My parents wanted to go visit the Mahalakshmi Temple in Dahanu this year. Instead of just going to the temple and coming back home, I suggested that we head to Silvassa for a night’s stay.

Silvassa is around 90 mins ahead of Mahalakshmi Temple. It is the capital of the Union Territory of Dadra and Nagar Haveli. It is an industrial hub and is still developing as a tourist spot. I think it is an ideal weekend getaway for Mumbaikars.

If you are too bored to read ahead, watch my video about Silvassa:

Things to do:

1. Vasona Lion Safari

This was the main reason I chose Silvassa – LIONS. This park has 3 lions from Gir. I’d heard that the lions snooze most of the time. But I was fortunate to see all three of them. A lioness was prowling quite close to our van. (But not too close! Hahahaha!) Park timings are from 10 am to 5 pm.

2. Deer Park

I had never seen so many types of deer in my life. They take you for a ride through the park and you see so many deer. I went crazy with my phone. Don’t leave Silvassa before visiting this park. If you get lucky, you may even spot a porcupine. Park timings are from 11 am to 5 pm.

3. Tribal Museum

The museum has amazing handicrafts, musical instruments, life-sized models, paintings, etc. It illustrates the history of Silvassa in the most beautiful manner. Entry is free. Photography is prohibited inside the museum. But I managed to take a few snaps of the outside area. It is open from 9 am to 5 pm.

4. Church of Our Lady of Piety

It is located near the museum. It is a calm and peaceful place to be in. You also see children playing on the grounds. Cute 🙂

5. Swaminarayan Temple

As the sunset, we went to the Swaminarayan Temple. This temple is beautifully carved. Unlike other temples, I found this temple very clean. I felt the place was very peaceful and quiet. It is not very crowded also. They have a huge garden area and a water fountain. You can spend time there; click pictures or just meditate. They allow you to spend time at the temple which does not happen everywhere.

Where to Stay:

We stayed at Hotel Krishna which is near the museum. It is a clean and popular budget hotel. Please check its website here.

You will find many resorts and hotels at Silvassa to suit any budget. The famous ones are Keys Ras Resort and Daman Ganga Valley Resort.

How to Reach:

Silvassa is well-connected by air, rail, and road.

Nearest Airports: Surat (101 km) and Mumbai (120 km)

Nearest Railway Station: Vapi (17 km)

By Road: You can reach Silvassa from Mumbai through the Western Express highway also known as NH8.

I had the time of my life at Silvassa. It is a great place for nature lovers and budget travellers. Hope you get to visit it too. 🙂

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