Daman
Daman boasts of a rich historical heritage spanning over more than 2000 years. The district of Daman of the erstwhile Union Territory of Goa, Daman & Diu is situated in the Surat District of Gujarat. From 2nd Century A.D., it formed a part of the country known as Lata, which was one of the seven divisions of Konkan Vaishaya.

The edict of the Emperor Ashoka (273 to 136 B.C) was found in Saurashtra and Sopara near Bombay. Satrya Kshatrapas under the Kushana emperor seemed to have ruled over Daman District during the first century, A.D. The Coins of Bhumaka and Nahapan, the kshaharata rulers were discovered in the surrounding areas of Surat District. Ushavadatta, son-in-law of Nahapan, is said to have provided ferries on rivers Dhanuha Dhamana, Parada and Tapi.

This is the earliest reference of these rivers and the names of the places, i.e. Dahanu, Daman and Pardi, remained unchanged for the last 2000 years. The District seems to have been subjected to the rule of Gautamaputra Satakarnin, about 125 A.D., who drove away the Kshaharatas. But Satavahana's rule was short lived.

Rudraman I, grandson of Chastan of Kadamaka branch of Kshatrapas reconquered a large part of Western India including the sea-board from the river Mahi in Gujarat to Ratnagiri by about 150 A.D. from Satavahana ruler, Satakarni, and Daman district again passed under the rule of Kshatrapa Vijayasen (234-239 A.D.) who seems to have ruled over the district till 249 A.D. Abhir king Ishwarasena of Nasik, who conquered the western part of the Deccan from the Satavahanas seems to have been laid by Gautamaputra Yajnashri, campaigns the Kshatrapas from 180 to 200 A.D. 

The District seems to have been subjected to the rule of traikutakas during the 5th century, A.D. The Lata Country was ruled by Rashtrakutas of Malkhed in the Deccan directly till 808 A.D. by the successors, Govinda II (575- 795 A.D), Druvaraja - I (795-800 A.D) and Govinda III (800 - 808 A.D.).

Govinda    III   handed  over the  Lata   kingdom  to his brother Indra about. 808 A.D. and was given the title Lateswaramandalasya or the protector of Latamandala. Indra was succeded by his son Karka who seems to have ruled Latamandala with his brother, Govinda jointly till A.D. 826. Druva II, son of Karka came to the throne about 835 A.D. and was succeded by Akalavarsha in. 867. A.D. The District was passed to Tailappa II of the Chalupas of Kalyani in 973 A.D. Tailappa II placed Lata Country in the hands of his relative and general Barrpa alias Dvarappa Chalukya. By the middle of the 13th century, a Rajput prince Ramsingh alias Ramashah seems to have defeated the koli chief Nathorat and established himself in the hilly tract at Asheri of Asserseta near Daman about 1262 A.D. Ramsingh was succeded by his son Somanath in 1295 A.D. The newly founded Ramnagar at the foot of the ghats flourished under Somnath (1335-1360 A.D) and Daram shah (1360-1391 A.D.). Jagatshah succeeded Gopushah and ruled during 1432 A.D. to 1470 A.D. The Portuguese from Shah of Gujarat acquired Daman. They noticed the port of Daman for the first time in 1523. A Portuguese enclave for 4 centuries and a half till the close of the colonial rule in 1961; Daman has been a coveted prize for which princes, monarchs and alien powers waged wars. Muted memories of history lie vaulted in the monuments of Daman. It had been a melting pot, where races and cultures met and mixed to bring forth a multi-coloured identity.

Diu
The island of Diu has a long and glorious history, beginning with the puranic period to the recent Portuguese period. It was liberated from the Portuguese, along with Goa and Daman on 19th December, 1961. It was believed that pandavas during their fourteen years of exile are believed to have passed a few days at a place known as Mani Nagar(Diu) which was under the Yadavas led by Krishna Vasudeva during Mahabharata period. According to the Indian Mythology, Diu was ruled by the great king Jalandhar who was a daitya(Demon) and was killed by Lord Vishnu with his sudarshan Chakra (Disc). The temple of Jallandhar still exits in Diu. The Gazetter of Goa, Daman & Diu says that Diu was known as Jallandar kshetra during satyayug and is famous for its Jallandar temple. As daitya(Demon) Jallandar harassed the Gods, Lord Vishnu killed him, but was cursed by his wife Vrinda. The place where Lord Vishnu left sudharshan chakra after killing Jallandar is known as Chakra thirtha which is situated in Diu.

The Gazetter further states that the Diu was ruled by the Mauryans during 322-320 B.C. and was the main trade center on the Saurashtra Coast. The State of Saurashtra including Diu was ruled by the Kshatrapas from the 1st century A.D. to 415 A.D., by the Guptas from 415 A.D. to 467 A.D, by the Maitrakas from 470 A.D to 788 A.D, by the Chavda dynasty of Gujarat and Saurashtra from 789 A.D to 941 A.D and the Chavdas ruled over the Somnath patan & Diu under the Chalukya as local chieftains.

In 1020 A.D., Sultan Mohammed Ghazni attacked the chalukyas and came up to Diu and rocked them. On the return of Mohammed to Ghazni, his native place, Chavdas of Diu seemed to have increased the power. But in 1064 A.D, the chalukyas came back again to power and Diu was successively under the sway of Chavda and Vaghela Rajputs, who build a fort here. Alladin Khilji, sultan of Delhi, dislodged them in 1297 A.D. A Vaja Raja Brahmadas tried to capture it, but the attack was repulsed and the Raja had to take shelter in Diu.

Muzaffar Khan was the then Governor of Gujarat which was again attacked several times by the protuguese, because of its strategic importance right from 1518 to 1535. When the Moghul emperor Humayun attacked the Shah, the latter entered into a treaty on 05-10-1535 with the Portuguese for their help against Humayun and Diu was rewarded to the Portuguese Governor Nuno De Cunha, who constructed a fort in Diu and raised his arsenal. Governor Joao de Castro finally seized Diu on 10th November, 1546. Simbor, a village of Diu about 42 kms. away, was conquered in 1722. And on 19th December, 1961, Goa, Daman & Diu were liberated from the rule of Portuguese.