Top Tourist Attractions in Diu

Best Things To Do in Diu, India

Are you looking for what to do in Diu?

Sightseeing in Diu has three broad strokes.

There's the history beat, which covers remnants of Portuguese rule from the 16th century - the large Diu Fort, the PaniKhot (Fort in the Sea), and a handful of churches with architecture unusual for India.

Then, like any self-respecting Indian town with a history, there are significant temples for tourist attractions. At one, you'll find shivlings allegedly left by characters out of mythology and legend. At another place, you'll find the footsteps of a god who battled demons. There's also a small shrine with the demon’s face carved into stone.

The third kind of attractions is the natural wonders of the town. Endless beaches, all of beautiful blue waters, palm trees, soft sands and soft breezes. They are almost always kitted out with a watersports outfit or two.

And finally, there are a few attractions, somewhat miscellaneous when compared to the others, but should definitely make your list of things to do like a memorial to a sunken Indian naval frigate, a cave system that resulted from both natural and manmade forces and a shell museum that is the child of love of one single man who has been collecting shells for 50 years.

Below we have a list of things to do in Diu and the places where you want to spend the best moments of your trip. At the same time, the city offers you the best neighborhoods to explore and new foods to try.

This list should help you in deciding and prioritizing what you should plan on your Diu getaway. Find a mix of must-see tourist spots, underrated local hangouts, and maybe even a few new experiences you can try out.

Make the most of your trip to Diu with confidence.

Tourist Attractions in Diu

Here is the list of things to do in Diu and tourist attractions in city.

  1. Diu Fort

    4.4 (508 Votes)
    Diu Fort

    Fort

    Back in 1535, this huge Portuguese fort must have been one of the most impressive sights in all of the land. It has a double moat, an array of cannons on the ramparts, and a lighthouse 32 metres high that is basically the highest point in the city. The fort was built to defend the city from the invasions of Mughal Emperor Humayun. Seen around the fort's premises are the remnants of Venetian sty...Read more

  2. Gangeshwar Mahadev Temple

    4.6 (212 Votes)
    Gangeshwar Mahadev Temple

    Religious Site, Temple

    This site is quite sacred. The temple is dedicated to Lord Shiva, but that's not what people come to see. On steps leading down from the temple and into the sea that lap at the bottom, there are five shivling, washed by waters at high tide. Devotees firmly believe these were placed here by the Pandavas, legendary brothers and Kings out of Hindu mythology. The temple is about three kilometres ou...Read more

  3. Nagoa Beach

    4.4 (78 Votes)
    Nagoa Beach Image
    ©

    Beach

    This beautiful horse-shoe shaped beach is Diu's most popular. Families often come out here for picnics. There are some watersports outfits that include parasailing. There's a horse riding outfit too. The water is clear, and a delight to swim in. The beach is surrounded by resorts and hotels and restaurants. As such, it's almost always crowded. Close to the main road is a small Hindu temple, the...Read more

  4. Ghogla Beach

    Ghogla Beach

    Beach

    This beach is more beloved by some because there are not nearly as many people crowding it. The lack of food and drink joints means fewer people come here. There is just one restaurant. There are still some water sports outfits though. Visitors usually have nice time collecting the shells washed up on the beach. It's a popular place to catch sunrises and sunsets from. The sand is golden and the...Read more

  5. St. Paul's Church

    4.3 (531 Votes)
    St. Paul's Church

    Church, Religious Site

    Of the three churches that were built by the Portuguese in Diu, this one is the most famous and best surviving. It was built in 1610, and is one of the best examples of Baroque architecture in the whole country. Visitors particularly appreciate the intricate woodwork in the church's interior. There are also some excellent examples of stucco decoration, supposedly carved by Indian silversmiths. ...Read more

  6. Ins Khukri Memorial

    4.5 (150 Votes)
    Ins Khukri Memorial

    War Memorial

    Just south of Charkratirth Beach, on an overlook over the sea, is a simple and understated memorial. In the 1971 war between India and Pakistan, torpedoes fired by Pakistani submarine sank frigate INS Khukri. The . Captain Mahendra Nath Mulla Mahavir Chakra refused to abandon ship. He, 18 officers and a crew of 176 sailors went down with it. The memorial briefly tells their story, and lists the...Read more

  7. Shell Museum

    Shell Museum

    Museum

    This museum is a labour of love by Captain Devjibhai Vira Fulbaria, a merchant navy captain.. Allegedly, it is the largest collection of sea sea shells in Asia. The specimens were collected from all over the world, over a period of 50 years of sailing the oceans. Beautifully collected and labelled in English, the museum is a lot more fascinating than it's somewhat shoddy exterior might suggest....Read more

  8. Naida Caves

    4.4 (476 Votes)
    Naida Caves

    Cave

    It's said that back in the day when the Portuguese ruled the area, they quarried a huge rocky hill for their construction needs, and thus this cave came to be, though some geological forces also played a part in its formation. The fascinating features are the steps and hollows inside the cave. The roots of Banyan trees creep down the stone. When you visit, make sure the day is sunny, when the l...Read more

  9. Jallandhar Beach

    4.4 (519 Votes)
    Jallandhar Beach

    Beach

    Named after a mythological demon, the beach certainly doesn't seem as unappealing as its namesake might suggest. Soft sands, soft sea breeze, bright blue waters - you could not ask for a better place to just laze in. There are a number of water sports outfits on the beach. At night, lights illuminate the beach, creating an enchanting effect. Closeby, in one of the hillocks, there's a small shri...Read more

  10. Chakratirth Beach

    4.3 (149 Votes)
    Chakratirth Beach

    Beach

    This beach is apparently the location at which, according to mythology, the god Shri Krishna executed the demon Jallandhar with his Sudarshan Chakra (sun wheel). Apparently the footsteps of Krishna can be found on a nearby hill. Uncrowded and facing the vast Arabian Sea, the beach is one of the most serene in Diu. Perhaps that's why it is fitting that a memorial to the downed naval frigate INS ...Read more

  11. Diu Museum

    3.8 (520 Votes)
    Diu Museum

    Museum

    This old St. Thomas Church, built in 1598, abandoned for many years, was in 1998 converted into a museum of artefacts. Status of catholic saints, inscriptions made by ancient rulers, and other sculptures are the main thrust of the type of items you'll find in it. The architecture of the church building was Gothic, one of the few in India, and it has not really been renovated. The walls, whitewa...Read more

  12. Pani Kotha

    4.2 (141 Votes)
    Pani Kotha
    A few hundred metres of the coast of Diu, this massive stone fortress dominated the channel between two peninsulas. It has a lighthouse, and a chapel. During the time that the Portuguease ruled Diu, it was used as an offshore prison. You have to take a ferry to visit it. At night, when viewed from the beach, it's a striking sight thanks to the colored illumination from its base. They say there ...Read more

  13. I.n.s. Khukery

    I.n.s. Khukery

    Outdoors, Educational Site, Architecture

    During the 1971 war, a navy ship sank near the coast and this landmark was created in its memory. It was the only war ship that was lost by the Indian Navy during the war. In order to reach this place, one needs to climb 100 steps. A sunset point in this landmark helps one to feel the wind and atmosphere around him or her. One can find the ship’s model on the hilltop, which is a replica o...Read more

  14. Hokka Trees

    Hokka Trees

    Nature

    These trees denote a rare type of African Hoka branching palm trees, which are known as Hokka or Hyphaene Indica. These are not found anywhere else in India, except for in Diu. These trees were brought into India by the Portuguese and are found in abundance in Diu. The fruit of this tree has a nice look to it and is edible. It is also believed to possess medicinal properties and can cure certai...Read more

  15. Diu Island

    4.4 (7 Votes)