Mapusa in Goa IndiaPopular Friday Market in MapusaMapusa Facts Getting There Things to See and DoOnly a few of the roads and lanes in Mapusa’s business area have names and even fewer residents know them. Instead, they use landmarks to navigate and so should you. The biggest ones are the Municipal Market, the Bodhgeshwar Temple and the Kadamba Bus Stand, from where Mapusa radiates. Friday Market in MapusaToday, Mapusa is synonymous with its Friday Market, located outside the Mapusa Municipal Market. Friday sees most housewives from Bardez and Tiswadi descend on the stalls selling a staggering variety of local produce brought in by farmers and small entrepreneurs from all over Goa India, to sell directly to the consumer.If you are looking for the essence of Goa India, this market is a must-see on your itinerary. The place is a riot of colour and noise. Goan women dressed in their colourful best come in from surrounding villages to sell their locally grown or manufactured wares, including spices of all kinds. You get great bargains here. Fresh fruit, mostly organically grown, is in abundance. That elusive smell that has your nose twitching is Goa’s secret ingredient for all those wonderful sweet and sour curries – round lumps of seedless tamarind, or amot as it is known locally, in great demand in traditional Goan kitchens. There’s Goa’s good red rice, responsible they say for the longevity and good health of rural Goa. Get yourself a string of churis or Goa’s mouth-watering sausages, spiced and marinated in feni. No sausage anywhere else in the world tastes like the Goan churis. The sausage can be fried, or boiled, or added to an ordinary dish for extra zing. The best part of shopping in the Friday Market is, despite the good bargains, you are still expected to haggle. Never pay the first price asked, where it is over trinkets, straw hats, dried fish or furniture. The Friday Market winds up by dusk and this place quickly gets back to normal, until the following Friday. Bodhgeshwar TempleWhether you see it by night or day, the Bodhgeshwar Temple nestled under a banyan tree is something special. Lit up, it glows like a jewel with the night sky above.Bodhgeshwar was a very accessible God who used to sit below the banyan tree around which this small but beautiful temple has been built. Goans of all faiths would come to him with their troubles and he would offer solutions, a tradition that continues into the present. Milagres Feast The Mapusa Church has two names. It is known as St Jerome’s Church with the Saint’s feast celebrated in October. It is also known as the Church of Our Lady of Milagres, with the Milagres feast celebrated every third Sunday after Easter. This second feast is important to both Hindus and Christians, who participate in the festivities with equal zest. The festivities are spread over three days with a plethora of cultural activities, crowned by the Milagres Queen contest. Swiss Chapel This chapel is quite close to the heritage buildings of Mapusa Court, St Mary’s School and the Communidade building at the crossroads near the Municpal Building. It has a quaint cream and blue coloured wooden altar and shrine. The chapel celebrates the Holy Cross Feast at the beginning of Lent. After nine-day novena prayers, Carnival begins. Where to Stay in MapusaIf you are looking for luxury hotels, this is not the place for you.Hotel Satyaheera, has a popular rooftop restaurant Ruchira. Hotel Shalini, is near the cluster of banks at Tali Vaddo. This is a budget hotel that has double rooms, 3-bedded, 4-bedded and 5-bedded rooms. Green Park, at Guirim Junction and Triti International, in Gaunsa Vaddo are the best hotels. Where to Eat in MapusaRestaurants are in the main city and opposite the Industrial Estate.Try Hotel Vrindavan, for South Indian food or Moon Light near the Municpal Garden. Ruchira Restaurant is popular as is Babaji, a juice and snack bar that sells packed meals. Try Bawarchi, or the more upmarket Satyaheera, both next to the Hanuman temple. Scour the municipal market for some of the city’s famous bakeries. Simonia Bakery, serves the best pinagre, dodol, doce and bebinca. St Francis Baker, is also a must visit as is the Café Aurora that serves Goan food. Return from Mapusa page to Goa-Holidays-and-Hotels Home Page
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