Festa de Diu - Asia's Longest Beach Festival

"A beach is not only a sweep of sand, but shells of sea creatures, the sea glass, the seaweed, the incongruous objects washed up by the ocean." - Henry Grunwald

Thinking about this quote today, you might find that it applies most to the pristine beaches of Diu, the tiny Union Territory surrounded by the sea. And why not, since Diu is currently the most happening place with Asia's longest beach festival, the Festa de Diu - a 75 day extravaganza that goes on till February!

Diu is not generally the first spot for a beach holiday in India, with Goa usually being the more popular choice. However, the Festa de Diu is all set to change this, with a festival that celebrates music, food, art and life in general!

Diu is a lovely place with plenty of coast, making it the ideal destination for beach lovers. But Diu is also a great spot for adrenaline junkies, with many options for water sports along with bungee jumping, zip lining and hot air balloon rides. And if relaxing and rejuvenating is more your thing, there are plenty of spa facilities available.

The festival will see many luxury beach tents for accommodation, in addition to existing hotel rooms. These tents offer free access to all the areas of the Festival village including cultural performances. Speaking of which, this year, there are many top performers at the festival - Shreya Ghoshal, Benny Dayal, Neeraj Sridhar, Kailash Kher, Shubha Mudgal and more. When you're not attending a performance, you can stroll through the all day flea market.

Even when it's not festival time, Diu has many places that are worth visiting. Here are the top 5 picks by us:

1. Diu Fort

The Diu fort was built by the Portugese during their colonial rule in 1535. The fort is a large and impressive structure, with a beautiful view of the sea. The fort also has a rich history of many rulers and kingdoms, making it a must visit!

2. Naida Caves

The Naida caves are truly a breathtaking sight, and entering the caves feels like entering another world! The caves have several tunnels inside and are just outside the Diu fort along the Jalandhar beach.

3. St. Paul's Church

The St. Paul's Church in Diu is one of the most active churches built by the Portugese, and is a fine example of baroque-style architecture. While the exterior of the church is impressive in itself, the interiors are also full of exquisite carvings and details.

4. Shell Museum

The Shell Museum is truly a unique kind of museum, built by a Merchant Navy Captain. On his travels around the world, the captain collected shells from around fifty different countries and each one has been labelled with great care and displayed.

5. Zampa Gateway

The Zampa Gateway is a structure that just cannot be missed, with it's bright color and massive size! This landmark also features carvings of animals and religious themes, and is close to a chapel. The gateway is also said to feature artificial waterfalls.

So if you're looking for a break to refresh yourself for the New Year, you know where to head to! So book your tickets, pack your bags and prepare for a trip you'll never forget!