What to See in Gorgeous Goa
Robin Williams has said that spring is nature's way of saying, "Let's party!" In that case, Goa is nature's chosen party venue! When you think Goa, it's difficult not to think beaches and partying outright. Portuguese architecture and quaint, ornate churches score a really close second. Speaking of beaches, Anjuna beach, Goa, is one party haunt that has it all - the partying, opportunities to shop till you drop, a beautiful church (St. Michael's), a cornucopia of variety when it comes to the crowd (monks, artists, hippies, 'regular' tourists, craftsmen, fortunetellers... you get the picture, right?), et al.
The Anjuna village, after which the titular beach is named, is about 16 kilometers away from the capital, Panjim. Famous for the trance parties held there, Anjuna beach is one of the most popular party haunts in all of Goa. It is located on the coastline between two other happening party venues in Goa - Chapora and Vagator beaches on its north and Baga and Calangute beaches on its south. It is very close to Mapusa. This beach came into the party radar way back in the early 1960s when a group of travelers chanced upon it.
Anjuna beach is THE place for trance parties and acid house (full moon) parties! Those seeking tranquility will find the soft sands and the clear water energizing and rejuvenating. There is the weekly Wednesday flea market where you can literally shop till you drop. Hey fella, did you just glance nervously at the lady by your side and then back at your wallet? Don't worry; the flea market holds as much appeal for the senors as it does for the senoritas! You will find everything - jewelry, handicrafts, electronic items, second hand gadgets, clothes, souvenirs... you name it! Being a flea market, it offers no end to exciting deals and bargains and you can accumulate a load of stuff by shelling out a not-so-exorbitant amount! Then, there's also the Ingos Saturday Night Market that you must not miss if you like variety and discovering new stuff.
For the lovers of art and architecture, there's the St. Michael's church to begin with. It's a fine specimen of elegant Portuguese architecture. The palatial Albuquerque Mansion and Mascarenhas Mansion are also must-sees for anyone who visits Anjuna. There's also the Chapora Fort, which you must not miss if you want to experience some amazingly photogenic view of the Anjuna beach! As everywhere else in Goa, Anjuna and the surrounding places are a seafood lover's heaven. The local as well as Portuguese cuisine holds tremendous appeal for every foodie worth his tag!
The best time to hit Anjuna Beach is between November and February. Though the weather is moderate almost all round the year, the months June through October are the monsoons and the rains are pretty heavy. March, April, and May are somewhat hotter, them being the summer months. There are plenty of hotels, resorts and guest houses in and around Anjuna and Mapusa. One can also opt for rented rooms that a lot of back lane houses 'let out' if the trip is somewhat longish. Laguna Anjuna and Casa Anjuna are 2 popular and good resorts/hotels where you can put up if you wish to stay closer to the beach. Check for bookings at least a couple of months in advance if you plan to hit Anjuna at peak party season.
Trains, buses, and taxi services are available that can take you to Anjuna. If you are travelling from farther locations like Bangalore, Hyderabad, Delhi, Ahmedabad, Kolkata, etc., train is the best option. There are 4-5 trains that can take you as far as Margao, which is 50 kilometers from Anjuna, or Mapusa. Anjuna does not have its own station so the rest of the distance can either be covered by bus or auto rickshaw. Most buses will drop you at the Kadamba station and you can cover the rest of the distance by the local bus. Buses and taxis are mostly preferred for nearer origins like Mumbai and Pune. Once there, you can rent motorbikes and bicycles to get around. You can also avail the local buses, auto rickshaw, taxi, and motorcycle taxi to get around and see the sights.
The Anjuna village, after which the titular beach is named, is about 16 kilometers away from the capital, Panjim. Famous for the trance parties held there, Anjuna beach is one of the most popular party haunts in all of Goa. It is located on the coastline between two other happening party venues in Goa - Chapora and Vagator beaches on its north and Baga and Calangute beaches on its south. It is very close to Mapusa. This beach came into the party radar way back in the early 1960s when a group of travelers chanced upon it.
Anjuna beach is THE place for trance parties and acid house (full moon) parties! Those seeking tranquility will find the soft sands and the clear water energizing and rejuvenating. There is the weekly Wednesday flea market where you can literally shop till you drop. Hey fella, did you just glance nervously at the lady by your side and then back at your wallet? Don't worry; the flea market holds as much appeal for the senors as it does for the senoritas! You will find everything - jewelry, handicrafts, electronic items, second hand gadgets, clothes, souvenirs... you name it! Being a flea market, it offers no end to exciting deals and bargains and you can accumulate a load of stuff by shelling out a not-so-exorbitant amount! Then, there's also the Ingos Saturday Night Market that you must not miss if you like variety and discovering new stuff.
For the lovers of art and architecture, there's the St. Michael's church to begin with. It's a fine specimen of elegant Portuguese architecture. The palatial Albuquerque Mansion and Mascarenhas Mansion are also must-sees for anyone who visits Anjuna. There's also the Chapora Fort, which you must not miss if you want to experience some amazingly photogenic view of the Anjuna beach! As everywhere else in Goa, Anjuna and the surrounding places are a seafood lover's heaven. The local as well as Portuguese cuisine holds tremendous appeal for every foodie worth his tag!
The best time to hit Anjuna Beach is between November and February. Though the weather is moderate almost all round the year, the months June through October are the monsoons and the rains are pretty heavy. March, April, and May are somewhat hotter, them being the summer months. There are plenty of hotels, resorts and guest houses in and around Anjuna and Mapusa. One can also opt for rented rooms that a lot of back lane houses 'let out' if the trip is somewhat longish. Laguna Anjuna and Casa Anjuna are 2 popular and good resorts/hotels where you can put up if you wish to stay closer to the beach. Check for bookings at least a couple of months in advance if you plan to hit Anjuna at peak party season.
Trains, buses, and taxi services are available that can take you to Anjuna. If you are travelling from farther locations like Bangalore, Hyderabad, Delhi, Ahmedabad, Kolkata, etc., train is the best option. There are 4-5 trains that can take you as far as Margao, which is 50 kilometers from Anjuna, or Mapusa. Anjuna does not have its own station so the rest of the distance can either be covered by bus or auto rickshaw. Most buses will drop you at the Kadamba station and you can cover the rest of the distance by the local bus. Buses and taxis are mostly preferred for nearer origins like Mumbai and Pune. Once there, you can rent motorbikes and bicycles to get around. You can also avail the local buses, auto rickshaw, taxi, and motorcycle taxi to get around and see the sights.
