CALANGUTE
Area: Goa
Country: India


Location:
Halfway down the W coast of India, in the N part of the state of Goa. 10 miles NW of Panjim; 30 miles NW of Dabolim airport.

Telephone code from UK:
91 832

Website:
http://www.goacom.com (commercial site)

Position:
On a long, W-facing beach backed by rolling farmland; adjoins the village of Baga to the N.

Description:
This small, bustling working town is also one of Goa's busiest resorts, with a prominent Hindu temple and a main street bursting with shops, stalls, traffic and pedestrians. Many tourist stalls are found at the far end. Calangute is an appealing place, where tourists mingle with local people going about their business, although it also has a fair share of touts and persistent vendors. Farther to the N, the resort merges with the neighbouring resort village Baga.

Suitability:
Most will find something to suit, but not at the luxury end of the scale. May be too bustling and commercialised for some. Popular with package tourists in peak season (October_April); at this time, most of the hotels are full and at their most expensive.

Accommodation:
A range of accommodation, generally smaller lower to middle-grade hotels spread around town, with concentrations off the main shopping street and to the S of the village. Some beachside properties and larger, well-equipped, secluded resort-type accommodation.

Shopping:
The town is virtually a bazaar, with everyday shops as well as hundreds of stalls offering tourist goods _ fabrics, silks, weavings, carved wood and an array of local products. Some international chain stores, including the likes of Benetton and Lacoste.

Beach:
Central portion of the broad, sandy Calangute Beach, which extends more than a mile in either direction. Traditional fishing catamarans are drawn up in some places, while "shacks" _ bars and beach restaurants _ occupy much of the beach above the high-tide line. There are often large waves and a strong undertow, although careful swimming is possible.

Entertainments:
Daytime: some water sports. Kerkar Art Gallery. Colonial-era churches. Football pitches. Some hotels offer tennis and badminton courts. Boat and fishing trips. Nightlife: occasional informal beach parties, where fireworks are on sale. The hotels lay on entertainments usually at least a couple of nights per week during peak season (October_April). The town is quite lively at night, with many bars, but often shuts down by about 10pm. More nightlife offered in nearby lively Baga, with its many bars and a nightclub.

Eating:
Many restaurants, but the choice of cuisine is quite limited. One burger joint, but not of the renowned international chain variety. Pizza delivery. Most restaurants serve Goan, Indian, regional and Chinese fare; many offer their versions of European and international dishes. Tibetan restaurant. Seafood is naturally plentiful and very fresh.

Public-transport:
Frequent bus service to Panjim and Mapusa; regular service up the coast to Anjuna. Taxis, rickshaws and taxi-motorbikes are ever present. A few places to hire motorbikes and mopeds. Some larger hotels offer courtesy transport to various nearby beaches and markets, and to Mapusa and Anjuna. Boats take keen shoppers to Anjuna market from Little Baga Beach to the N.

Local-excursions:
Mapusa (a large town to the N) holds a market Monday_Saturday, with the big day on Friday: everything from clothes and everyday goods to a vast array of flowers and local produce. Wednesday flea market at Anjuna. Sightseeing and shopping in the capital, Panjim. Magnificent Portuguese colonial churches at Old Goa. Historic Hindu and Muslim temples throughout the district of Ponda. Dudhsagar waterfalls in the interior. Crocodile Dundee river trip; Sinbad voyage; spice plantation; jeep safaris. 3-day trips to some of India's main sights, including Taj Mahal, Delhi and Mumbai; these can cost as much as the package holiday itself.