 A
45 minute bus ride up to the coast from the city of Panjim bring one to
Calangute, Goa's busiest and most commercialized resort, and the
flagship of the state government's bid for a bigger slice of India's
package-tourist pie. This peaceful fishing village was a favourite
hideout of the hippies in the 70's and 80's. Today, Calangute beach
symbolise Goa's reputation as a haven for beach and coastal splendour
Shopping At Calangute Beach
The road from the town to the beach is lined with Kashmiri-run
handicraft boutiques and Tibetan stalls selling Himalayan curios and
jewellery. The quality of the goods - mainly Rajasthani, Gujarati and
Karnatakan textiles - is generally high. Haggle hard and don't be afraid
to walk away from a heavy sales pitch - the same stuff crops up every
Wednesday at Anjuna's flea market.
Leisure Activities At Calnagute Beach
The beach itself is nothing special, with steeply shelving sand, but is
more than large enough to accommodate the huge numbers of high-season
visitors.
Head fifteen minutes or so south of the main beachfront area, towards
the rows of old wooden boats moored below the dunes. In this virtually
hawker-free zone, one' will only come across teams of villagers hauling
in hand nets at high tide or fishermen fixing their tack under bamboo
sun shakes.
Water Sports At Calangute
Calangute also makes a perfect beach site if you want to indulge in
some water sports activities. Parasailing, water skiing and wind surfing
at the Calangute beach starts in the afternoon when the wind is blowing
just in the right direction and it goes on till sunset.
Eating Out Joints & Restaurants
Calangute's bars and restaurants are mainly grouped around the entrance
to the beach and along the Baga road. As with most Goan resorts, the
accent is firmly on tempting seafood, though many places also serve
vegetarian dishes. Western breakfasts also feature prominently at some
of the restaurants in Calangute.
Nightlife & Entertainment At Calangute
Calangute's nightlife is surprisingly tamed and provide a nice break
from the wild parties at Anjuna. All but a handful of the bars wind up
by 10.00 pm. One notable exception is Tito's at the Baga end of the
beach, which stays open until after midnight in the off-season and into
the small hours in late December and January.
The other places that consistently stay open through the night at
Calangute are a couple of hippy hang-outs in the woods to the south of
the beach road. Pete's Bar, a perennial favourite next door to Angela P.
Fernandes, is generally the liveliest, offering affordable drinks,
backgammon sets and relentless reggae. Further afield, Bob's Inn,
between Calangute and Candolim beaches, is another popular bar.
Attractions Around Calangute Beach
Kerkar Art Gallery: Located at close proximity is the Kerkar Art
Gallery, displaying the paintings and sculptures of various talented,
upcoming artists of Goa. The gallery also hosts a night of Indian music
and dance, once every week.
Church Of St. Alex: As the vast tourist traffic on the CHOGM
road reaches the village site of Calangute, the Church of St Alex greets
the visitors with its two towers and a magnificent dome gracing the façade.
The inside of the church is a display of the line and beauty of its
architectural style and attractive altars.
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