DADRA & NAGAR HAVELI

INTRODUCTION:

This quiet magical land of 70 villages, sandwiched between the states of Maharashtra and Gujarat, near Daman is blessed by nature with Lush green forests, meandering rivers, large waterfronts, cascading waterfalls, the gentle gurgle of streams, the distant hills, a gorgeous kaleidoscope of flora and fauna....yes, it is the serene and sylvan land of Dadra and Nagar Haveli, Nature at her best.

As a land it is not very large only 491sq kms, covered with forests & woods. The heaven for the simple, colourful tribal folks. Silva in Portuguese means "woods" and this can be seen when you visit silvassa the tiny sleepy township.

Only 5km from the capital town of Silvassa is one of the most beautiful lake gardens where songs of many Bollywood feature films have been picturised.Gujarati and Hindi are the main languages spoken by the 'adivasi' population.

The hospitable, kind, unselfish native tribals have their own customs, dances, and rituals which are quite fascinating. Be it the Tarpa dance, the Mask dance or the Bhavada, it is sheer magic!! Their vibrant lifestyle is simply bewitching.

The territory enjoys a very pleasant climate from November to March, which is actually the best time for a visit. The summer temperature does not go very high, due to its proximity to the sea, and the nights are really pleasant.

LOCATION

Lush green forests, meandering rivers, large waterfronts, cascading waterfalls, the gentle gurgle of streams, the distant hills, a gorgeous kaleidoscope of flora and fauna…yes, it is the serene and sylvan land of Dadra and Nagar Haveli, Nature at her best. Sandwiched between the states of Gujarat and Maharashtra, it is located in the western corner of India. As a union territory, it is quite small, confined as it is to an area less than 500 sq. km, covered with tall, awesome trees and winding rivers.


HISTORY

This quiet, magical land of 72 villages has a chequered history. For a century and half, the fiery Portuguese were the masters of the land. The Indian nationalist volunteers liberated Dadra and Nagar Haveli in July 1954 and a pro-India administration was formed. Under the 10th Amendment to the Constitution, the territories of Dadra and Nagar Haveli became a centrally administered union territory with effect from August 11, 1961.

TOURISTS ATTRACTIONS

The Tribal Cultural Museum at Silvassa is an ideal place for those who are too lazy to do some actual exploring. It houses a good collection of masks, musical apparatus, fishing gadgets and life-size statues.

Khanvel is situated at a distance of 20 km from Silvassa. The drive to Khanvel is lined with tall trees on both sides of the road. This serene landscape, surrounded by lush green hills, beckons nature lovers with its rolling meadows and native-styled cottages amidst terraced gardens. The calm and gentle Sakartod River flows past Khanvel.

The Vanganga Lake and Island Garden is a beautiful lake garden situated at a distance of 5 km from the capital city of Silvassa. The rustic wooden bridges, the flowers, jogging paths, thatched huts, and paddleboats-all constitute an ideal ambiance for the honeymooners.

A 20-km drive from Khanvel is Dudhni where the large waterfront of river Damanganga provides breathtaking view of the water spread over Madhuban Dam. The luxurious tents pitched right near the bank provide a countryside experience. Tourists may also cook their own meals near the camp.

On Silvassa-Dadra Road is Hirwa Van, a beautiful garden with roaring waterfalls, misty cascades, rustic stonewalls, twin arches, tiny kiosks and springy lawns interspersed with islands of flowers-truly a visitors delight.

Vandhara Udyan at Silvassa is a riverside park with sprawling lawns dotted with exquisite pavilions, an ideal site for picnic buffs.

There is also a Mini Zoo and Bal Udyan at Silvassa. The colorful birds, mischievous monkeys, awesome pythons and sleepy crocodiles coupled with swings, slides and merry-go-rounds render this site every kid's dream come true.

Ecotourism:

The union territory has lush green forests covered with tall trees, meandering rivers, large waterfronts, cascading waterfalls, the gentle gurgle of streams, the distant hills, and a gorgeous kaleidoscope of flora and fauna. The serene and sylvan land of Dadra and Nagar Haveli is Nature at her best.

This quiet magical land of 70 villages, sandwiched between the states of Maharashtra and Gujarat, near Daman, was under the Portuguese, till it attained freedom in 1954. The people took over the administration under the system of self-government.

The hospitable native tribals have their own customs, dances and rituals, which are quite fascinating.The administration of the Union Territories of Daman and Diu and Dadra and Nagar Haveli is committed to the promotion of tourism, with the highest priority being the preservation of the fragile ecology and environment of these Union Territories. Special emphasis is given to protect and preserve marine ecology, the coastal ecosystem in Daman and Diu, and flora and fauna in the Union Territory of Dadra and Nagar Haveli. Construction activities have been regulated on the coastal zone to achieve this aim in the Union Territory of Daman and Diu, and eco-friendly tourism activities have been encouraged in the forest dominated by the Union Territory of Dadra and Nagar Haveli. A number of tourist resorts have also been developed by the administration in both the Union Territories. Due emphasis and recognition have been given to the collaborative arrangements with private agencies in providing these facilities. The increasing number of tourists to these two areas are finding the scenic and beautiful layout of these resorts in the coastal and lush green forest surroundings very attractive and enjoyable.

WILDLIFE:

Located on the foothills of Sahyadari, landlocked between the states of Gujarat and Maharashtra, the capital of the Union Territory of Dadra and Nagar Haveli, Silvassa, has recently set up a lion safari park at Vasona for the Asiatic Lion (Panthera Leo).

“Silvasaa is an area rich in forests and abundant wildlife. With a rise in the population coupled with industrial development, it became necessary to offer better protection to the dwindling wildlife. The main objective of the Lion Safari is to complement and strengthen the national effort in conservation of the rich bio-diversity of the country, particularly wildlife fauna,” revealed A D Nikam, assistant conservator of forests and tourism in-charge, Dadra & Nagar Haveli Tourism.

Nikam further added that, the conservation of the Asiatic Lion an endangered species is for breeding in existing conditions and for the purpose of raising stock for their rehabilitation in the wild. “Not withstanding that this is an added tourist attraction for the region, through this endeavor, we also want to inspire amongst safari visitors empathy for wildlife and an awareness about the need for conservation of natural resources and maintaining ecological balance,” said Nikam.

This Lion safari is spread over twenty hectares, which is part of a continuous north-south corridor in the core area of Dadra and Nagar Haveli wildlife sanctuary. The entire area is protected with a seven meter high chainlink wall measuring 2,700 meters in length. The entry to the safari is reportedly restricted by two outer and inner entrance gates to ensure complete safety to visitors. The internal road network is 2.6 kms long and links all important areas. Feeding cages for the Family of lions (one male and two female brought from Sakarbaug Zoo at Junagadh) are also provided in the centre in totally undisturbed area and visitors are toured in special vehicles with grills.