Daman: Day 3

To read the previous blog on day 2 of Igatpuri- Daman click here

Day 3: From the Mountains to the Coast – Welcome to Daman

On Monday morning, we got up and had breakfast. We packed all our luggage as we had to check out from Green Heritage Resort, Igatpuri. We bid farewell to Igatpuri and embarked on the journey to Daman which is 5 hours from Igatpuri (without breaks).
We chose to by the route from Igatpuri- Jawhar -Charoti- Talasari – Daman. This entire route is through forest and tribal area which neither has network nor has any restaurants. We had planned to reach Jawhar by lunch time.

On the way, we came across some tribal steles in the jungle. So we waited there to have a closer look of these steles. These wooden steles smeared in saffron color had ‘Waghdev‘ (tiger carved on them). Two of them were standing errect and one of them was lying on the ground.

On the way, we also stopped on a bridge which happens to be Upper Vaitarna Dam View Point. One can see the Dam on the right side of the bridge and beautiful backwaters on the left side of the bridge. This is a spot where you should simply park your car, pause, and soak in the breathtaking scenery. The view is absolutely stunning and unforgettable. The roads are exceptionally smooth, flanked by water and lush greenery on both sides. This destination becomes even more enchanting during the monsoon season, making it a must-visit place.

We reached Jawhar by lunch time and went to Prakriti Agro Farm for lunch. This is our go-to place in Jawhar. We had already stayed at Prakriti Agro farm during our last years road trip to Junnar- Jawhar-Nashik. The owners are very kind and helpful. They have some friendly indie dogs in the premises. The resort is completely pet friendly. They have a semi open dining area in which you can have food with your pets. We had a home cooked simple dal khichdi for lunch at Prakriti Agro Farm.

After lunch, we continued our journey to Daman. We reached by 3:00pm, checking into Hotel Nest Beacon , Daman. Since we had a pet, we were given the lawn facing room on the ground floor. It was the second room after the reception lobby (as seen in the picture below). It was quite convenient to take out Sophie for walks from this room. We had an afternoon nap for a couple of hours.

We started local sight seeing by visiting Lady of Remédios Church. Built in 1607 by Ruy de Mello de Sampayo, the Governor and Captain of Daman, this charming chapel may be small but is undeniably beautiful. Nestled in a peaceful residential area, it offers a tranquil atmosphere. Parking is ample, making it convenient for visitors. The intricate design is truly mesmerizing and sure to leave you in awe. It is highly recommended to take a moment to sit, relax, and soak in the serenity before continuing to your next destination. Since pets are not allowed in the premises, Sophie stayed back in the parking with my husband.

We drove towards Moti Daman Fort. there is a huge parking lot at the entrance of the Fort. Private vehicles are not allowed beyond the parking. There is a clean washroom available in the parking. Moti Daman Fort is a huge land fort with all government buildings like police stations, hospital, court, churches, parks, etc. The afternoon was spent exploring Moti Daman Fort, where centuries of history unfolded before our eyes. The fort’s stone walls and Portuguese-era structures were captivating. We explored the entire Fort by walking with Sophie.

Pope's house in Moti Daman Fort — Pope’s house in Moti Daman Fort

The Chapel of Our Lady Of Rosario, Moti Daman Fort.

Bom Jesus Church, Moti Daman Fort. — The Chapel of Our Lady Of Rosario, Moti Daman Fort.

Next up was the charming Bom Jesus Church, its whitewashed walls gleaming against the bright blue sky. A visit to the Dominican Monastery added to the spiritual undertone of Daman’s rich cultural heritage.

A tribute to Mario Miranda, Moti Daman Fort.

Sophie seemed to enjoy the cool breeze by the sea, especially when we walked along Moti Daman Beach and watched the sun begin to set. We went for an evening stroll with Sophie on Namo path which is coastal jogging track spread across Jampore beach and Devka beach.

Namo path is like Marine drive in Mumbai. Cars can be parked paralled to Nmao Path. There are some hawkers. We enjoyed some masala at one the shacks and returned back to the hotel. To cap the day, we headed to Daman Lighthouse, a peaceful spot to reflect on our adventures so far.

We were looking for some nice pure veg restaurants in Daman. It is hard to find pure veg restaurants in coastal cities. Surprisingly, we came across a vegan cafe in Daman. We went to Envairoh cafe in Nani Daman for dinner. On road parking is available. Washrooms are also available. This cafe is pet friendly. We ordered Edamame rice with stir fry vegetables for the main course. For deserts, we ordered Vegan chocolate mousse and Vegan almond fudge. We played some board games till we received the order. All the dishes we ordered were mouth watering. The friendly staff and inviting atmosphere make this cafe a must-visit.