Why Daman?
Budget Travel is just a Bonus…
I asked fellow Damanenses across the globe to list best things about Daman and after adding my own, compiled a top 10 list in the order of popularity…
- The Indo-Portuguese culture
- The beautiful Portuguese churches, chapels, crosses and grottos
- The unique Portuguese gilded wood carvings in the churches and chapels
- The majestic Portuguese forts
- The uncrowded (though littered) and drug-free beaches
- The Portuguese sense of humor of its people
- Exemplary communal harmony
- Great weather
- Abundant water-supply (though potability is a concern) and cent per cent electrification
- Organic farm produce
A traveler can toss the following goodies into his haversack…
- Budget travel – you can get to Daman from the two nearest cities Mumbai and Surat by rail
- Cheap hotels for the budget traveler
- Good hotels and resorts by the Arabian Sea
- Nice restaurants – continental and Indian cuisine
- Cheap eating places – roadside shacks are my favourite!
- Lots of bars
- ‘Foreign’ goods for shopping
- Lots of local festivals and fairs
- Cheap beach accommodations and camping sites
- Hospitable locals
- Petrol cheaper than on the ‘mainland’
- Better roads than in the neighbouring places
And for the business traveler…
- Business opportunities abound as the town is still growing
- Facilities for setting up industries
- Cheap labour though mostly imported!
- Good infrastructure
- Near Vapi railway station
- Close to the Golden Corridor (NH No. 8)
- Cheap electricity compared to neighbouring Gujarat
- No power shortage
- Few power failures
- Good investment opportunities in real estate
Students…
- A number of schools, including English medium schools
- A government college
- A government polytechnic
- An ITI offering certificates in various trades
- Seats in various professional colleges across India eg., medicine, engineering, computer science, pharmacy, etc.
Job-seekers…
- Ample employment opportunities in the three industrial estates – Somnath,
- Kachigam and Bhimpore
- Government service
- Hotels, resorts and restaurants
- Private hospitals and clinics
Retirees…
- Temp jobs in factories
- Part-time in the hospitality sector
- Teaching
- Security agencies
- Front office/Secretarial support
Like any other place, Daman too has its share of undesirables – but I leave it up to you to discover them for yourself! Hic! I almost forgot… alcohol is amongst the cheapest in India;). Here’s to a great experience – whether you’re on a or not, a short or extended stay…… or here forever!
Cheers!
Viva Damao!
