Derived from the Portuguese word, “Silva” meaning wood, Silvassa was originally a dominion of the Maratha Dynasty. Known for its peaceful beauty and charm, Silvassa was gifted to the Portuguese in 1779. It remained a Portugese colony for 175 years until 1954 when it joined the union territory of Dadra & Nagar Haveli in 1954.

Silvassa is a tranquiltown, with the meandering Daman Ganga river whispering through it, amidst lush green forests, tall trees and distant hills. Silvassa’s rich cultural heritage is showcased by several tourist attractions spanning 3 centuries, and a vibrant and diverse ethnic folk culture.

What to See

• Remnants of Portuguese culture including classical Catholic churches. The Church of Our Lady of Piety near Silvassa is one of the oldest churches of India, built in 1889.
  
• The Tribal Culture Museum, showcasing the ethnic and diverse tribal culture of the region.
  
• Madhuban Dam, a spectacular dam with leisure boating facilities, built across River Daman Ganga.
  
• Vanganga Lake and Island Garden, with boating and water sport facilities. Vanganga lake has been the scene of several Bollywood films and host to many film stars.
  
• Dudhani Lake known for its water sports complex is a must-see for all Silvassa’s visitors.
  
• Vrindaban temple, dedicated to lord Krishna and Shiva, en route to Dudhani.
  
• Balaji temple, located in Amli dedicated to Lord Balaji, Shiva, Ganapati, Karthikeyan, Padmavathi, Saraswati, Hanumanji and Navagraha.
  
• Lion Safari and Deer Park

Silvassa is 2.5 hours from Mumbai by train / road, 2 hours from Surat by road / train, 30 mins from Vapi, one of the industrial centres of Gujarat, 45 mins from Daman and 4 hours from Baroda by train / road