Location of Beach
Calangute
lies at the centre of the Bardez coast, flanked on its southern side by the
village of Candolim beach and on its northern side by the Baga beach. The
beach is 10 kms from Mapusa and 16 kms from Goa's capital Panaji.
Beach Overview
If you wish to enjoy the Goan nightlife, shop at colurful flea markets and
catch a glimpse of Hippies culture, then Calangute ends your search. Known
as the 'Queen of Goa's beaches' the 7 km long Calangute- Baga-Candolim
stretch will also mesmerize you with its pristine beauty. At Calangute you
will find nature at its blissful solitude, covered with sand dunes, bushes
and tamarisk trees.
First discovered in the late 1960s, Calangute, the calm and quiet village
of fishermen, became the Mecca of Hippies in 1970-80s. Over the decades,
Calangute's heyday as the land of Hippies has passed and the place has
settled down to the more common pursuits of selling handicrafts, jewellery
and woven fabrics to the tourists.
Today, the Baga-Calangute-Candolim stretch is packed with restaurants,
night-spots and night-markets. But between these restaurants, night-spots
and night-markets you can still get a glimpse of Calangute's old charm.
Beach Attractions
Water Sports : At Calangute Beach you can enjoy a number
of water sports like parasailing, water-skiing and windsurfing. You will
find more than a dozen water sports operators along the beach who offer
parasailing, windsurfing, banana and bump rides and water-skiing as well.
Swimming : Though Calangute is regarded a reasonably safe
place for swimming, still large waves have been known to pull swimmers out
to sea. Hence, be careful before you jump into the water. Try to restrict
yourself to the designated area.
Boat Trips : Apart from water sports operators, there are
large number of boat operators. You can go on dolphin spotting trips,
crocodile spotting trips, island trips, river cruises and fishing
expeditions.
Leisure Activities : When it comes to leisure, Calangute
is one of the few Goan beaches offering enough leisure options. Here the
sun, sand and sea together set a fabulous mood for a perfect holiday. While
you relax on the beach, watch the children making castles in the sand or get
the lovely view of sunset. Take a 15 minute walk from the beach to a vendor
free zone, where you will see the wooden boats and teams of fishermen
hauling nets in a high tide. While at beach, do not miss the stalls offering
sea foods such as prawns and lobsters. If you are a vegetarian do not loose
your heart, as there are eating joints for vegetarians also.
Nearby Attractions
Calangute Church : If you drive down from Mapusa, the
Church of St. Alex will announce your arrival at Calangute. First erected in
1595 by the villagers, this beautiful church has a exquisite white dome and
ornate altars. Built in the Rococo style, the church holds a platform that
originally belonged to the Church of St. Francis of Assisi in Old Goa. In
the churchyard, you can see a cave of Our Lady of Lourdes.
Kerkar Art Gallery : Kerkar Art Gallery is another
attraction near the Calangute beach. Here, you can see works of art and
craft of local artists. The Art Gallery organizes the night of Indian music
and dance, once in a week.
Shopping
If you want to do some shopping, visit the weekly Saturday market near the
Post Office. In the market you can shop for fish, meat, grocery, textiles,
pottery and several other items. You will also find the fine Tibetan and
Kashmiri carpets and embroidery items here. Do not buy the items at
first-hand price as the shops offer good bargains.
Best Time to Visit
Calangute
boasts of a pleasant climate, so you can visit the beach through the year.
The monsoon arrives Calangute in the month of June and remains till October,
better you should avoid this period. The best time to visit Calangute Beach
is between the months of December and February.
Where to Stay
Plenty of accommodation is available in the hotels, guest houses and
private residences. You can choose an accommodation option according to your
budget. Some of the most popular accommodation options of Calangute are
Kerkar Retreat, Hotel Goan Heritage, Hotel Golden Eye, Dona Cristalina,
Calangute Residency, Johnny's Hotel, Colonia Santa Maria, Villa Goesa and
Estrela do Mar.
How to Reach
Dabolim airport is 48 kms from Calangute, which is well-connected with
Delhi, Mumbai, Bangalore and several other Indian cities. From Dabolim
airport, you have to hire a pre-paid or private taxis to reach Calangute.
Nearest railheads are Thivim Station (15 kms) and Panaji Railway Station (16
kms) which have Super fast and express trains from the towns of Goa and
other states of India. Frequent buses are available from Panaji and Mapusa
town. For local transport motorcycle taxis and rickshaws are available.
