is renowned all over the world for its stunning Jesuit architecture by Indian craftsmen, the church boasts of rich wood carvings, a splendid facade, intriguing volutes, and shell-like motifs. Dedicated to the Lady of Immaculate Conception, its construction was completed in 1601 AD. Sharing close similarity with the Basilica of Bom Jesus at Goa, the church mesmerizes with its exquisite work. Sitting in utmost silence in the heavenly beautiful church lit up by lights is surely a soul-soothing experience.

8) INS Khukri Memorial INS Khukri Memorial is the memorial site of an Indian Naval Ship that sank during the Indo-Pak War of 1971. The submarine was destroyed on 9th December 1971 when torpedo shots were fired on it, sinking the ship 40 nautical miles off the coast of Diu. At the time of sinking, there were 18 officers and 176 sailors on board. A memorial was set up to commemorate the brave martyrs in Diu comprising of a scaled model of INS Khukri enclosed in a glass case. The commanding officer on board INS Khukri was Captain Mahendra Nath Mulla, who was given the option of saving himself and his crew by surrendering in front of the invaders. However, he chose to sink the ship rather than surrender to the enemies. He was posthumously awarded the Mahavir Chakra and INS Khurki Memorial was built to remind people of such valiant soldiers.

9) Panikota Fort A 16th-century ruin from the Portuguese era, the Panikota Fort was initially a Diu Jail. Formerly known as Fortim-do-Mar, this fort is a historic structure right in the middle of the seas. Hence, reaching this attraction would need a motorboat or a canoe.

10) Shell Museum One of the few shell museums in the world, the Sea Shell Museum is located 6km from Diu on the Nagoa road. It houses collections of Captain Fulbari, a sailor, who during his voyages collected many unique, pretty and amazing shells. He wanted to showcase his unique collection and make people understand the difference between different types of seashells. A magnifying glass is provided to the tourists and is installed near the displays to look closely at the multitude of shells at the Sea Shell Museum. There are also a lot of books talking about the history of sea shells. Being the first shell museum in Asia, it sees visitors from all over the world. There are many other places to visit in Diu like Zampa Gateway, Diu Museum, Jalandhar Beach, Goptimata Beach, Church of St. Francis of Assisi, Simbor Beach, etc. All the beaches in Diu have their own beauty.

Now let talk about the Azzaro Resort. The Resort is centrally located and well connected with all the parts of the Diu. The Resort doesn’t offer any private beaches but it is very close to all tourist destinations and all beaches. There is a nice swimming pool and Gymnasium facilities available at the resort. The Swimming pool is clean and hygienic. The food is really tasty. They offer Vegetarian and Non-Vegetarian both options. The Punjabi Indian dishes are really good. The breakfast spread is limited but the staff is very polite and they will make the dishes as per your likes. Don’t forget to try some seafood and authentic Gujarati dishes over here.

In short, it is worth visiting this place and you can combine many destinations with this place. You can plan 7 to 8 days of the whole vacation combining Somnath, Gir, and Diu. The vacation will be a combination of Spiritual, Jungle Safari, and Beach. This is really a rare combination where you can get everything in your one vacation along with all water sports activities.