Overview
Daman district is one of the three districts of the Indian union territory of Dadra and Nagar Haveli and Daman and Diu. Situated on the western coast of India along the Arabian Sea, the district is enclaved within the state of Gujarat. Its administrative headquarters is the town of Daman, which also functions as the capital of the union territory.
Key facts
| Country | India |
|---|---|
| Union territory | Dadra and Nagar Haveli and Daman and Diu |
| Headquarters | Daman |
| Region | Western India, Konkan coast |
| Adjoining state | Gujarat (Valsad district) |
| Coastline | Arabian Sea |
| Official languages | Gujarati, Hindi, English |
Geography
The district is divided into two distinct parts by the Daman Ganga river: Nani Daman (Little Daman), which contains most administrative offices and the commercial centre, and Moti Daman (Big Daman), which contains the historic Portuguese-era fort and older civic institutions. The district is bordered by the Valsad district of Gujarat on its landward sides and faces the Arabian Sea to the west. The terrain is largely a coastal plain with sandy beaches, estuarine creeks, and pockets of agricultural land.
History
Daman was a Portuguese possession from the sixteenth century, when the territory was ceded to the Estado da Índia in 1559, until its incorporation into the Republic of India. Along with Goa and Diu, Daman was integrated into India in December 1961 following Operation Vijay, the military action that ended Portuguese rule on the subcontinent.
After 1961, Daman was administered as part of the union territory of Goa, Daman and Diu. When Goa attained statehood on 30 May 1987, Daman and Diu were separated and constituted into the union territory of Daman and Diu. On 26 January 2020, the union territories of Daman and Diu and Dadra and Nagar Haveli were merged into a single union territory under the Dadra and Nagar Haveli and Daman and Diu (Merger of Union Territories) Act, 2019. Daman district has since been one of three districts of this combined union territory, the others being Diu and Dadra and Nagar Haveli.
Administration
The district is headed by a District Collector who functions under the administration of the union territory, headed by an Administrator appointed by the President of India. Daman is divided into the talukas of Daman, with civic services in the urban core provided by the Daman Municipal Council. The district falls within the jurisdiction of the Bombay High Court.
Economy
The economy of Daman district combines fishing, small-scale agriculture, tourism, and industrial manufacturing. Industrial estates around Daman host units in plastics, textiles, engineering goods, chemicals, and packaging, supported in earlier decades by tax incentives associated with union territory status. Tourism is anchored by the Portuguese-era forts, churches, and beaches, drawing visitors largely from Gujarat and Maharashtra.
Culture and heritage
The district preserves significant Indo-Portuguese heritage. Notable monuments include the Fort of Moti Daman with its bastions and walls, the Fort of Nani Daman (Fort of St. Jerome), the Bom Jesus Church, and the Church of Our Lady of the Sea. Festivals reflect a blend of Hindu, Christian, and Muslim traditions, with Nariyal Poornima, Diwali, Christmas, and Eid widely observed.
Demographics and language
Gujarati is widely spoken alongside Hindi, with Portuguese retained in some heritage and ecclesiastical contexts. The district has a religiously diverse population comprising Hindus, Muslims, and Christians, with the Christian community being the principal continuing legacy of the Portuguese period.
Transport
Daman is connected by road to the National Highway 48 corridor through Vapi, the nearest major town in Gujarat, which is also the closest railway station on the Western Railway's Mumbai–Ahmedabad line. The nearest major airport is Surat, with Mumbai serving as the principal international gateway.