India 2018

States and Union Territories 663
Mumbai. At present road length is about 635 km out of which 570 km is
surfaced. Almost all villages are connected with all-weather roads. The rail
route from Mumbai to Ahmedabad links Vapi also. Mumbai is the nearest
airport. Recently, the work of widening of roads has been taken up to meet the
requirement of increasing vehicular traffic. To meet the need of rapid
industrialisation, four-lane work has been taken up in Silvassa and adjoining
areas, besides other spillover works.
Tourism
Tourism sector has been assigned high priority, keeping in view the dense forest
area and favourable climate.
The prominent places of tourist interest are Tadekeshwar Shiva Mandir,
Bindrabin, Deer Park at Khanvel, Vanganga Lake and Island Garden, Dadra,
and Vanvihar Udhyan, Mini Zoo, Bal Udhyan, Tribal Museum and Hirvavan
Garden at Silvassa. To attract tourists, annual celebration of festivals like Tarpa
and World Tourism Day is a regular event.
Festivals
Normally all festivals of Hindus, Muslims and Christians are celebrated in the
territory, while tribals celebrate their own festivals. Diwaso is celebrated by
Dhodia and Varli tribes and Raksha Bandhan is celebrated by Dhodia tribe. Other
festivals include Bhawada amongst Varlis, Koli tribes and Khali Puja by all tribes
after harvesting of crops and Gram Devi before harvesting of crops.
O. W.: http://www.dnh.nic.in
Government
Administrator : Shri Praful Khoda Patel
Jurisdiction of High Court : Falls under Bombay High Court
Daman and Diu
Area : 111 sq km Population : 2,42,911 (prov. census 2011)
Capital : Daman Principal Language : Gujarati
History and Geography
Daman and Diu along with Goa was a colony held by the Portuguese even
after Independence. In 1961, it was made an integral part of India. After Goa
was conferred statehood on 30 May 1987, Daman and Diu was made a separate
Union Territory. Daman lies about 193 km away from Mumbai. It is bound on
the east by Gujarat, on the west by the Arabian Sea, on the north by the Kolak
river and on the south by Kalai river. The neighbouring district of Daman is
Valsad in Gujarat. Diu is an island connected by two bridges. The neighbouring
district of Diu is Junagadh of Gujarat.