Silvassa is the capital of the Dadra and Nagar Haveli, which is a Union Territory of India. The city was known as Vila de Paco d’Arcos during the Portuguese rule. It gained much importance in 1885 when the Portuguese decided to transfer the administration of Nagar Haveli into it.
Silvassa was only a small village till the 19th century and a lot of developments started happening once the seat of power was changed. It became a town in 1885 and today, has a number of factories and industries that generate enough government revenue and help the town maintain a low level of taxation.
While Marathi and Gujarati are the most commonly spoken languages of the town, Silvassa is also believed to be the place of origin of the Warli culture. The Warli language is spoken by the people belonging to the Warli community and is an interesting mix of the Marathi and Gujarati languages.
The town also has a significant population of Roman Catholics who speak a distinct dialect of Portuguese. Silvassa was used as the backdrop for the movie Phool Aur Kaante. Once a tribal region, it has now become an industrial hub. Some of the leading industries that have set base in the region include Siyaram Silk Mills Limited, Blue Star, Reliance Industries, Castrol, Gulf Oil, Hind Aluminium, Hindalco, Ramco Industries Limited etc.
There are several places of interest in here which make it a popular weekend getaway near Mumbai. Situated very close to the Silvassa bus stand is a Roman Catholic Church which is noted for its beautiful Portuguese architecture.
Distance from major places
Distance from Mumbai to Silvassa: 167 kms
Distance from Daman to Silvassa: 31 Kms
Distance from Shridi to Silvassa: 219 Kms
Distance from Pune to Silvassa: 298 Kms
Sightseeing places in Silvassa
The Silvassa Museum is another popular tourist destination and it bears exhibits and artefacts which explain the history of the town and the culture of its people. The Madhuban Dam is where visitors flock to. The Dam is built over the River Daman Ganga and boating facilities have been arranged for tourists on the river. Some of the other places of interest in the town include the Dadra Park, Dudhani, Vrindaban Temple, Balaji Temple and the Ban Ganga Lake.
Though it remains pleasant throughout the year, with warm summers, cool winters and moderate rainfall, the best time to visit Silvassa is between the months of November and June.
The weather during this time is conducive for outdoor activities like trekking or boating, as temperature during this time hovers between 25-30 degree Celsius and is quite pleasant to enjoy the natural beauty of Silvassa.
This is also the ideal time to enjoy the local folk dance known as Tarpa Folk Dance festival that is held towards the end of December.
How to Reach Silvassa
How to Reach Silvassa by Air
The nearest airport to Silvassa is the Mumbai Airport, which is about 180kms away from Silvassa. Silvassa is well-connected from Mumbai and you can either take a bus or take a taxi or even rent a car from the car rental companies at the airport.
How to Reach Silvassa by Rail
The nearest railway station to Silvassa is Vapi, which is about 17kms away from Silvassa. From here you can either hire a taxi or take a bus to Silvassa.
How to Reach Silvassa by Bus
If you are planning to reach Silvassa by road then the convenient route is through the Western Express Highway which is also known as NH8. The highway touches Silvassa hence this is the convenient route by the road to reach.
The best time to visit Silvassa
Though it remains pleasant throughout the year, with warm summers, cool winters and moderate rainfall, the best time to visit Silvassa is between the months of November and June.
The weather during this time is conducive for outdoor activities like trekking or boating, as temperature during this time hovers between 25-30 degree Celsius and is quite pleasant to enjoy the natural beauty of Silvassa.
This is also the ideal time to enjoy the local folk dance known as Tarpa Folk Dance festival that is held towards the end of December.