Devka Beach

Devka Beach is the main beach of Daman, a former Portuguese enclave on the Gulf of Khambhat coast of Gujarat, about 170 km north of Mumbai. Devka Beach is a stretch of dark sand and rock used as a promenade and evening meeting place rather than for swimming, because the water is shallow, muddy at low tide and often has strong currents.

Portugal ruled Daman from 1559 until December 1961, and it is now part of the union territory of Dadra and Nagar Haveli and Daman and Diu. Because Daman is not under Gujarat's alcohol prohibition, it has long drawn weekend visitors from Gujarat, and Devka Beach grew up around that trade, with hotels, a seafront walkway, gardens and an amusement area. The walled old quarter of Moti Daman, with its fort and churches, is a short drive away.

What to see

• The seafront promenade, lit up in the evening
• Sunset over the Arabian Sea
• The landscaped garden and amusement area behind the beach
• Moti Daman Fort and the Bom Jesus Church, about 5 km south
• Jampore Beach, a quieter sandy beach further south

What to wear

Devka Beach is a family promenade, so casual clothing is fine, though modest dress suits the churches of Moti Daman. The sun is strong from March to June, so bring a hat and sunscreen, and sandals are best on the rocks and damp sand. Carry an umbrella in the monsoon. Daman's population mixes Gujarati families, fishing communities and people of Portuguese descent, and at festivals you may see Gujarati chaniya choli alongside Western dress.

Local food to try

Daman is known for seafood. Try fried pomfret, bombil (Bombay duck) fry, prawn curry and crab, cooked in Gujarati coastal and Portuguese-influenced styles, at the hotels and restaurants along Devka Beach and in Nani Daman. Snack stalls on the promenade sell corn, bhel and pani puri. Gujarati thalis with dal, kadhi, shaak and rotli are easy to find if you eat vegetarian.

Good to know

• Best from October to March, in the late afternoon and evening
• The beach is open all day; the promenade is busiest in the evening
• Free to walk; rides and attractions charge small fees
• Allow 1 to 2 hours
• About 5 km north of Nani Daman and about 12 km from Vapi railway station
• Do not swim; tides and currents are unpredictable

Nearby places

Vanganga Lake Garden at Dadra near Silvassa is about 30 km inland. Diu, with Diu Fort, belongs to the same union territory but lies far away on the Saurashtra coast, and Mumbai's Gateway of India is about 170 km south.