Diu
From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
| Diu | |
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| Coordinates | 20°42′N 70°59′E / 20.7°N 70.98°E |
| Country |  India |
| Territory | Daman and Diu |
| District(s) | Diu |
| Population | 21,576 (2001[update]) |
| Time zone | IST (UTC+5:30) |
| Area • Elevation |
• 0 m (0 ft) |
Diu is a city in Diu district in the union territory of Daman and Diu, India. It is famous for being the location of the pivotal Battle of Diu in 1509 between Portugal and a combined force of Turkey, Egypt, Venice, the Republic of Ragusa (now known as Dubrovnik) and the then Sultan of Gujarat, Mahmud Begada.
It is an island lying off the south coast of Gujarat's Kathiawar peninsula, separated from the mainland by a tidal creek. It has an area of 40 km², and a population of 44,110 (2001 census). The town of Diu lies at the eastern end of the island, and is famous for its fortress and old Portuguese Cathedral. It is also a fishing town. The village of Ghoghla, which lies on the mainland opposite the eastern end of the island, is also part of the union territory. Note that in Google Maps you can find Diu with the name of Dangarvadi.
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[edit] History
In 1535 Bahadur Shah, the Sultan of Gujarat, concluded a defensive alliance with the Portuguese against the Mughal emperor Humayun, and allowed the Portuguese to construct the Diu Fort and maintain a garrison on the island. The alliance quickly unravelled, and attempts by the Sultans to oust the Portuguese from Diu between 1537 and 1546 failed. The Siege of Diu by the Ottoman Empire in 1538 was unsuccessful to repell the Portuguese. The fortress, completed by Dom João de Castro after the siege of 1545, still stands. The island was occupied by the Indian military on 19 December 1961.
[edit] Geography and climate
Diu is located at 20°42′N 70°59′E / 20.7°N 70.98°E.[1] The island is at sea level and covers an area of 38.8 km². The climate is cool and dry, with an average annual rainfall of 700 mm.
[edit] Tourism
The tourist season spans September to May. Recommended clothing are cottons in summer, light woolens in winter. The languages spoken in Diu include Gujarati, English, Hindi, and Portuguese. Local transport is available from Una (Gujarat). Tourist destinations include the nearby Nagoa beach. An exciting past time is boat ride to a light house, right middle in the sea. There is also a very ancient Lord Shiva's Temple located on the "Gangeswar" coast. Old Diu has some very old architecture that can be seen from island's streets. This includes the old fort, the church, and the museum, which all have a strong Portuguese feel. Jet Airways services the island from the mainland, landing at Diu Airport. For more information, visit Diu Tourism's official website [1].
Many people confuses Diu with Daman. Although people refer to them together, they are different places (approximately 896 kilometres from each other). To learn more about Diu, please visit Diu information for tourists.
[edit] Demographics
As of 2001[update] India census,[2] Diu had a population of 21,576. Males constitute 46% of the population and females 54%. Diu has an average literacy rate of 75%, higher than the national average of 59.5%: male literacy is 81% and, female literacy is 69%. In Diu, 13% of the population is under 6 years of age.
[edit] References
- ^ Falling Rain Genomics, Inc - Diu
- ^ "Census of India 2001: Data from the 2001 Census, including cities, villages and towns (Provisional)". Census Commission of India. Archived from the original on 2004-06-16. http://web.archive.org/web/20040616075334/http://www.censusindia.net/results/town.php?stad=A&state5=999. Retrieved 2008-11-01.
