From mesmerizing caves echoing the sound of the sea to raunchy shivlings in the underside of jutting rocks that are constantly blessed with high tides, it is the perfect religious, historical and sensual getaway all at once. Diu is a place with a heart of its own. You can feel it beating in the rush of the tides, the silent whispers of the air, the low chatter of the markets, and the ever-flowing visitations of tourists. Known for its clean and picturesque beaches, Diu is the holy combination of the dewy aura of Goa and the raw historical value of Udaipur. There was something earthly about it right from the moment I entered it – impromptu trips don’t usually leave room for many expectations. But this was one of a kind. Eager to touch the “holy” water, I rushed down the steps only to see half-naked old uncles and aunties knee-deep in what looked like years of clogged water in a closed area. This ironic sight of people bathing in water that can actually cause more diseases than cure one was hilarious. But despite the hilarity, it was a wonder to discover an ancient structure with rich architecture in such a feisty location and to know about local myths that always somehow rise around these old establishments. A “Holy” Surprise It was surprising to find out that Diu is full of abandoned beautiful architectural structures which haven’t been talked about much, and I discovered that in the scorching heat of 2018. We had stopped at a local market to grab some refreshments. Within the market area was an establishment that loosely resembled a hammam. Its steps led down to a naturally sourced water body where many locals were bathing; the water considered to be holy and a cure for many diseases. The next few days were full of exploration. I was intrigued by the Hindu temple, Gangeshwar Mahadev, which is one of the most unique yet minimal temples I have ever seen. There was hardly anything man-made about it. It was built out of the forces of nature, with steps leading down to a shivlingplaced under a huge curvy rock on one side and the flowing ocean tides on the other. The constant ebb and flow of waves washed the worshipper’s feet and cleansed the shivling from time to time. I may not be a religious person, but something about the wind caressing my neck as the waves canoodling my feet mystified my idea of existence. We reminisced about the trip while still in it, as a jackal leaped out of nowhere in front of our speeding car, and we almost hit an animal with the headlights on. Thankfully, the ‘almost’ remained an almost, and the dreamy day was saved from turning into a tragedy. In fits of shock and laughter, the shared thrill pulsed down as we found momentary solace. Reminiscing the Present Our next destination was the orange-brown spectacle, Naida Caves. It was a network of numerous tunnels and chambers with perfect acoustics. Something about it made me want to keep humming and occasionally burst into songs like people do in musicals. Instead, I fondled with other activities like getting pictures clicked and exploring every nook and corner of the cave. A kind of youthful energy took us over as we hopped from one destination to another, taking in the essence of Diu. The mouth-watering fish, the satisfying meals, the admiration of the weather, and places like the Diu Fort and Khukri memorial soon brought the day to an end. But the thrill of the place wasn’t ready to let us go yet, so we went on a late-night long drive on the road by the beach, blasting songs that I still associate with Diu to this date. In all fun and games, we recalled the perfect evening by the ocean when the sky turned into perfect shades of mauve, red, and pink. We reminisced about the trip while still in it, as a jackal leaped out of nowhere in front of our speeding car, and we almost hit an animal with the headlights on. Thankfully, the ‘almost’ remained an almost, and the dreamy day was saved from turning into a tragedy. In fits of shock and laughter, the shared thrill pulsed down as we found momentary solace.
20 Apr 2022
Mimansha Walia
