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.
Places to see
Anjuna Beach || Baga Beach
|| Chapora Beach || Chapora Fort || Vagator Beach || Sri Kalika
Temple || Sri Morjee Temple
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 reach :
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.
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