Daman and Diu - Transport

What is the best way to travel between Daman and Diu?
I am thinking of going by bus..does anyone know how much time it will take?

Thanks!

I'm not saying the following is the best, but it's an attractive option.

Train 2971 departs Vapi daily at 00:02 (careful with date when booking) and gets to Sihor Gujarat at 10:43 (2A, 3A, SL.)

Vapi is the closest station to Daman, and Sihor is the closest station to Palitana, a couple of hours looking around Palitana can be followed by a 3 hour road trip to Diu.

I will definitely be at Vapi ...Palitana is new to me, have to research into it. How much would the road trip/taxi cost? Any favorable agencies?

How do locals travel from Daman and Diu???????

I think you have something mixed up; while the two form one Union Territory, they're actually quite some ways apart.

Daman is just a few hours (two or three or so) north of Mumbai, and on that coast; Diu is west of Ahmedabad, quite a few hours from there in itself, on the (massive) peninsula known as Saurashtra (or Kathiawar; roughly: the south-western and non-mainland part of Gujarat. There's nothing much peninsular about it, though annual tidal floodings tend to make it that way.) There's the entire Gulf of Cambay (Khambhat) inbetween.

And before the question gets brought up again: No, while Diu appears to have had a ferry some decades ago, by all accounts it no longer exists. There are flights between it and Mumbai, daily, I do believe; or other than that, it's an overland trip you'll have to make.

I don't know if you're familiar with India (you place yourself in the "desi world"), but my usual advice would be to look up a map of the country that shows it on the same scale as where you live, and realize infrastructure may not be quite what you're used to. Or, if you're an Indian who hasn't traveled much (it's all possible), realize a trip between the two would be feasible, but they're not next door. Other than for e.g. business or holidays, I wouldn't expect the residents of either to do much traveling inbetween, or indeed to feel they have much in common.

By the same token btw, a taxi Daman-Palitana would cost you a small fortune no doubt. That's just quite some distance. Any guidebook should be able to fill you in on some and many more details; Gujarat (which Daman & Diu don't technically belong to, then, they nonetheless lie within it) is a state much worth exploring, and not overly visited by Western tourists at least. Since you don't seem too aware of it, note it's a dry state, btw (no booze); so stock up on some if that's what you crave. Daman & Diu falling under their own administration, they make the happy exception to this (and draw the according crowds for it, and going all overboard with it).

well jeeeeez its not like you've provided me with any great information.
if i would have got this info from guidebooks i wouldnt have bothered coming here now would i ??
i know the places are really far apart for pete's sake! you don't have to write an essay and lecture on it..
all i really wanted to know was if there is a bus between them, or as mentioned in the case of a car, how much time, i.e. how many hours it might take approximately, from someone who has actually been there..not looking for unfriendly lecturers okay!

and yeah, if you havent got the point already, then giving vague advice like oh, well thats gonna cost you a "fortune", well thats unhelpful okayyyy jeeez!!

jeepers jaam, you asked for advice, machadhina gave you, very freely, his knowledge and advice - you could perhaps be somewhat thankful for that. No need to whip the messenger. So obviously all the information you seek, you can actually get from a guide book - so why no read one rather than ask questions here? But you want to know facts. Daman to Diu. By bus.. 18 hours... 600 rs. By Taxi 14 hours, 6000 rs. But you missing a heap of great places in between if you planning to go direct. (all times and costs estimate, just like all should be when travelling into the unknown).

jaam, I think you've completely misread machadhina reply, he really was trying to be helpful, but remember that his first language isn't English.

The only info he could reply to is the info you provided, you asked about a bus from Daman to Diu, and to anyone familiar with India, this question would suggest that the person wasn't familiar with India.

Many members (including myself and machadhina) have been to Diu, but machadhina is the only member I know who's also been to Daman, so his info is especially useful.

Well, I was going to advice you since I have been to Daman and Diu but after this comment of yours I don't think I want a similar bashing.

Thanks everyone for your help. Apologies for mean comments.
@dilbharatmain, Thanks a lot for the specifics.

There used to be a ferry service from Daman to Diu before 1961 as land borders to the rest of India were closed but after liberation/annexatio/incorporation it was discontinued. They still are formally an administrative unit and share a Member of Parliament but the administration in Diu is quite autonomous. In fact till 1987, when Goa became a full fledged state, both were part of the Union territory of Goa, Daman & Diu. Diu was part of the parliamentary constituency of Goa North and Daman of Goa South (It could have been the other way round, I haven't bothered to check.) Dadra & Nagar Haveli are a different story altogether.
@jaam
So, that was my lecture. I'm sure this stuff isn't printed in any of your fancy guide books.

@Golghar, Actually, guide book reference was first suggested by Machadinha. Go on, scroll back up and read. And my guide books are just fine, thank you. You seem to be the fancy one.

Yes, I am the fancy one! And thanks for the compliment

I'd long been wondering if I ought to feel addressed by the above. I don't think so, and so

Your apologies are not accepted. That they took you three weeks to pen down as eloquently as you did doesn't impress me either, and you've subsequently shown yourself to be as adamant as you ever were.

Dil was right btw when they mentioned

It struck me only later there are in fact sleeper coaches (buses) these days plying between Diu and Mumbai. They take about that time I believe (if Dil is correct, a little longer still, no doubt -- but then in an Indian context, hey, what, after all, are a few hours, right), and they may even stop in Vapi for Daman. Or they very well may not, I don't know, nor much care at this stage, either. (I guess they very well might at Surat or someplace, which you might find handy for if not terribly close to the latter.)

(What's it with people who like to ask but not hear an answer anyway? I tend to never ask but just find a way there. Or how in fact do some of you think all those people diligently answering you get around? Hey, guys, it's not in the phone book nor on the web, I guess we'd better settle for Goa or the Taj instead.

That's fine by me really, but then kindly don't give me no lip on it either. To each their own and all of the usual, and I for one certainly am not one to have ever said you have to do something different.)

So how precisely do you think we ever made it to the likes of Diu or Daman? Oh, someone might drop one a line and you might think hey that sounds enticing, and then you kind of hop on some transport and see where it gets you. You know. As already noted, they're hardly the kind of places that are obscure enough these days for any guidebook worth its salt to leave you completely in the dark about it, either.

(So anyway, how's that for a lengthy and subtle way of basically saying FO? Thanks, oh thank you so much <*schniff*>, you've been a wonderful audience Now don't let the door hit you on the way out.)

Bottom line really is what, in the end, the bloody hell should it be to me if you manage to get where you wanted to? There are paid professionals to assist you in the field, and believe me they funnily enough may take even less crap on it than some of use bleeding-heart random and voluntary forum members might. Now kindly have a good day yourself.

Don't forget to file a trip report here upon your return, for the benefit of others like you who may have similar questions.

As it were, then. No thanks and no apologies!