Introduction:

Silvassa, located in the union territory of Dadra and Nagar Haveli has a very rich Portuguese heritage and a distinct indo-Portuguese culture. The city is famous for its natural beauty and numerous gardens with the surrounding areas home to many lakes and rivers. The deer sanctuary and the lion safari are new and upcoming attractions in the city. The city has become an industrial hub and has a floating population resulting in vibrant amalgamation of many different cultures that can be seen in the city. The scenes of Khanvel on a misty winter morning are straight out of Swiss post cards. Magnificent hills surround this town and provide a green hue to the very existence of the Khanvel town. Located at a distance of approximately 22 kms Silvassa, Khanvel renders an amazing array of undisturbed stretch of Rolling Meadows, passionately decorated terraced gardens, specially built native style cottages and the serene presence of the long winding river Sakartod. Worth mention here is the splendid ride along the road from Silvassa to Khanvel. The road is wide and smooth and has been provided a green roof by the verdant forests covering the stretch.

Destination Facts:
 
Location: Silvassa, Dadra Nagar Haveli.
Altitude: 32 Meters.
Area:  491sq.km.
Temperature: Summer 18-39°C, Winter 19-21°C
Languages spoken: Gujarati, Marathi, Portuguese, Hindi, Bhili

Getting there:
Nearest Airports: Mumbai Chatrapati Shivaji International airport, which is 120 km away from Silvassa, is the nearest airport.
Main Railway Station: Vapi railway station is about 17 km away from Silvassa city center.
Main Bus Station or Road: Roads from Mumbai and Pune Connected directly to Silvassa 

Distance of a few Major Towns from Silvassa:

Bombay is approximately 170 kms from Silvassa.Vapi railway station is about 17 km away from Silvassa city center.Daman is 30 km away via Bhilad on National Highway number 8

Eating Around:
The local tribal cuisine of capital city Silvassa and all over Dadra and Nagar Haveli uses an interesting variety of pulses and vegetables, including wild mushrooms and bamboo shoots. Rotis are made from various flours like rice, nagli (raagi) and jowar.
Restaurants in Hotels and Resorts in Silvassa and in other parts of the Union Territory are multi-cuisine, serving continental, Chinese and Indian fare, including Parsi specialties like Dhansakh and Patra Machhi, Punjabi and Moglai food and the sumptuous Gujarati Thali (an eternal favorite). Some of these hotels and restaurants are also known for their sea food.

Places of Tourist interest:

The Church of Our Lady of Piety was built by the Portuguese in the late 18th century. The Church is one of the oldest standing buildings in Silvassa. The most stunning structure of the church is the skillfully bedecked interior and outer arches.
The Lion Safari Wildlife Park, in Silvassa, there is a part of the Dadra & Nagar Haveli Wildlife Sanctuary which covers about 25 hectares of land and is home to the endangered Asiatic Lions.
The Water Sports Complex is situated on the River Damanganga and is popular for activities like boating and kayaking. Bumper boats, kayaks, water scooters and speed boats can be hired at this complex.
The Bindrabin Temple lies close to Khanvel and is considered to be one of the oldest temples in the town. The temple is also known as Tadkeshwara and is dedicated to Lord Shiva.
Hirwa Van Garden, a man made forest, is a tourist attraction near Khanvel. It lies on the Silvassa-Dadra Road in Piparia. It is a popular picnic spot that has beautiful waterfalls. The striking features of the Hirwa Van Gardens are its twin arches and stone walls.The whole area is covered with grass and decorated with flower beads, shrubs and kiosks. It is ideal for camping and other outdoor activities. The majority of the area is owned by a local tribal society.

Getting around the destination:
Taxi, private vehicles are the two facilities to get around the destination.

Shopping Areas & Entertainment:
Silvassa is a paradise for those looking for handmade products. Kilvani Road is the main market in Silvassa where handmade products like Warli paintings and paper bags are sold. Carved wooden smoking pipes, Bamboo crafts, palm-leaf mats are other products which are worth buying.

Best time to visit:
November to March is the best time to visit.

Festivals:
People over here enjoy all the Indian festivals.