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- Destinations
- Asia
- India
- Goa
- Calangute Beach
Calangute Beach
Once a peaceful fishing village - and then a haven for
hedonistic hippies - Calangute is now Goa's busiest and most
commercialised holiday resort, a 45-minute bus ride north of the
capital, Panaji. 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,
but haggle hard and don't be afraid to walk away (the same stuff
will crop up again and again).
The Calangute beach is nothing special, but is more than large
enough to accommodate the huge numbers of holiday visitors. To
escape the hawkers, visitors should head fifteen minutes or so
south of the main beachfront area, towards the rows of old wooden
boats moored below the dunes. There, teams of villagers haul in
their nets at high tide, and fishermen will be seen fixing their
tack under bamboo shacks.
Calangute's bars and restaurants are mainly grouped around the
entrance to the beach, and along Baga Road. As with most Goan
resorts, the accent is firmly on seafood, though many places also
offer vegetarian dishes, and western breakfasts feature
prominently. Thanks to repeated crackdowns by the Goan police on
parties and loud music, Calangute's nightlife is surprisingly tame,
with most bars closing by 10pm. A notable exception is Tito's at
the Baga end of the beach, and Pete's Bar, a hippie hangout that
offers affordable drinks, backgammon sets and relentless reggae
until the early hours.
Information & Facts
Language
Although English is generally used for official and
business purposes, Hindi is the official language and is spoken by
about 40 percent of the population. Urdu is the language common
with the Muslim demographic. India has a total of 22 official
languages
Money
The currency is the Indian Rupee (INR), which is divided into
100 paise (singular paisa). Major currencies can be changed at
banks, and authorised bureaux de changes. It is impossible to
obtain rupees outside India, but no matter what time you arrive in
India there will be an exchange office open at the airport. It is
illegal to exchange money through the black market and it is
advisable to refuse torn notes, as no one will accept them apart
from the National Bank. It is best to change money into small
denominations. Travellers cheques and major credit cards are widely
accepted, particularly in tourist orientated establishments. ATMs
are not generally available.
Night Life
Apart from Pete's and Tito's, there are a number of bars that
stay open until 10pm. Bob's Inn and Angela P. Fernandes are two
places that serve great drinks and can be trusted to stay open for
a few hours once the sun has set.
Restaurants
Calangute has a mouthwatering selection of restaurants to choose
from. A staunch favourite is Le Jardin, which is great for a quick
snack or a large meal. Try their Greek meze platter or the grilled
fillet of fish, served with a delicious coriander sauce. Their fish
and chips with mushy peas is a hit with British tourists. I95 is a
hidden gem found in Calangute, and a great place for family dining.
Their beef wellington will have you back for more, while the
'sweets menu' is exceptional.