Gnfcmussorie at 20:55, 25 February 2026

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{{Use dmy dates|date=July 2019}}
{{Infobox settlement
| name = Diu district
| native_name =
| native_name_lang =
| settlement_type = [[Districts of India|District]]
| image_skyline = Diu Island Map.png
| image_alt =
| image_caption = Map of Diu district, the exclave of Simbor is not shown
| nickname =
| map_alt =
| map_caption =
| pushpin_map = India
| pushpin_label_position = right
| pushpin_map_alt =
| pushpin_map_caption = Diu district location
| coordinates = {{coord|20.71|N|70.98|E|display=inline,title}}
| seat_type = Headquarter
| seat = [[Diu, India|Diu Town]]
| subdivision_type = [[Country]]
| subdivision_name = {{flag|India}}
| subdivision_type1 = [[States and territories of India|Union Territory]]
| subdivision_name1 = {{flagicon image|Dadra and Nagar Haveli and Daman and Diu emblem.png}} [[Dadra and Nagar Haveli and Daman and Diu]]
| subdivision_type2 =
| subdivision_name2 =
| established_title = 
| established_date = 1509
| founder = [[Francisco de Almeida]]
| named_for =
| government_type =
| governing_body =
| unit_pref = Metric
| area_footnotes =
| area_rank =
| area_total_km2 = 40
| elevation_footnotes =
| elevation_m = 30
| population_total = 52,074
| population_as_of = 2011
| population_rank =
| population_density_km2 = auto
| population_demonym = Diucar/ Diuese<ref>{{Cite web |title=Survey chapter: Diu Indo-Portuguese|url=https://apics-online.info/surveys/39}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |title=Diu Indo-Portuguese at present|url=https://repositorio.ul.pt/handle/10451/27496}}</ref>
| population_footnotes =
| demographics_type1 = Languages<ref>{{cite web |url=http://nclm.nic.in/shared/linkimages/NCLM52ndReport.pdf |page=87 |title=52nd Report of the Commissioner for Linguistic Minorities in India |date=29 March 2016 |access-date=15 January 2018 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170525141614/http://nclm.nic.in/shared/linkimages/NCLM52ndReport.pdf |archive-date=25 May 2017 |url-status=dead }}</ref>
| demographics1_title1 = Official
| demographics1_info1 = [[Hindi]], [[English language|English]]
| demographics1_title2 = Additional official
| demographics1_info2 = [[Gujarati language|Gujarati]]
| timezone1 =
| utc_offset1 =
| postal_code_type = 
| postal_code =
| registration_plate =
| blank1_name_sec1 =
| blank1_info_sec1 =
| website = http://diu.gov.in/
| footnotes =
}}

'''Diu district''' ({{IPAc-en|'|d|iː|uː}}) (formerly '''Distrito de Dio''')<ref>{{cite web | url=https://books.google.com/books?id=3cM5AAAAIAAJ | title=Alguns aspectos demograficos de Goa, Damao e Dio: Some demographic aspects of Goa, Daman & Diu | last1=Almeida | first1=José C. | date=1965 }}</ref> is one of the three [[Districts of Daman and Diu|district]]s of the [[union territory]] of [[Dadra and Nagar Haveli and Daman and Diu]] of [[India]].<ref>{{cite web |title=Dadra & Nagar Haveli and Daman & Diu UTs merge for 'better admin efficiency, service': MoS Home |url=https://indusdictum.com/2019/12/04/dadra-nagar-haveli-and-daman-diu-uts-merge-for-better-admin-efficiency-service-mos-home/ |website=Indus Dictum |date=4 December 2019 |access-date=4 January 2021 |archive-date=11 November 2021 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20211111061240/https://indusdictum.com/2019/12/04/dadra-nagar-haveli-and-daman-diu-uts-merge-for-better-admin-efficiency-service-mos-home/ |url-status=dead }}</ref> The district is made up of [[Diu Island]] and two small enclaves of [[Simbor]] and [[Gogolá|Gogola]], at the border with the state of [[Gujarat]]. The district headquarters are at [[Diu, India|Diu Town]]. It is the ninth least populous district in the country (out of [[Districts of India|640]]).<ref name="districtcensus">{{cite web | url = http://www.census2011.co.in/district.php | title = District Census 2011 | accessdate = 2011-09-30 | year = 2011 | publisher = Census2011.co.in}}</ref>

==History==
[[File:Distrito de Diu, India portuguesa.png|thumb|Distrito de Dio, India Portuguesa (1920).]]
[[File:Diu Fortress, Nov. 2005-1.jpg|thumb|right|The [[Diu Fortress]] was built in 1535 by the [[Portuguese India|Portuguese]], when [[Bahadur Shah of Gujarat|Bahadur Shah]], the [[Gujarat Sultanate|Sultan of Gujarat]], requested their help to resist an attack by [[Humayun]], the second [[Moghal empire|Moghal emperor]].]]

The district was historically part of the [[Saurashtra (region)|Saurashtra]] region of Gujarat. Mirroring the system of administrative division in [[Portugal]], Diu district (''Distrito de Diu'') was established as an administrative division of the [[Portuguese India|Portuguese State of India]] (''Estado da Índia'') in the first half of the 19th century. It was headed by a district governor, subordinate to the [[governor-general]] of Portuguese India in [[Goa]]. The district included the single municipality of [[Diu, India|Diu]], which was further subdivided into [[parish (administrative division)|civil parishes]].<ref name="R1">{{cite web |title=Diu History |url=http://diutourismgov.in/abtdiu-detail?id=19 |website=Diu Tourism Department |publisher=U.T. Administration of Dadra & Nagar Haveli And Daman & Diu |access-date=4 January 2021}}</ref>

It remained an [[Portuguese Empire|overseas territory of Portugal]] until it was [[Operation Vijay (1961)|annexed by Indian forces on 19 December 1961]]. From 1961 to 1987, it was a part of the union territory of [[Goa, Daman and Diu]]. In 1987, it became a part of the newly formed [[Daman and Diu|union territory of Daman and Diu]]. In January 2020, the district became part of the new union territory of Dadra and Nagar Haveli and Daman and Diu.<ref name="R1" />

==Geography==
Diu district occupies an area of {{convert|40|km2|sqmi}},<ref name='Reference Annual'>{{cite book | last1 = Srivastava, Dayawanti et al. (ed.) | title = India 2010: A Reference Annual | chapter = States and Union Territories: Daman and Diu: Government | edition = 54th | publisher = Additional Director General, Publications Division, [[Ministry of Information and Broadcasting (India)]], [[Government of India]] | year = 2010 | location = New Delhi, India | pages = 1216 | isbn = 978-81-230-1617-7}}</ref>

It consists of [[Diu Island]] and a part on the mainland (the [[Ghogolá]] peninsula). 20 km East of Diu Island, is the small territory of [[Simbor]].

==Sub-districts==

===Diu Island===
The town of [[Diu, India|Diu]] and most of the district's villages and settlements are on
[[Diu Island]]. Many of these places [[Renaming of cities in India|have been renamed]] since the [[Annexation of Goa|Invasion of 1961]].

{| class="wikitable"
|-
! Settlement type
! Portuguese name
! Indian name
|-
| Town
| [[Diu, India|Diu]]
| Diu
|-
| Village
| [[Fudam|Podamo]]
| Fudam
|-
| Village
| [[Bucharwada|Bunxivará]]
| Bucharwada
|-
| Settlement
| Dangarvadi
| Dangarwadi
|-
| Village
| [[Vanakbara|Brancavará]]
| Vanakbara
|-
| Uninhabited
| [[Fortim do Mar]]
| Pani Kota
|-
| Uninhabited
| [[Diu Fort|Castilo de Diu]]
| Diu Fortress
|-
|}

===Ghogholá===
The area on the mainland borders [[Gir Somnath district]] of [[Gujarat]]. It contains the village of [[Gogolá|Ghogholá]]. The village lies on the mainland opposite the eastern end of the island .

===Simbor===
The tiny territory of [[Simbor]], located about 25 km east of the town of Diu, is also part of the district. It has no permanent population.

==Demographics==
According to the [[2011 census of India|2011 census]] Diu district has a [[Demographics of India|population]] of 52,074,<ref name="districtcensus"/> roughly equal to the nation of [[Saint Kitts and Nevis]].<ref name="cia">{{cite web | author = US Directorate of Intelligence | title = Country Comparison: Population | url = https://www.cia.gov/library/publications/the-world-factbook/rankorder/2119rank.html | archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20070613004507/https://www.cia.gov/library/publications/the-world-factbook/rankorder/2119rank.html | url-status = dead | archive-date = 13 June 2007 | accessdate = 2011-10-01 | quote = Saint Kitts and Nevis 50,314 July 2011 est.
}}</ref> This gives it a ranking of 631st in India (out of a total of [[Districts of India|640]]).<ref name=districtcensus/> The district has a population density of {{convert| 1301 |PD/sqkm|PD/sqmi}} .<ref name=districtcensus/> Its [[Family planning in India|population growth rate]] over the decade 2001-2011 was 17.73%.<ref name=districtcensus/> Diu has a [[sex ratio]] of 1030 [[Women in India|females]] for every 1000 males,<ref name=districtcensus/> and a [[Literacy in India|literacy rate]] of 83.36%.<ref name=districtcensus/>

There is a small community of the variety of Indo-Portuguese creole spoken in the region known as [[Daman and Diu Portuguese Creole]].<ref>{{Cite web |title=District at a Glance|url=https://diu.gov.in/district-at-a-glance/}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |title=Survey chapter: Diu Indo-Portuguese|url=https://apics-online.info/surveys/39}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |title=Firangiwada Heritage Walk|url=https://makeithappen.co.in/tour/firangiwada-heritage-walk/}}</ref>

== Sister cities ==
[[Diu Island]] is twinned with the city of [[Loures]], in Portugal.<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.cm-loures.pt/Ligacao.aspx?DisplayId=612&CursorId=613 |title=Município – Cooperação externa – Diu |publisher=Câmara Municipal de Loures |location=Loures, Portugal |year=2014 |website=cm-loures.pt |language=Portuguese |accessdate=17 November 2014 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20141129041115/http://www.cm-loures.pt/Ligacao.aspx?DisplayId=612&CursorId=613 |archive-date=29 November 2014 |url-status=live }}</ref>

== Landmarks ==
Diu is home to a few surviving buildings and monuments with [[Portuguese architecture]]. The best preserved are the churches and fortifications.

The nearest railway junction is Veraval, which is 90 km from Diu. Major cities like Mumbai, Ahmedabad, Pune, Jabalpur (Madhya Pradesh), Dwarka and Thiruvananthapuram are directly connected to Veraval Railway Station. Delwada is 8 km from Diu.

===Churches and chapels===
[[File:Major Churches of Diu Island.jpg|thumb|Major Church Buildings on Diu Island (Anticlockwise from top): 
1. Churches of St. Paul and St. Thomas (Diu) 
2. Church of St. Francis of Assisi (Diu) 
3. Church of Our Lady of Remedes (Fudam) 
4. Church of Our Lady of Mercy (Vanakbara)]]
There has been a steady exodus of Christians from Diu<ref>{{Cite web |title=Census: Population: by Religion: Christian: Daman and Diu|url=https://www.ceicdata.com/en/india/census-population-by-religion-christian/census-population-by-religion-christian-daman-and-diu}}</ref> ever since the [[Annexation of Goa|Invasion of 1961]]. This has led to many of their historic and historic and religious sites being victims of abandonment, disrepair, conversion to secular use or demolishment.

{| class="wikitable sortable"
|-
! '''Type'''<ref>{{Cite web |title=Schools in the territory of Diu during the Portuguese India|url=https://www.diuvanzadarjisamajuk.org/2020/07/12/schools-in-the-territory-of-diu-during-the-portuguese-india/}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |title=Diu|url=https://hpip.org/pt/Contents/Place/422}}</ref>
! '''Portuguese Name'''
! '''English Translation'''
! '''Location'''
! '''Current Status'''
|-
| '''Cathedral'''
| [[St. Paul's Church, Diu|Catedral de São Paulo (Sé)]]
| Church of St. Paul
| [[Diu, India|Diu Town]]
| Active (demoted to church)
|-
| '''Church'''
| [[St. Thomas Church (Diu)|Igreja de São Tomás]]
| Church of St. Thomas
| Diu Town
| Secularized (Museum)
|-
| '''Church'''
| [[St. Francis of Assisi Church (Diu)|Igreja de São Francisco de Assis]]
| Church of St. Francis of Assisi
| Diu Town
| Secularized (Hospital)
|-
| '''Church '''
| [[Church of St. John of God (Diu)|Igreja de São João de Deus]]
| Church of St. John of God
| Diu Town
| Inactive (Ruins)
|-
| '''Church'''
| Igreja de Nossa Senhora da Esperança
| Church of Our Lady of Hope
| Diu town
| Inactive (Ruins)
|-
| '''Church'''
| Igreja da Misericórdia
| Church of Mercy (informally 'Fort Church')
| [[Diu Fort]]
| Inactive (Ruins)
|-
| '''Church'''
| [[Church of Our Lady of Remedes (Fudam)|Igreja de Nossa Senhora dos Remédios]]
| Church of Our Lady of Remedies
| [[Fudam|Podamo]]
| Active
|-
| '''Church'''
| [[Church of Our Lady of Mercy (Vanakbara)|Igreja de Nossa Senhora da Misericórdia]]
| Church of Our Lady of Mercy
| [[Vanakbara|Brancavará]]
| Inactive (Intact)
|-
| '''Convent'''
| Convento dos Dominicanos
| Dominican Convent
| Diu town
| Demolished (1961)
|-
| '''Convent'''
| [[Convent of St. Anne (Diu)|Convento de Santa Ana]]
| Convent of St. Anne
| Diu Town
| Active (School)
|-
| '''Chapel'''
| Capela de São Tiago
| Chapel of St. James
| Diu Fort
| Inactive (Ruins)
|-
| '''Chapel'''
| Capela de São Martinho
| Chapel of Saint Martin
| Diu Fort
| Demolished (2023)
|-
| '''Chapel'''
| Capela de Nossa Senhora da Vitória
| Chapel of Our Lady of Victory
| [[Fortim do Mar]]
| Inactive (Ruins)
|-
|}

===Fortresses===
Due to constant invasions from [[Sultanate of Gujarat|neighboring kingdoms]] as well as distant powers, the Portuguese built several fortifications all over the district. Most survived to this day, although some have little to no physical traces of their existence.

{| class="wikitable sortable"
|-
! '''Portuguese Name'''
! '''English Translation'''
! '''Location'''
! '''Current Status'''
|-
| Cidadela de Diu
| [[Diu Fortress]]
| Diu Town
|
|-
| [[Fortim do Mar]]
| Panikota
| Diu Town
| Ruin
|-
| [[Fort St. Anthony of Simbor|Forte Santo Antonio]]
| Fort St. Anthony of Simbor
| [[Simbor]]
| Ruin
|-
| Forte de Nagoá
| -
| Nagoá near [[Fudam|Podamo]]
| Ruins lost
|-
| Forte de Barra
| -
| [[Vanakbara|Brancavará]]
| Ruins lost
|-
|}

===Beaches===
* [[Nagoá Beach]], most visited beach in on Diu.
* Ghogolá Beach, largest beach off the island of Diu.
* Chakratirth Beach
* Barra Beach
* Nadia Caves

=== Gallery ===
<gallery mode="packed" heights="134">
File:Diu Fort Fixed Cannons.JPG|Diu Fort Fixed Cannons
File:Eglise St Thomas.jpg|St. Thomas Church, Diu
File:Diu fort, India.JPG|Diu fort
File:Nadia Caves of Diu.jpg|Nadia Caves of Diu
File:PERSPECTIVE VIEW OF ST.PAUL CHURCH, DIU, INDIA (2012).jpg|St. Paul's Church, Diu
File:Church in Nani Daman Fort.jpg|Church in Nani Daman Fort
Altar of Se Cathedral.jpg|Se Cathedral
File:View of Water Fort Prison from Diu Fort with watch tower of Diu Fort.JPG|View of Water Fort Prison from Diu Fort with watchtower of Diu Fort
Wall of the Portuguese Fort of Diu.jpg|Portuguese Fort
File:Diu shores in Monsoon.jpg|Diu shores in Monsoon
</gallery>

==See also==
*[[Indo-Portuguese]]
*[[Portuguese Goa and Damaon]]
*[[Damaon and Dio Portuguese creole]]

==References==
{{Reflist}}

== External links ==
* [http://diu.gov.in/ Official website]

{{Geographic location
|Centre = Diu district
|North = [[Gir Somnath district]], [[Gujarat]]
|Northeast =
|East = ''[[Gulf of Khambhat]]''
|Southeast =
|South = ''[[Arabian Sea]]''
|Southwest =
|West = ''[[Arabian Sea]]''
|Northwest =
}}

{{Daman and Diu}}
{{Authority control}}

[[Category:Diu district| ]]
[[Category:Districts of Dadra and Nagar Haveli and Daman and Diu]]

Diu district - Revision history

Gnfcmussorie at 20:55, 25 February 2026