Silvassa

Overview:

The sylvan paradise of Silvassa is the capital of the union territory of Dadra and Nagar Haveli. Home to the worli culture is a former Portuguese enclave, which has given significant rise to a Roman Catholic population, speaking a distinct dialect of Portuguese. The city maintains a low level of taxation by providing significant government revenue. Far from being a tribal region the city has transformed itself into an economic powerhouse, accommodating an array of big banners business groups in the field of textiles, FMCG’s, gensets, electronics, heavy engineering goods, chemicals among others. It derives its name from the Portuguese word 'silva', meaning wood. It is a haven for backpackers and trekkers, and is also famous for its tribal hand-made pipes. A pleasant moderate weather is usually prevalent in Silvassa, throughout the year, however the best time to visit is between the months of November and June. It is also the ideal time to be enthralled by the local folk dance known as ‘Tarpa’. There are various places of tourist interest in Silvassa, one of the most famous among them being Khanvel. Khanvel is known for its green-pastures, majestic boulevards, and pastoral-style cottages. Built across the river Daman Ganga is the Madhuban Dam. The dam provides peace, calm and even romance amidst beautiful scenery with its boating facilities. Other tourist spots that one must visit while in Silvassa include Vanganga Lake, Bindrabin Temple, Hirva Van, Deer Park, Vandhara Udyan, and Lion Safari Wildlife Park. Excellent flat tarmac roads surrounded with astounding trees is accredited to Silvassa. Some of the tourists visiting Mumbai, also exploit the opportunity of touring, Silvassa. The distance between the two cities is around 180 kilometers, and journey can last for a pleasant four hours. En route to Dudhani, tourists can also visit the temple dedicated to lord Krishna and Shiva called Vrindaban. Car rentals are a popular choice for travelling to Silvassa from Mumbai as they ensure a quick and comfortable journey. Silvasaa is also a very popular weekend getaway for people from nearby cities.

Places to Visit:

The Roman Catholic Church built on the lines of Portuguese architecture, is the Church of Our Lady Piety. Built by the Portuguese in the late eighteenth century, it is considered to be the oldest standing structure in the city. It boasts of skillfully adorned outer arches and interiors.

Five kilometers from Silvassa is Dadra Park, a scenic beauty with lush green trees and boating facility.

The dwelling place of Lord Balaji, Shiva, Maha Ganapathy, Karthikeyan, Padmavathi, Saraswathi, Hanumanji and Navagraha; is the Balaji Temple, located in Amli.

An exotic destination for nature enthusiasts especially those who relish boating in big lakes should head to Ban Ganga Lake. It is particularly famous for several movie shootings.

Things To Do:

If visiting during the better part of December guests can also take part in the festivities of the Tarpa Dance Festival.

Around 35 kilometers from the city, along the banks of the river Daman Ganga lies Dudhani. It is the main attraction for adventurous tourists in Silvassa. Dudhani is a water sports complex located on a vast lake, which allows tourists to indulge in various activities like jet skiing, hiking, kayaking, canoeing, speed boating, and trekking.

Silvassa Museum – a small yet, well-known tribal museum just opposite the church is also worth visiting. The museum intricately explains the history of the people of Silvassa.