Dadra and Nagar Haveli

Dadra and Nagar Haveli, union territory (2001 provisional pop. 220,451), 188 sq mi (487 sq km), W central India, on the Arabian Sea. Portugal colonized these two inland enclaves in the mid-16th cent. India occupied them in 1954. Despite a ruling by the International Court of Justice that upheld Portugal's claim to the area, they were incorporated into India as a single union territory in 1961. The territory is being developed as a “no industry” sector for tourism.

Capital Silvassa
20.27° N 73.02° E 
Abbreviation IN-DN 
Official languages Gujarati 
Formation 1961-08-11 
Area 491 km² (4th) 
Time zone IST (UTC +5:30) 

Dadra and Nagar Haveli is a Union Territory in western India. Nagar Haveli is wedged between Maharashtra and Gujarat, whereas Dadra is an enclave lying a few km north of Nagar Haveli in Gujarat. Its capital is Silvassa.

Dadra and Nagar Haveli are in the watershed of the Daman Ganga River, which flows through the territory. The towns of Dadra and Silvassa both lie on the north bank of the river. The Western Ghats range rises to the east, and the foothills of the range occupy the eastern portion of the district. The territory is landlocked, although the Arabian Sea coast lies just to the west in Gujarat.

It was a Portuguese colony, dependent of Daman, from 1779 until 1954 when it was occupied by India. It became a Union territory in 1961.

The major spoken language in the territory is Gujarati.

Manufacturing is the main economy in Dadra and Nagar Haveli as the taxes are low — no excise. The territory is run by a Lieutenant Governor.