Mapusa Tourism
| The ramshackle market town of
Mapusa is the district headquarters of Bardez Taluka. If one arrives
by road from Mumbai and plan to stay in one of the north Goan
resorts, one can jump off the bus here and pick up a local service
straight to the coast, rather than continue on to Panjim, 13-km
south. |
Prime Attractions of Mapusa |
With its fluorescent painted palm trees and
infamous full moon parties, ANJUNA, 8-km west of Mapusa, is Goa at
its most "alternative". more..
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Baga, 10-km west of Mapusa, is basically an
extension of Calangute; even the locals are unable to decide where
ends and the other begin. more..
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Crouched in the shadow of a Portuguese fort on the
opposite, northern side of the headland from Vagator, Chapora, 10-km
from Mapusa, is a lot busier than most north coast villages.
more..
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Chapora fort was built by the Adil Shah of Bijapur
on the southern headland of the Chapora River. It was also known as
"Shahpur" and is now mostly ruined more..
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Barely a couple of kilometres of cliff tops and
parched grassland separate Anjuna from the southern fringes of its
nearest neighbour, Vagator, a desultory collection of ramshackle
farmhouses and picturesque old Portuguese bungalows
more..
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One of the most important Hindu monuments
in North Goa is the temple dedicated to Sri Kalika situated in the
Gillage Kansarpal near Assonora, a few kilometers away from the
Mapusa town. The Daivadnya Brahmans are the main devotes of this
deity. more..
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This is yet another temple situated at
Morjim in Pernem Taluka, which is about 15-km from Mapusa. The
temple complex is situated around sylvan surroundings.
more..
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Fairs & Festivals - Mapusa
 A
dusty collection of dilapidated modern buildings scattered around
the west facing slope of a low hill, Mapusa is of little more than
passing interest in itself, although on Fridays it hosts a lively
market (hence the town's name, which derives from the Konkani words
for "measure" map. And "fill up", sa).
Calangute and Anjuna may be better stocked with souvenirs, but this
bazaar is more authentic. Visitors who have flown straight to Goa,
and have yet to experience the rest of India, wander in on Friday
mornings to enjoy the pungent aromas of fish, incense, spices and
exotics fruit stacked in colourful heaps on the sidewalks.
Local specialties include strings of spicy Goan sausages
('Chourico'), bottles of 'Todi' (fermented palm juice) and large
green plantains. One'll also encounter sundry freak shows, from run
of the mill snake charmers and kids dressed up as Sadhus to
wide-eyed Flagellants, blood oozing out of slashes on their backs. |
How To Get There - Mapusa |
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By Road Other than to shop, one may
want to visit Mapusa to arrange onward transport. All buses between
Goa and Maharashtra pass through, so one doesn't need to travel to
Panjim to book a ticket to Mumbai, Pune, Bangalore or Mangalore.
Reservations for private buses can be made at the numerous agents
stalls at the bottom of the square, next to where the buses pull in;
the Kadamba Terminal - the departure point for long distance state
buses and local services to Calangute, Baga, Anjuna, Vagator,
Chapora, and Arambol - is five minutes walk down the main road, on
the southwest edge of town.
One can also get to the coast from Mapusa on one of the motorcycle
taxis that wait at the bottom of the square. Rides to Calangute and
Anjuna take twenty minutes. Taxis charges are considerably more, but
one can split the fare with up to five people. |
Places To Stay - MapusaNearly all long
distance buses pull in to Mapusa in the morning, leaving plenty of
time to find accommodation in the coastal resorts nearby. If one has
to spend the night here, though, there are plenty of places within
easy walking distance of the Kadamba Bus Stand. The best budget deal
is GTDC's Tourist Hotel, on the roundabout below the square, which
has spacious, and clean rooms, a Goa Tourist Information Counter,
and a small Damania Shipping Office. Resorts across town near the
Municipality Building on Mapsa Road, also offers good value economy
rooms. On the north side of the main square, are located the town's
top hotels.
Note: As soon as one steps off the bus, one will be pestered by
touts trying to get one to rent a motorbike. They'll tell one that
rates here are lower than on the coast - they're not. Another reason
to wait a while is that Mapusa is effectively a "no-go zone"
for rented motorbikes, especially on Friday, when the police set up
roadblocks on the outskirts of town to collar tourists without
international licenses.
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General Information - Mapusa |
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Main Attraction The Friday Local Market |
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Location Bardez Taluka, 13-km South Of
Panjim, Goa |
Suggested Tour Packages
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Tour
Code: GTT - 009
Duration: 14 Days
Destinations Covered: Chennai
- Mahabalipuram - Kanchipuram - Mahabalipuram - Tanjore - Trichy -
Madurai - Thekkady - Cochin - Goa - Mumbai |
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Tour
Code: GTT - 008
Duration: 16 Days
Destinations Covered: Mumbai
- Goa - Belgaum - Badami - Aihole - Pattadakal - Hospet - Hassan -
Shravanabelagola - Hassan-Madikeri -
Mysore-Srirangapatnam-Bangalore- Mumbai |
 |
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Tour
Code: GTT - 006
Duration: 5 Days / 4
Nights
Destinations Covered: Goa
- Panjim - Savoi - Panaji |
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Other Goa Holiday Packages |
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