We were in dilemma while finalizing our accommodation in Diu. We were torn between
two options, the slightly reasonably priced hotels in the Diu town, near the Fort, and resorts located in the outskirts of Diu, near the Nagoa beach.
We did an extensive comparison on the pros and cons of these two places and finally decided for the resorts near the Nagoa beach. The hotels in
Diu town, we felt, could be chaotic with commercial places around it while the resorts near Nagoa beach could provide us with that much-needed serenity. We settled for a small resort, the Hoka Resort, near the Nagoa beach. And when we landed there a smile crossed our faces. Our deductive reasoning was just perfect.
The Nagoa beach is the biggest and perhaps the most talked about beach in Diu. The
beach is horse-shoe shaped and is located in the Nagoa hamlet of the Bucharwada
village. Tour operators and countless websites opine that the Nagoa beach offers a almost surreal. With due regards to their hyper subjectivity, the Nagoa beach is a good beach but definitely not the best in Diu when you consider other aspects. The beach is used for bathing but the rocky terrain increases the risks of getting injured in the excitement. The sea also is pretty deep in places and is not smooth. For us the beach was best for morning and evening walks.
For us Nagoa beach was like the backyard. Everytime we strolled out we found ourselves in the Nagoa beach. The sound of the waves at night pierced through the air and reached our cosy cottages. Even at night when the world was asleep one could stroll all alone in the well-lit beach or pass several hours relaxing in the swing that overlooks the sea.
Often we found interesting things in the beach. There were tourists who played beach-ball or carved out a dream castle. There were some who wrote their names in sand as a way to cherish their travel to this Western extreme of the Indian mainland.
The sunrise in Nagoa beach is beautiful and combined with the road running alongside amidst rows of Hoka palms makes it a interesting destination for nature photographers. The road that runs from Nagoa to Diu town almost caresses the sea offering a enthralling experience of the roaring waves from higher ground.
The beach has a small market with about 8-10 shops that sell everything from food items to toys to tea and coffee. It is the only market place that we found between the Diu town and the Vankavara Jetty on the other western extreme.
We were advised by the manager in our hotel to limit our visit to the Gomtimata beach to excursion, sunset and sea shell collection. We wondered why. When we reached the beached we discovered that the manager could not have been more accurate. It is a good scenic beach with interesting typography but appeared to be equally deadly for it appeared rocky and deep.
The Gomtimata beach is located to the west of Diu and one can walk down to beach from Nagoa beach in around 20-25 minutes. This beach with its incessant rolling of waves and white-sands, has a secluded atmosphere. However, swimming in Gomtimata beach is not a safe option, because the tides are very high.
The day we landed in Diu near the Nagoa beach we were advised by our resort manager to take a small walk to the Gomtimata beach. After about half an hour we reached the beach. To our amazement we found that there were no people in the beach as it extended for more than a kilometer. The entrance to the beach is from a rocky stretch which incidentally is a coral reef. The site of the coral reef and the bountiful of sea shells mesmerized the children who immediately sat down to collect as many as they could.
The sea shells that are found in bountiful are of small shapes but amazing colours and shapes. Some of the shells are so miniscule beautiful and it strains the human eye looking for them. We collected a lot of sea shells but discovered within no time that it was very straining to the eyes. Some of the shells are so small that one has to almost knell down to the bed in order to be able to make sense of something.
Gomtimata beach has a large sheath of Coral rocks that were formed by the depositing of Corals for hundreds of years. The Coral rocks were spread out and in between formed small ponds and crevices that let the sea water in. These small ponds and crevices were home to some of the most beautiful sea creatures we ever saw. There were crabs with beautiful patterns on their bodies and live shells of different colors that clutched to the coral rocks.
The sunset in the beach is awesome. That evening we stayed back in the beach to witness a stunning sun set. We composed and tried some amazing pictures of the setting sun. The Gomtimata and the Nagoa beach were situated in exactly the opposite directions but within little more than a kilometer of each other. While Nagoa beach offered us view of the sunrise Gomtimata offered us views of the sunset. What we wondered in between was how to distinguish the sunrise and the sunset from photographs. We tried all sorts of arguments and theories, and believe we haven't concluded yet.
When we looked for a beach where we could bathe and have some fun in the waters, we were advised to go to the Ghogla beach. Unlike the Gomtimata beach where the water suddenly becomes deep and the Nagoa beach which has some rocky patches, the Ghogla beach is smooth and the water level rises gradually as you walk into the sea. It was therefore the ideal beach for swimmers and also for children and women who are new to the sea.
The Ghogla beach is the first beach that is located within 100 meters of entering Diu. The same beach extends to Gujarat beyond the borders of Diu and there it is known as Ahmedpur Mandvi. The beach has golden sand and is also the place where you will find a host of water sports. The beach also provides a beautiful view of the Diu fort and the fishing villages around Diu.
Ghogla beach offers several interesting water sports. When we were bathing we could see a large group of tourists enjoying paragliding rides. Each ride is of around 1.5 kilometers and costs about Rs 500. Discounts are available for large groups. Although a bit expensive, we thought its nevertheless good for one time.
The beach is decorated with colourful tents and provision for having drinks. However, on closer examination one is confronted with a roudy bunch of vendors who charge exorbitantly and are often rude to customers. Perhaps the beach has been outsourced commercially or its just gobbled up by the locals, we were not sure.
The beach is relatively clean but excessively commercialized. In India the government as usual is terribly sort of ideas and initiatives and there are very few tourism sites where one can be at ease. Mismanagement is an Indian way of life. The beaches in Diu are comparatively managed well if you overlook the many inadequacies. In Ghogla beach, for instance, there is no provision for women to change their dresses. So a lady who wants to bathe in the sea has to do so and rush to her car and drive to her hotel.
Staying near Nagoa beach we had access to two pristine beaches – Nagoa and Chakratirath. One offered the sunrise and the other the sunset, both located within a walking distance. The only beach
that was a little far was the Ghogla beach but that limitation too was taken care of by hiring a plush vehicle. We could zip from one end of Diu to the other in just 20 minutes. Perfectly fine.
The Nagoa Beach
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| The Nagoa Beach |
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| Visitors found writing their names in the sands of time |
Often we found interesting things in the beach. There were tourists who played beach-ball or carved out a dream castle. There were some who wrote their names in sand as a way to cherish their travel to this Western extreme of the Indian mainland.
The sunrise in Nagoa beach is beautiful and combined with the road running alongside amidst rows of Hoka palms makes it a interesting destination for nature photographers. The road that runs from Nagoa to Diu town almost caresses the sea offering a enthralling experience of the roaring waves from higher ground.
The beach has a small market with about 8-10 shops that sell everything from food items to toys to tea and coffee. It is the only market place that we found between the Diu town and the Vankavara Jetty on the other western extreme.
The Gomtimata Beach
We were advised by the manager in our hotel to limit our visit to the Gomtimata beach to excursion, sunset and sea shell collection. We wondered why. When we reached the beached we discovered that the manager could not have been more accurate. It is a good scenic beach with interesting typography but appeared to be equally deadly for it appeared rocky and deep.
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| The Coral reef spread out over a large area |
The Gomtimata beach is located to the west of Diu and one can walk down to beach from Nagoa beach in around 20-25 minutes. This beach with its incessant rolling of waves and white-sands, has a secluded atmosphere. However, swimming in Gomtimata beach is not a safe option, because the tides are very high.
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| Beautiful sea crab |
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| Zillions of sea shells will keep you engaged for hours |
Gomtimata beach has a large sheath of Coral rocks that were formed by the depositing of Corals for hundreds of years. The Coral rocks were spread out and in between formed small ponds and crevices that let the sea water in. These small ponds and crevices were home to some of the most beautiful sea creatures we ever saw. There were crabs with beautiful patterns on their bodies and live shells of different colors that clutched to the coral rocks.
The Ghogla Beach
When we looked for a beach where we could bathe and have some fun in the waters, we were advised to go to the Ghogla beach. Unlike the Gomtimata beach where the water suddenly becomes deep and the Nagoa beach which has some rocky patches, the Ghogla beach is smooth and the water level rises gradually as you walk into the sea. It was therefore the ideal beach for swimmers and also for children and women who are new to the sea.The Ghogla beach is the first beach that is located within 100 meters of entering Diu. The same beach extends to Gujarat beyond the borders of Diu and there it is known as Ahmedpur Mandvi. The beach has golden sand and is also the place where you will find a host of water sports. The beach also provides a beautiful view of the Diu fort and the fishing villages around Diu.
Ghogla beach offers several interesting water sports. When we were bathing we could see a large group of tourists enjoying paragliding rides. Each ride is of around 1.5 kilometers and costs about Rs 500. Discounts are available for large groups. Although a bit expensive, we thought its nevertheless good for one time. 
The beach is decorated with colourful tents and provision for having drinks. However, on closer examination one is confronted with a roudy bunch of vendors who charge exorbitantly and are often rude to customers. Perhaps the beach has been outsourced commercially or its just gobbled up by the locals, we were not sure.The beach is relatively clean but excessively commercialized. In India the government as usual is terribly sort of ideas and initiatives and there are very few tourism sites where one can be at ease. Mismanagement is an Indian way of life. The beaches in Diu are comparatively managed well if you overlook the many inadequacies. In Ghogla beach, for instance, there is no provision for women to change their dresses. So a lady who wants to bathe in the sea has to do so and rush to her car and drive to her hotel.
great description. Thanks for sharing.
ReplyDeleteLoved it...thanks for helping me decide my next vacation :-)
ReplyDelete- Priyabrata