Dadra and Nagar Haveli: History, Geography, Tourism
Dadra and Nagar Haveli is a small area in western India, wedged between Gujarat and Maharashtra. It was a Portuguese possession for almost two centuries, became free in 1954 and was a union territory of India from 1961. Since 26 January 2020 it has been one of the three districts of the merged union territory of Dadra and Nagar Haveli and Daman and Diu. This guide explains its history, geography, people, economy and the main places to visit.
Table of Contents
Dadra and Nagar Haveli at a Glance
| Feature | Details |
|---|---|
| Status today | District of the union territory of Dadra and Nagar Haveli and Daman and Diu |
| Area | About 491 square kilometres |
| Headquarters | Silvassa |
| Population (2011 Census) | 3,43,709 |
| Literacy (2011) | 76.2 percent |
| Main river | Daman Ganga |
| Liberation Day | 2 August |
Two Enclaves, One Territory
The name joins two separate pieces of land. Dadra is a small enclave completely surrounded by Gujarat. Nagar Haveli is much larger and lies between Gujarat to the north and Maharashtra to the south and east. A narrow strip of Gujarat separates the two. Silvassa, the main town, lies in Nagar Haveli.
History of Dadra and Nagar Haveli
Portuguese Rule
In the eighteenth century the area was under the Maratha Empire. After a treaty in 1779, the Maratha rulers handed Dadra and Nagar Haveli to the Portuguese. The Portuguese ran the two enclaves from Daman on the coast as part of Portuguese India.
Silvassa was only a village for a long time. In 1885 the Portuguese moved the local seat of government there from Dadra and gave the town the official name Paco de Arcos, though people kept calling it Silvassa.
Freedom in 1954
After India became independent in 1947, movements to end Portuguese rule in Goa, Daman, Diu, Dadra and Nagar Haveli grew stronger. Several groups took part, including the United Front of Goans, the Azad Gomantak Dal, the National Movement Liberation Organisation, local Warli tribal activists, and volunteers from the RSS and communist groups.
- 22 July 1954: Volunteers of the United Front of Goans took over the police post at Dadra, and an Indian flag was raised the next morning.
- 28 July 1954: Volunteers freed the village of Naroli.
- 2 August 1954: Volunteers entered Silvassa, and the territory was declared free. This date is now celebrated as Liberation Day.
- 11 August 1954: The last Portuguese police unit surrendered to Indian police near the border.
Free Dadra and Nagar Haveli, 1954 to 1961
For seven years the area ran its own affairs through a body called the Varishta Panchayat of Free Dadra and Nagar Haveli. Portugal took the matter to the International Court of Justice. In its judgment of 12 April 1960, the court said Portugal had a right of passage for civilians and officials, but India could refuse passage to Portuguese armed forces, so Portugal could not take the territory back.
Joining India
On 11 June 1961 the Varishta Panchayat asked to join India. Parliament passed the Dadra and Nagar Haveli Act and the Tenth Amendment to the Constitution, and the area became a union territory on 11 August 1961. For a single day, the administrator K. G. Badlani served as Prime Minister of the territory so that he could sign the merger agreement with Jawaharlal Nehru. Portugal accepted Indian sovereignty over all its former Indian territories by a treaty signed on 31 December 1974. Goa, Daman and Diu, the other Portuguese territories, were freed in December 1961. You can read their story in our posts on Goa and Daman and Diu.
The 2020 Merger
Dadra and Nagar Haveli and Daman and Diu had already shared an administrator and many officials. To save money and avoid duplicate offices, the government proposed joining them in 2019. The merger bill was introduced in Parliament on 26 November 2019, received the President’s assent on 9 December 2019, and took effect on 26 January 2020. The new union territory has three districts: Dadra and Nagar Haveli, Daman, and Diu. Its capital is Daman, though Silvassa is its largest city. The territory sends two members to the Lok Sabha and falls under the Bombay High Court.
How the Area Is Governed
Like other union territories without a legislature, the merged territory is run by an Administrator appointed by the President of India under Article 240 of the Constitution. Praful Khoda Patel has held the post since before the merger. Day to day work in the district is handled by a Collector based in Silvassa, while village panchayats and the Silvassa Municipal Council manage local matters such as water, roads and sanitation.
Geography
The district lies at the western foot of the Western Ghats. The land is hilly in the east and flatter towards the west, with river valleys, farmland and thick forests. The Daman Ganga is the main river. It flows through the district and reaches the Arabian Sea at Daman. Large parts of the area are still covered by forest, which is why the district is often described as green and peaceful.
Climate
Summers are hot, with temperatures that can reach close to 40 degrees Celsius in May. The southwest monsoon brings heavy rain from June to September, and the area receives roughly 200 to 250 centimetres of rain in a normal year. Winters are mild, which makes October to March the best time to visit.
Forests and Wildlife
The Dadra and Nagar Haveli Wildlife Sanctuary protects a large part of the forest in the district. Teak, khair and bamboo are common trees, and the forests shelter deer, small wild cats and many kinds of birds. Forest cover also protects the catchment of the Daman Ganga, which feeds the Madhuban dam that supplies water to the region.
People and Languages
The 2011 Census counted 3,43,709 people. Scheduled Tribes made up about 52 percent of the population, the largest groups being the Warli, Kokna and Dhodia communities. The population grew by about 56 percent between 2001 and 2011, mainly because factories around Silvassa attracted workers from other states. This is also why the district had a low sex ratio of 774 females per 1,000 males.
Gujarati, Marathi and Hindi are widely spoken, along with tribal languages such as Varli, Dhodia and Kokna. Portuguese is now rarely heard.
Economy
Industry
The old idea that the area has no industry is out of date. Helped by its location close to Mumbai and the Gujarat industrial belt, Silvassa and nearby towns developed a large number of factories. They make goods such as textiles and yarn, plastics, chemicals and engineering parts. Industry is now the main source of jobs and revenue. Silvassa was also selected under the Smart Cities Mission.
Agriculture and Forests
In the villages, farming remains important. The main crops are paddy, ragi and pulses, along with some wheat and sugarcane. Mango and chikoo orchards are common. Many tribal families also depend on forest produce and on daily wage work in nearby factories. The economy of the region is closely linked with neighbouring Gujarat.
Tourism: Places to Visit
- Vanganga Lake Garden: A landscaped garden around a lake in Silvassa, with paddle boats, bridges and walking paths.
- Dudhni Lake: A large reservoir on the Daman Ganga, about 40 kilometres from Silvassa, known for boat rides and birdwatching.
- Hirwavan Garden: A garden with waterfalls and rock features near Silvassa.
- Satmaliya Deer Park: A park where visitors can see several species of deer.
- Vasona Lion Safari: A small lion safari park run by the local administration.
- Tribal Museum, Silvassa: Displays masks, musical instruments, fishing tools and daily objects of the Warli, Kokna and Dhodia communities.
Warli painting, the simple white figures on mud walls made famous by the Warli community, can be seen in villages and craft shops across the area.
Getting There
Silvassa is about 15 kilometres from Vapi railway station in Gujarat and roughly 170 kilometres north of Mumbai by road. The nearest major airports are Mumbai and Surat. If you plan a longer trip, you can combine a visit with the beaches of Daman or places in nearby Maharashtra.
Locals celebrate Liberation Day on 2 August each year with parades and cultural events in Silvassa.
Tarpa, a dance performed to a long wind instrument made from a dried gourd, is a well loved tradition of the Warli and Kokna communities.
What We Changed From the Old Post
The old post was short, used confusing machine wording, and wrongly said the area had no industry. It also did not mention the 2020 merger. We rewrote it with clear dates of Portuguese rule and the 1954 liberation, the court case, the 1961 union with India, the 2020 merger, updated population figures, the industrial economy and tourist places.
Frequently Asked Questions
Is Dadra and Nagar Haveli still a union territory?
Not on its own. Since 26 January 2020 it has been a district of the union territory of Dadra and Nagar Haveli and Daman and Diu.
When was Dadra and Nagar Haveli freed from Portuguese rule?
Dadra was freed on 22 July 1954 and Silvassa on 2 August 1954. The area formally became part of India on 11 August 1961.
What is the capital of Dadra and Nagar Haveli?
Silvassa is the headquarters of the district. The capital of the merged union territory is Daman.