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The L-shaped seat along the
length of the porch is of expensive wood. It has some of the
finest stained glass floral etchings.
Wednesday Flea Market : With its fluorescent painted
palm trees and full moon parties, Anjuna Beach, 8-km west of
Mapusa, is one of the most popular beaches of Goa. Most
people’s reasons for coming to Anjuna are the same as they
were in the 1970s: dancing and lying on the beach slurping
tropical fruit. While browsing in the area have a day trip
to the famous flea market of Anjuna, a major shopping
hangout, beside the beach.
The Acid House Party : Anjuna is also known for its
full-moon (acid house) parties. Held for and by young
tourists, these parties have attracted thousands of
tourists. The trance party with dance, frolic, and merriment
goes all night besides the fire.
Anjuna attracts a variety of tourists touring Goa, and the
crowd includes from the happy go lucky kinds to overlanders,
monks, defiant ex-hippies, gentle lunatics, artists,
artisans, seers, searchers etc. Even those particular kinds
of tourists who prefer to travel within the limit of their
tour itinerary, cannot resist visiting this charming beach
site.
Tropical Sights of Anjuna Beach
Bathing is generally safer at Anjuna than at most of the
nearby resorts, especially at the more peaceful southern end
of the beach, where a rocky headland keeps the sea calm and
the undertow to a minimum. Taking long walks under the moon
on the silver sands of this beach is something that any
visitor would love to do at Anjuna, beside the favourite
pastime of watching the sun going down.
At the north of the Anjuna Flea market ground, the beach
area broadens, running in an uninterrupted kilometer long
stretch of steeply shelving sand to a low red cliff. The
village bus park lies on top of this high ground, where
small cafes, bars and Kashmiri handicraft stalls are lined,
making a perfect hangout zone near the beach site. Every
lunch hour, tour parties from Panjim also pull-up in here
for a beer, before heading home again, leaving the
localities and tired tourists to watch the sunset peacefully
and relax a bit.
Visiting Time
The tourist season in Anjuna starts in early November, when
most of the long staying regulars show up. During the
Christmas and New Year rush, the village and beach site is
busy with a mixed crowd of round the world backpackers and
tourists from all over India, attracted by the promise of
the big beach parties. In off-season however, Anjuna has a
surprisingly simple unhurried atmosphere. Visitors can also
opt to stay at the large package tour hotels and beach
resorts that have appeared over the past couple of years
near the Anjuna beach site.
Entertainment & Amusements at Anjuna
Thanks to the kill-joy attitude reputation, Anjuna is a
rave-venue for big parties that take place over here from
time to time, especially around the Christmas-New Year full
moon period. At other times, Anjuna’s nightlife centres on
the Shore Bar, in the middle of the beach, which has a
pounding sound system and play some real funky music that
always keeps the atmosphere alive. The biggest crowds show
up accompanied by the latest ambient trance mixes from
London.
The music gains pace as the evening wears on winding up
before midnight, when there’s an exodus over to the Guru
Bar, further up the beach, or to the Primrose café in
Vagator, both of which stay open until after midnight. The
Alcove, over looking Ozran Vagator Beach, is another
worthwhile nightspot to hangout near Anjuna. More mainstream
musical entertainment is on offer at Temptations, in the Red
Cab Inn just below Starco’s crossroads, where Indian
classical recitals and guitar based cover bands feature with
fire dancers on Mondays.
Eating Out Places at Anjuna
Both the beachfront and village at Anjuna are flooded with
good places to eat and drink. Most are simple semi open-air,
thatched palm leaf affairs, specializing in fish and western
food. All serve cold beer, invariably with thumping techno
music in the background. On the beach, tourists can buy
fresh fruits, including watermelons, pineapples and locally
grown coconuts from the local vendors.
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