Anjuna Flea Market

Flea Market

Contrary to the age old misconception that Goa is only a party destination , its an awesum place place for shopping too. It might not have multinational malls like Mumbai or Delhi or any other metropolitan city in India but it has the Anjuna Flea Market.

One night while chatting with a few elders from my village over drinks and a hookah, I learnt that the flea market came into existence many many years ago when tourists from Russia, Germany and England came to Goa, partied really hard and in the bargain spent all their money and were left stranded in Goa. So they all used to meet at Anjuna and sell whatever possessions they had and collect enough money to buy a ticket back to wherever they had come from.

Now almost 60 years later the Flea Market still exists. Albeit the foreigners selling things is replaced with Indians [Guajarati and Rajasthani women] selling their wares. But it is still a must visit if you happen to be in Goa on a Wednesday.

Most people that visit the flea market will describe it as truly a cultural shock, but a great experience. A must visit for you and your family if you happen to be in Goa on a Wednesday.

The original Wednesday Anjuna Flea Market is a must have experience for anyone visiting Goa.

Now in all honesty Anjuna WAS famous for its Wednesday Flea Market. Like in the 1960’s it was a popular hangout for hippies who sold their wares at the market. These days almost all the hippies are all gone.

This is a place where you’ll find trinkets and handicrafts – Tibetan, Kashmiri and Gujrati, T-shirts, Goan music, Indian clothing, bongs and other pipes, jewellery, ornaments etc. You can get your hair braided or a henna tattoo (Mehendi) and theres usually an elephant around for riding.

Its an interesting way to spend a couple of hours. Stop and have a drink or a meal at the market bar on the upper part of the beach, where there is usually music playing. The market is usually open only during tourist seasons (October to April). The rest of the year there a small market just above the main market.

Getting to the market will take a long time if you come by car. Which is why I would suggest follow the tourists and hire a RX-100 (or any other two stroke bike) because the traffic there on market days is so backed up on the one lane road a long way. You’ll get there faster if you are on a bike or take a boat from Baga Beach.

Anjuna is known throughout the world for its Flea Market. You can find stalls selling clothes, jewellery, souvenirs food, drink, cigarettes, artwork, shoes etc. Well basically everything. [However, it seems more geared up for women than men as the last time I went there I only found belts and watches for us guys].

The flea market starts at 9am and shuts down around sunset. There are plenty of tuk tuks or auto’s as they are commonly known as in the rest of India to get you home.