A
visitor can be given free entry into Addu Atoll
without the proof of having sufficient funds and a
return ticket, if a written letter is submitted to
the Immigration by a local sponsor, prior to the
arrival.
Detail
»
GLOBAL TERRORISM WARNING
You should be aware of the risk
of indiscriminate terrorist attacks in
public places anywhere in the world. Be
vigilant, and take sensible precautions.
Location: 16-km From Panjim,
North Goa Nearby Attraction: Baga Beach Best Time To Visit: December To
February
A mere 45 minute bus ride up the coast from the capital, Calangute is 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. In the 1970s
and early 1980s, this once peaceful fishing Village epitomized Goa's reputation
as a haven for hedonistic hippies.
The Town And The 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.
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.
To escape the hawkers, head fifteen minutes or so south of the main beachfront
area, towards the rows of olf wooden boats moored below the dunes. In this
virtually hawker-free zone, one'll only come across teams of villagers hauling
in hand nets at high tide or fishermen fixing their tack under bamboo sun
shakes.
A Taste Of Indian Heritage
Finally, don't miss the chance to sample some real Indian culture while you are
in Calangute. The Ekrkar Art Gallery, in Gaura Vaddo, at the south end of town,
hosts evenings of classical music and dance every Tuesday and complete with
incense and evocative candlelight. The recitals, performed by students and
teachers from Panjim's Kala Academy, are kept comfortably short for the benefit
of Western visitors, and are preceded by a short introductory talk. Tickets are
available in advance or at the door.
Note: Wherever one goes, though, remember that
Calangute's no nudism rule is for real and enforced by special police patrols;
this includes topless bathing.
Road:
Buses from Mapusa and Panjim pull in at the small
bus stand cum Market Square in the centre of Calangute. Some continue to Baga,
stopping at the crossroads behind the beach en route. Get off here if one can,
as it's closer to most of the hotels.
Places to
Stay:
Calangute
is chock-full of places to stay. Demand only outstrips supply in the Christmas -
New Year high season, and at Diwali. Most of the inexpensive accommodation
consists of small rooms in family homes, or in concrete annexes tacked onto the
backs of houses. The top hotels are nearly all gleaming white, exclusive villa
complexes with pools, and direct beach access.
Eating Out:
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 seafood, though many places tack on a few token vegetarian dishes. Western
breakfasts also feature prominently.
NIGHTLIFE IN CALANGUTE BEACH
Thanks to repeated crackdowns by the Goan police on parties and loud music,
Calangute's nightlife is surprisingly tame. 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 11.00 pm off-season and into the small hours in late
December and January.
Unfortunately, the only other places that consistently stay open through the
night are a couple of dull 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 most lively, offering affordable drinks, backgammon sets and
relentless reggae. Further afield, Bob's Inn, between Calangute and Candolim, is
another popular bar, famed less for its court around a large table in the front
bar.
Tip: To
avoid Bombay
going north
'Poona' is the
quickest bypass
route as Bombay
is best avoided
for travelling
through
USEFUL INFORMATION
Bikes On Rent: Motorcycle taxis hang
around the little sandy square behind GTDC's tourist resort, next to the steps
that drop down to the beachfront. Ask around here if one wants to rent a
motorcycle. Rates are standard; the nearest filling station is five minutes'
walk from the beach, back towards the market on the right-hand side of the main
road. Bicycles are also widely available for rent.
Exchange: There's a State Bank Of India on the
main street, but the best place to change money and Travellers Cheques is Wall
Street finances, opposite the petrol pump and in the shopping complex on the
beachfront. If they are closed, try the fast and friendly ENEM finances in Baga.
For visa encashments, go to The Bank Of Baroda, just north of the temple and
market area; a flat commission fee is levied on all visa withdrawls.
