Anjuna Beach Goa

Anjuna Beach

Anjuna one of the Beaches of Goa (in India), north of Baga and Calangute, and close to the South of Vagator and Chapora. The nearest town is Mapusa a few kilometers to the east.

You can either hire yourself some transport or use the public transport, theres lots of choices available. For taxis, motorbike taxis and autorickshaws you can nearly always find some available near the main cross roads (Starco Junction) and it's best to negotiate the price before you get in.

Anjuna beach is to the west of the village with lot of restaurants and bars. Not really the most beautiful beach you can see in Goa, and not a quiet place (beware of the incidental skydiver landing on the beach, watch out for that infuriated cow), it is still possible to have good times there.

Anjuna Flea market happens on Wednesdays and runs from morning till dawn. Go early if you want to hunt for bargains, take a rest at noon and come back when it's not as hot anymore. The market offers pretty much anything of what you can think of. Haggling is expected and failing to do so means missing out on the best part.

Apart from that there is not really much to see in Anjuna.

To Do
In Anjuna, there is everything a traveller may need except an ATM (the nearest one is in Baga). It is possible to rent bikes, rooms, houses. you can also find many cyber cafes, restaurants with different kinds of food (Goan, Indian, continental, Israeli, Italian, French, ...), small grocery shops, a convenience store (oxford's arcade), and 24/24 open restaurant (Munchies).

About Beach
Anjuna Beach is to the south of the village with its usual lot of restaurants and bars. Not really the most beautiful beach you can see in Goa, and not really a quiet place (beware of the occasional skydiver landing on the beach, watch out for that one infuriated cow), but it's still possible to have good times there. Be sure to check Curlie's at the end of the beach, that's the place where people meet, chill or just listen to music

Nightlife at Anjuna Beach
Anjuna is also the home of the most popular night club of goa: Paradiso, and so despite the fact that they will try to charge some people with entrance fee (₨ 200 to ₨ 500+) and not others. Most of the time the security service will prevent the locals to enter the club. even if it's worth going in once to enjoy the view, this is not the place where you want to go if you're looking for parties. Better go to nine bar or hilltop in vagator and ask around for open-air parties.

There are nightclubs catering to western package tourists in Baga and Calangute to the south that are easy enough to get to by taxi.

Wednesday Flea Market
On the way to the beach by main road, you'll cross the Wednesday flea market location. The Anjuna flea market is attracting so many people from all north Goa every Wednesday that the traffic becomes a problem in south Anjuna. if you're going with a 2-wheeler you'll have to pay a few rupees for parking. Inside the market, you'll find all the shops that are on the streets the rest of the week and some more. be careful not to be fooled by the sellers who will tell you that it's not even their cost price or that they can sell it to someone else for 3 or 4 time the price you want. If you plan to open your own shop in the flea market, it will cost you ₨ 100.

Ingos Saturday Night Market
This one is a must go, more diversity in the shops, good quality items, food stands but also usually more crowded. Many foreigners are running business in this market (didgeridoo player selling didgeridoos,to travellers doing some business to travel more, Tibetan cooking Tibetan food to raise money for Tibetan refugees,...). It's on the way to Arpora from Anjuna. You can also find some smaller night markets around, some are worth spending some time inside, others aren't.

Unfortunately it seems that Ingos has been forced to move from its old location at Arpora to a new location on the other side of the new road bridge just north of Siolim, its yet to be seen if the new location will be successful. Many of the Westerner stall holders have moved to Mackies for the moment.

Roadside and Beach Stalls
Its impossible to miss these, you will be hounded by their owners saying 'come look my shop' at every opportunity. They have some good textiles and teeshirts but mostly have the same items and theres much more choice at the markets. If you bargain hard you can get things for a good price but you may find the experience a bit draining.

Bicycles
It is possible to hire bicycles, usually without gears and somewhat dangerous to ride given the traffic.

Hire Motorbikes
A great way to get around is to hire scooters or Motorbikes. On a daily basis which can range anywhere from ₨ 150 to ₨ 400, depending on what you hire. They may require a small deposit, but dont leave your passport, you can leave a photocopy if you are asked. Bikes are available easily, just ask the locals who own restaurants , and shacks. refrain from asking the locals who run road-side stalls or at flea markets. Also a good idea would be to ask the person at the reception at your hotel. If your lucky. they can arrange one for you. If you do manage to get one please fill the tank to the fullest, as petrol pumps are far away from each other.

Be aware that no one seems to wear helmets and the traffic can be busy especially in peek season, its not a good place to learn how to ride a scooter or motorbike. Also you should have an international drivers license to ride a bike. If you are going to go into Mapusa or Panjim find a helmet, the police will want a bribe (baksheesh) if you don't have one or an international license.

The nearest petrol pump is Near Vagator, to get there head north at Starco junction until you hit the main T junction at Vagator, turn right and head for about 2 km (1.2 mile) just past where the road merges with the main road into Chapora, the petrol pump is on your left, join the queue of waiting bikes.

Local bus
These are very cheep and are a good way to get to other towns like Mapusa or Vagator but wont take you off the beaten track.

Motorcyle Taxi
These are a Goan specialty, simply pay the driver and he'll take you where you want to go, probably the cheapest form of public transport after local buses. Most short trips will be in the ₨ 100 range. You will find one at Starco Junction.

Get in

By train:
you have to get down at Mapusa train station:Thivim.
Then the cheapest is to take the local bus to Mapusa bus station: Kadamba. - go out of the train station, across the parking, and along the road, if you don't see the bus, ask around - Then in Kadamba, Just ask around where is the bus to Anjuna. It will cost you less than ₨ 10 to get to Anjuna from Mapusa by local bus (sometimes crowded).

By bus:
you'll arrive near Kadamba, or depending on the bus company sometimes directly inside Kadamba.