નાઇડા કેવ્સ

Naida Caves

Useful Information

Location:	Diu, Dadra and Nagar Haveli and Daman and Diu 362520. (20.7109607, 70.9807830)
Open:	no restrictions. [2025]
Fee:	free. [2025]
Classification:	Unterirdische Steinbrüche
Light:	n/a
Dimension:
Guided tours:	self guided
Photography:	allowed
Accessibility:	no
Bibliography:
Address:	Naida Caves, Diu, Dadra and Nagar Haveli and Daman and Diu 362520, Tel: +91-.
As far as we know this information was accurate when it was published (see years in brackets), but may have changed since then. Please check rates and details directly with the companies in question if you need more recent info.

History

1961	Portuguese soldiers hide from the Indian Army inside the caves during operation Vijay.

Description

નાઇડા કેવ્સ (Naida Caves) is a nonsensical name as there are no caves. This is a quarry where the Portuguese quarried rocks for nearby city Diu, and especially for the castle. It seems they followed the layer of the best rock and so the result are a series of sometimes rectangular, sometimes angled chambers with huge openings in the walls. There are steps on the floor, and it is unclear if they were created by the quarry workers or were made for the tourists. Many look like they are remnants of building blocks which were cut from the rock. The paved paths and the benches were obviously made for the tourists. The descriptions on the web, including the ones issued by the government, lack background info and what they tell is mostly nonsense, unfortunately.

"Naida Caves, Diu have been reckoned among one of the magnificent natural attractions since prehistoric times. Productive evidence of early man’s interest has been discovered in caves dotted throughout the world."
U.T. Administration of Dadra and Nagar Haveli and Daman and Diu. Government of India.

They are not natural but man made, were made in the 19th or early 20th century, prehistoric men have never visited them because they did not exist. And the fact that real caves have prehistoric remains has no connection to this site at all. Quite annoying, they told all this already in the same text, and then they write such nonsense.

As far as we know the site is freely accessible and there is no fee, but we have mentioned that it is fenced. Also, we have seen that there were parking lots along the access road which have lately been removed. So if you lately visited, please give us an update.