Anjuna Beach
Location of Beach
Anjuna lies at a distance of 18 kms from Panaji in north Bardez Taluka. The beach is a part of 30 km long beach coastline of Western Goa along the Arabian Sea. Anjuna is 8 kms west of Mapusa, just south of Vagator Beach and north of the Baga-Calangute-Candolim stretch.
Beach Overview
If you want to know about the ancient home of Hippies and their long unending period of leisurely pleasure, then Anjuna is the place to head for. It has one of the world's weirdest and most wonderful collections of over Landers, monks, defiant, ex-hippies, artists, craftsmen, explorers and roaming expatriates who wouldn't be seen out of the organic confines of their emporia in London. Anjuna is the place where red laterite cliff and white sands borders the beach, azure water swirls and bubbles between the rocks and the terraced coconut plantations soothe the mind.
Anjuna is divided into three parts - South, Middle and North, most of the activities are centred around north Anjuna Beach. The Middle Anjuna Beach has beachfront shacks while south of the Middle beach is the Flea market area which leads on to South Anjuna Beach. The beachside shacks and food outlets offer an amazing variety of international cuisines and the famous Wednesday Flea market attracts vendors from all over India to sell trinkets and handicrafts.
Actually, there is no point in trying to define what Anjuna is or what it looks like since it offers so many thing to different people. The only way to find out is stay here for few days, make some good friends and carry the memories as a souvenir for lifetime.
Beach Attractions
Water Sports : Water Sports in Anjuna Beach are limited to its southern end, where a rocky terrain keeps the sea calm. On calm days, Anjuna offers some snorkelling around the rocks in the sea and you can spot some mullet, parrotfish and groupers. Except at its southern end, Anjuna is unsafe for swimming, because of an unpredictable undertow. But if you do not plunge more than waist-deep into the water, there are minimum chances of harm.
Leisure Activities : Take a walk from the Flea market to Baga. The path winds its way along the hillside and ends near the Retreat House in Baga. The walk will provide you some fantastic views and a pleasant time. However, don't go out after dark, even if you have a torch as it is not safe. Nonetheless, there is a popular alternative for you - watch the sun go down in all its beauty and splendour.
Anjuna Flea Market : The Anjuna Flea Market began in the 1970s as a site where Hippies sold their valuables, when they were either broke or leaving the town. In between, it was banned for several years after the local church drove a campaign against it, but later, the market was revived by the Anjuna Panchayat. Today, a tradition that started decades ago is still followed by vendors who come here dressed in Hippi costume and take part in brisk selling of goods. Infact, here you will find the vendors not only from Goa, but also from Kashmir, Tibet and Gujarat selling their trinkets and handicrafts.
Most of the goods are cheap and you can collect whatever you like from A to Z of the daily necessary material. You also have the option of enjoying the traditional food of Goa at food stalls, ranging from yak cheese to hummus. Do not forget to bargain, as the vendors offer high bargain for everything.
Anjuna Flea is held every Wednesday over several acres of coconut plantation. The market begins at noon and ends after sunset when people start to leave the place. In full moon night, a mass party is organized here and the Hippi-empire turns into fair ground. Due to the popularity of the market you will find traffic jams on Wednesday, so boat cruise is a good way of getting to and from the market.
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