Daman to Silvassa: Distance, Places to Visit in Silvassa and a Day Plan

Silvassa is about 30 to 35 km from Daman via Vapi, roughly an hour by road, and makes an easy day trip: Vanganga Lake Garden, the Tribal Cultural Museum, the Swaminarayan temple and Hirwa Van garden in town, and lakes, forests and parks such as Dudhni, Khanvel and the Madhuban dam backwaters further out. Silvassa is the capital of Dadra and Nagar Haveli, the other half of the same Union Territory as Daman, and it feels completely different: green, hilly and inland rather than coastal. This guide covers the route, the best places to visit in Silvassa, a day plan from Daman, and when to go.

Daman to Silvassa: distance and route

From Daman, drive to Vapi, cross NH 48 and take the Vapi–Silvassa road east. The road passes through industrial areas around Vapi before turning greener near Silvassa. Weekday traffic around Vapi's industrial zones can be heavy at shift times.

Places to visit in Silvassa

Vanganga Lake Garden

The most popular spot in Silvassa: a landscaped garden around a lake, with islands, wooden bridges, a Japanese-style garden section, lawns and boating. It is calm in the morning and busy with families in the evening. A small entry and boating fee applies.

Tribal Cultural Museum

A small museum on the life of the Warli, Kokna, Dhodia and other communities of the region: masks, musical instruments, fishing tools, ornaments and Warli paintings. Allow 30–45 minutes. It is usually closed on certain weekdays and public holidays; check before going.

Swaminarayan Temple

A large white marble temple with fine carving, set in gardens. Peaceful, with evening aarti.

Hirwa Van Garden

A garden with rock gardens, waterfalls and lawns, at the edge of town. Good for children.

Our Lady of Piety Church

A Portuguese-era church in the town centre, reminding you that Dadra and Nagar Haveli, like Daman, was once Portuguese territory.

Dudhni Lake

About 40 km from Silvassa, a large reservoir on the Damanganga river surrounded by hills, with boating and sometimes water sports. The drive through forest and tribal villages is part of the pleasure.

Khanvel

A green area of forests, resorts and the river, about 20 km from Silvassa, with a deer park nearby at Satmaliya. It is the starting point for the Dudhni drive.

Madhuban Dam backwaters

The backwaters of the Madhuban dam on the Damanganga create wide, scenic stretches of water; viewpoints along the roads are popular in and after the monsoon.

Satmaliya Deer Park

A wildlife area with spotted deer, sambar and other animals; visits may be by vehicle at set times. Check whether it is open, as access changes.

Silvassa at a glance

Fees and opening days change; check locally.

A day trip from Daman to Silvassa

• 8:30 Leave Daman after breakfast.
• 9:30 Tribal Cultural Museum (if open), then Our Lady of Piety Church.
• 10:45 Vanganga Lake Garden: walk and boating.
• 12:30 Lunch in Silvassa.
• 13:30 Drive to Khanvel and on to Dudhni Lake for boating and views (or Hirwa Van Garden if you prefer to stay in town).
• 16:30 Swaminarayan Temple on the way back.
• 18:00 Back in Daman in time for dinner.

Daman vs Silvassa

Many visitors from Surat and Mumbai base themselves in Daman for the sea and do Silvassa as a day trip. For a Silvassa-focused weekend, see our Silvassa and Dadra Nagar Haveli weekend guide, and the Silvassa stays page.

Best time to visit Silvassa

Silvassa is at its most beautiful from July to October, when the forests are green, the rivers full and the Dudhni and Madhuban backwaters at their best, although heavy rain can make driving slow. November to February is pleasant and dry. April and May are hot.

Tips

• Carry ID; you cross between the UT and Gujarat (around Vapi) more than once.
• Daman is a Union Territory, so Gujarat's prohibition law does not apply there and liquor is sold legally in licensed shops, bars and restaurants. If you drink, keep it moderate, never drive afterwards (book a cab or stay within walking distance of your villa), and never swim in the sea after drinking.
• Gujarat is a dry state. Carrying liquor bought in Daman back into Gujarat without a valid permit is an offence, police check vehicles at the Daman–Gujarat border points, and the penalties can be serious. Rules and permit conditions change, so check the current rules before you travel, and the simplest course is to bring nothing back.
• Leave Dudhni and the forest roads before dark.

Silvassa with children

Vanganga Lake Garden and Hirwa Van Garden are the most child-friendly spots, with lawns, boating and small waterfalls. The Tribal Cultural Museum is short and interesting for older children. Dudhni's boating is fun but the drive is long; with small children, a town-only day may be better.

Where to eat in Silvassa

Silvassa has Gujarati, Punjabi and South Indian restaurants in the town centre, plus resort restaurants at Khanvel and on the Dudhni road. Options thin out further from town, so carry snacks and water for the Dudhni drive.

Silvassa in the monsoon

From July to September, Silvassa is at its greenest, with full rivers, mist on the hills and the Madhuban backwaters at their widest. Roads can be slippery and some lake activities stop in heavy rain. Drive slowly, avoid the forest roads after dark, and check whether Dudhni's boating is running before you go.

Silvassa vs Saputara

Both are green inland escapes from South Gujarat. Saputara is Gujarat's hill station, higher and cooler, about 3.5–4 hours from Vapi; Silvassa is lower, closer to Daman and Vapi, and easier as a day trip. See our Saputara guide.

What to carry for the Silvassa day

• Water, snacks and sun protection.
• Comfortable shoes for the gardens.
• Rain gear from June to September.
• ID for every adult, and vehicle papers.

Staying in Silvassa instead

If you prefer forests and lakes to the sea, base yourself in Silvassa or Khanvel and visit Daman as a day trip for the forts and Devka sunset. Silvassa's resorts are spread along the Khanvel and Dudhni roads, quieter than Daman's busy weekend strip. BookMyFarm also lists resorts in Silvassa.

Where to stay in Daman

For a trip that combines the sea and Silvassa's forests, stay on the Vapi side of Daman, in Kachigam, Dalwada or Dunetha, which cuts the drive to Silvassa, or in Devka for the beach evenings.

BookMyFarm lists 18 private stays in Daman: 10 villas, 5 farmhouses, 2 resort units and 1 serviced apartment. Nine are in Devka, a short walk or drive from Devka Beach; four are in Moti Daman near the fort and Jampore; the rest are in the quieter villages of Dunetha, Dalwada, Kadaiya and Kachigam. Eight have a private swimming pool, six share a pool with a small complex, and two large farmhouses have a kids' pool. They sleep anything from 4 to 50 guests, and each villa and farmhouse is booked whole, so your group has the place to itself.

At the time of writing, the two resort units start at roughly ₹3,300 to ₹4,700 a day, most villas cost roughly ₹6,000 to ₹17,600 on weekdays and ₹7,000 to ₹22,000 on weekends, and the farmhouses cost roughly ₹13,500 to ₹24,500 on weekdays and ₹17,600 to ₹34,300 on weekends, with the 50-guest farmhouses at the top. Christmas, New Year, Diwali and long weekends cost more and sell out first. Prices change, so check the live rate on each listing. Browse every villa in Daman and every farmhouse in Daman, or see all stays on the Daman stays page.

More Daman guides

• Places to visit in Daman: tourist places and things to do
• Daman beaches: Devka and Jampore beach guide
• Moti Daman Fort and Nani Daman Fort guide
• Mirasol Lake Garden and the water park in Daman
• Daman itinerary for 1 or 2 days, and the best time to visit
• Surat to Daman distance and road trip
• Vapi, Valsad and Navsari to Daman distance
• Mumbai to Daman distance by road and train
• Ahmedabad and Vadodara to Daman distance and road trip
• How to reach Daman: airport and railway station
• Resort in Daman: beach resorts and private alternatives
• Villa in Daman with a private pool
• Daman vs Diu: which one should you visit?
• Daman nightlife, food and things to do at night