Diu district /ˈdiːuː/ is one of the three districts of the union territory of Dadra and Nagar Haveli and Daman and Diu of India.[5] The district is made up of Diu Island and two small enclaves in the State of Gujarat. The district headquarters are at Diu Town. It is the ninth least populous district in the country (out of 640).[6]
Diu district | |
|---|---|
 Map of Diu district, the exclave of Simbor is not shown | |
  Diu district Diu district location | |
| Coordinates: 20°43′N 70°59′E / 20.71°N 70.98°E | |
| Country |  India |
| Union Territory |  Dadra and Nagar Haveli and Daman and Diu |
| Headquarters | Diu Town |
| Area | |
| • Total | 40 km2 (20 sq mi) |
| Elevation | 30 m (100 ft) |
| Population (2011) | |
| • Total | 52,074 |
| • Density | 1,300/km2 (3,400/sq mi) |
| Demonym | Diucar/ Dioese |
| Languages[1] | |
| • Official | Hindi, English |
| • Other | Gujarati, Portuguese[2][3][4] |
| Website | http://diu.gov.in/ |
History
The district was historically part of the Saurashtra region of Gujarat. Mirroring the system of administrative division in Portugal, Diu district (Distrito de Diu) was established as an administrative division of the Portuguese State of India (Estado da Índia) in the first half of the 19th century. It was headed by a district governor, subordinate to the governor-general of Portuguese India in Goa. The district included the single municipality of Diu, which was further subdivided into civil parishes.[7]
It remained an overseas territory of Portugal until it was annexed by Indian forces on 19 December 1961. From 1961 to 1987, it was a part of the union territory of Goa, Daman and Diu. In 1987, it became a part of the newly formed union territory of Daman and Diu. In January 2020, the district became part of the new union territory of Dadra and Nagar Haveli and Daman and Diu.[7]
Geography
Diu district occupies an area of 40 square kilometres (15 sq mi),[8]
It consists of Diu Island and a part on the mainland (the Ghogolá peninsula). 20 km East of Diu Island, is the small territory of Simbor.
Sub-districts
Diu Island
The town of Diu and most of the district's villages and settlements are onDiu Island. Many of these places have been renamed since the Invasion of 1961.
| Settlement type | Portuguese name | Indian name |
|---|---|---|
| Town | Diu | Diu |
| Village | Podamo | Fudam |
| Village | Bunxivará | Bucharwada |
| Settlement | Dangarvadi | Dangarwadi |
| Village | Brancavará | Vanakbara |
| Uninhabited | Fortim do Mar | Pani Kota |
| Uninhabited | Castilo de Diu | Diu Fortress |
Gogolá
The area on the mainland borders Gir Somnath district of Gujarat. It contains the village of Gogolá. The village lies on the mainland opposite the eastern end of the island .
Simbor
The tiny territory of Simbor, located about 25 km east of the town of Diu, is also part of the district. It has no permanent population.
Demographics
According to the 2011 census Diu district has a population of 52,074,[6] roughly equal to the nation of Saint Kitts and Nevis.[9] This gives it a ranking of 631st in India (out of a total of 640).[6] The district has a population density of 1,301 inhabitants per square kilometre (3,370/sq mi) .[6] Its population growth rate over the decade 2001-2011 was 17.73%.[6] Diu has a sex ratio of 1030 females for every 1000 males,[6] and a literacy rate of 83.36%.[6]
Sister cities
Diu Island is twinned with the city of Loures, in Portugal.[10]
Landmarks
Diu is home to a few surviving buildings and monuments with Portuguese architecture. The best preserved are the churches and fortifications.
The nearest railway junction is Veraval, which is 90 km from Diu. Major cities like Mumbai, Ahmedabad, Pune, Jabalpur (Madhya Pradesh), Dwarka and Thiruvananthapuram are directly connected to Veraval Railway Station. Delwada is 8 km from Diu.
Churches and chapels
1. Churches of St. Paul and St. Thomas (Diu)
2. Church of St. Francis of Assisi (Diu)
3. Church of Our Lady of Remedes (Fudam)
4. Church of Our Lady of Mercy (Vanakbara)
There has been a steady exodus of Christians from Diu[11] ever since the Invasion of 1961. This has led to many of their historic and religious sites being victims of disrepair, abandonment or conversion to secular use.
| Type | Portuguese Name | English Translation | Location | Current Status |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Cathedral | Catedral de São Paulo (Sé) | Church of St. Paul | Diu Town | Active (demoted to church) |
| Church | Igreja de São Tomás | Church of St. Thomas | Diu Town | Secularized (Museum) |
| Church | Igreja de São Francisco de Assis | Church of St. Francis of Assisi | Diu Town | Secularized (Hospital) |
| Church | Igreja de São João de Deus | Church of St. John of God | Diu Town | Inactive (Ruins) |
| Church | unknown | Fort Church | Diu Fort | Inactive (Ruins) |
| Church | Igreja de Nossa Senhora dos Remédios | Church of Our Lady of Remedies | Podamo | Active |
| Church | Igreja de Nossa Senhora da Misericórdia | Church of Our Lady of Mercy | Brancavará | Inactive (Intact) |
| Convent[12] | Convento de Santa Ana | Convent of St. Anne | Diu Town | Active (School) |
| Chapel | Capela de São Tiago | Chapel of St. Tiago | Diu Fortress | Inactive (Ruins) |
| Chapel | Capela de Nossa Senhora da Vitória | Chapel of Our Lady of Victory | Fortim do Mar | Inactive (Ruins) |
Fortresses
Due to constant invasions from neighboring kingdoms as well as distant powers, the Portuguese built several fortifications all over the district. Most survived to this day, although some have little to no physical traces of their existence.
| Portuguese Name | English Translation | Location | Current Status |
|---|---|---|---|
| Cidadela de Diu | Diu Fortress | Diu Town | |
| Fortim do Mar | Panikota | Diu Town | Ruin |
| Forte Santo Antonio | Fort St. Anthony of Simbor | Simbor | Ruin |
| Forte de Nagoá | - | Nagoá near Podamo | Ruins lost |
| Forte de Barra | - | Brancavará | Ruins lost |
Beaches
- Nagoá Beach, most visited beach in on Diu.
- Ghogolá Beach, largest beach off the island of Diu.
- Chakratirth Beach
- Barra Beach
- Nadia Caves
Gallery
Diu Fort Fixed Cannons
St. Thomas Church, Diu
Diu fort
Nadia Caves of Diu
St. Paul's Church, Diu
Church in Nani Daman Fort
Se Cathedral
View of Water Fort Prison from Diu Fort with watchtower of Diu Fort
Portuguese Fort
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