Under the Portuguese rule, Dadra and Nagar Haveli were part of the "Distrito de Damão" (Daman district) of the "Estado da Índia" (Portuguese State of India). The two territories formed a single "concelho" (municipality), named "Nagar Haveli", with its head in Darará until 1885 and, after that, with its head in the town of Silvassa. The local affairs were overseen by an elected "câmara municipal" (municipal council), with the higher level affairs administrated by the district governor of Daman, who was represented in Nagar Haveli by an administrator.