Diu, though administratively part of the separate union territory of Dadra and Nagar Haveli and Daman and Diu rather than Gujarat state itself, is so closely tied to Saurashtra's coastline and travel circuits that it's commonly included in Gujarat itineraries. The island town blends Portuguese colonial architecture with a laid-back beach atmosphere, and its more relaxed liquor licensing laws — a legacy of its separate administrative status — have long made it a popular weekend escape for visitors from the surrounding dry state of Gujarat.
Diu Fort, St. Paul's Church and the town's colourful old quarter reflect over four centuries of Portuguese rule, while beaches like Nagoa and Ghoghla give the island a genuine coastal holiday character distinct from most of mainland Gujarat's more austere Saurashtra coastline.
Diu remained under Portuguese colonial control from 1535 until 1961, when it was annexed by India along with Goa and Daman, retaining a distinct administrative and cultural identity from neighbouring Gujarat ever since.
October to March.
Diu has its own small airport; the nearest major Gujarat railhead is Veraval, about 90km away.
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