This month we drive across a state border and visit two union territories, all in the span of one weekend! These destinations will offer you everything from old Portuguese architecture, a lion and deer safari, sandy beaches and a flame that has been burning for more than 1,250 years. Welcome to Daman, Dadra, Nagar Haveli and Udvada, the sanctified town of Parsis. And although all of them are just a stone’s throw from each other, they are exceptionally contrasting in terms of what they offer, and make for a quick weekend getaway from Mumbai.
The wide and smooth NH8 faces a swift change of scenery as you approach the industrious town of Vapi. Here you take a left and head towards Daman through a bustling 10km stretch that gradually turns livelier as you approach the Union Territory’s border. As soon as you cross Gujarat’s perimeter, there is a strong change in the overall setting and it’s soon clear why Daman is where its neighbours come to unwind. It is quite common to come across vans full of men being drawn to the neon signs above the shops like moths to a flame. But once you scratch out the obvious, there’s a substantial amount of things to keep you interested in Daman.
Rishaad Sam Mehta
