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 N
ightlife & 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.
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.
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.