Diu, India

Diu
City
Zampa Gateway - Diu
Diu Location in India
Coordinates: 20°43′N 70°59′E / 20.71°N 70.98°E / 20.71; 70.98Coordinates: 20°43′N 70°59′E / 20.71°N 70.98°E / 20.71; 70.98
Country	India
State	Daman and Diu
District	Diu
Government
• Type	Municipal corporation
Area
• Total	40 km2 (20 sq mi)
Elevation	0 m (0 ft)
Population (2001)
• Total	21,576
• Density	540/km2 (1,400/sq mi)
Languages
• Official	Gujarati, English
Time zone	IST (UTC+5:30)
Sex ratio	0.85 ♂/♀

Diu is a town in Diu district in the union territory of Daman and Diu, India. Diu District is the tenth least populated district of India.

The town of Diu lies at the eastern end of Diu Island, and is known for its fortress and old Portuguese Cathedral. It is also a fishing town.

Diu has been selected as one of the hundred Indian cities to be developed as a smart city under PM Narendra Modi's flagship Smart Cities Mission.

The town and district were historically part of the Saurashtra region of Gujarat and an important port on trade routes of Arabian sea of Indian Ocean.

Due to its strategic importance, there was a Battle of Diu in 1509 between Portugal and a combined force of Ottomans, Mamluks, Venetians, the Ragusians and the Sultan of Gujarat, Mahmud Begada. In 1513, the Portuguese tried to establish an outpost there, but negotiations were unsuccessful. There were failed attempts by Diogo Lopes de Sequeira in 1521, Nuno da Cunha in 1523. In 1531 the conquest attempted by D. Nuno da Cunha was also not successful.

In 1535 Bahadur Shah, the Sultan of Gujarat, concluded a defensive alliance with the Portuguese against the Mughal emperor Humayun, and allowed the Portuguese to construct the Diu Fort and maintain a garrison on the island.