Mapusa Market

The Mapusa market goes about its business daily, except Sundays, but really gets going on Friday mornings. It’s a raucous affair that attracts vendors and shoppers from all over Goa, with an entirely different vibe to the Anjuna market. Here you’ll find locals haggling for clothing and produce, and you can also hunt out antiques, souvenirs and textiles. So significant is the market locally that the town’s name is derived from the Konkani words map (meaning ‘measure’) and sa (meaning ‘fill up’), in reference to the trade in spices, vegetables and fruit that’s plied here daily.

Mapusa Friday Market is a major weekly market in Mapusa, North Goa and a major tourist attraction. It is located outside the Mapusa Municipal Market. Friday sees many vendors from Bardez and Tiswadidescend on the stalls selling a staggering variety of local produce brought in by farmers and small entrepreneurs from all over Goa to sell directly to the consumer. The market winds up by dusk and Mapusa quickly gets back to normal. This market reflects the essence of Goa and it is a riot of colour and noise. Goan vendors dressed in their colourful best come in from the surrounding villages to sell their locally grown or manufactured wares, including spices of all kinds. Fresh fruits, mostly organically grown, is sold in abundance. The market is well known for its jewellery, pottery, spice, and carpet shops. Many of the stalls in the bazaar are grouped by type of goods, with special areas for straw hats, Goan home-made chouriço and the like. Strings of Goan chouriço, spiced and marinated pork sausages, are sold here. Seedless tamarind, or amot as it is known locally, is also traded in great demand.

Mapusa ("Mapsa") is located about 10 miles north of Panaji, inland from Baga and Anjuna beaches. There is a daily "local" market there - fruits, vegetables, fish and a maze of small stores selling all kinds of goods. 

But on Fridays it turns into something else. There is hardly space to walk with people taking up every bit of walkway space to show their goods. Although tourists come, it is not a "touristy" market. Locals buy their food and clothes and household items here. 

The selection of spices is amazing. Fruits and vegetables are huge and lucious looking. The smell of flowers fills the air. Stop at a stall for some chai, pick up some fresh pav, buy some nice Indian tops. Clay & Terracotta pots, ashtrays, etc. make great gifts/sovenirs. 

So much to see here! I definitely recommend the Mapusa Market (prices are much better than at Anjuna). Bring your camera! Get there early - before the sun. Wear sunscreen and comfortable shoes.

What You Get There?

It is one of the last f the traditional bazaars

·         Women from neighboring villages selling assorted wares

·         Home-made pickles, preserves to Goan sausage

·         Coir mats and earthen pots

·         If you are lucky- antique glasses & wares!

In addition to the regular lively market of Mapusa, Fridays the traditional bazaar. One of the few remaining authentic bazaars left in Goa. Women from the neighbouring villages convene here early every Friday morning to fight for space, squatting under beaten hand-held umbrella to sell their wares. Everything and anything is sold here for dried fish, spices, jack fruit, plantain bananas to homemade pickles and preserves, spices, earthen pots, coir mats, and the famous home-cured Goan sausage, the local chorizo. If you are lucky you may also find some antique curios.  The market shuts down shortly after sunset, so get there early!

Mapusa Friday Market is a major weekly market in Mapusa, North Goa and a major tourist attraction. It is located outside the Mapusa Municipal Market. Friday sees many vendors from Bardez and Tiswadidescend on the stalls selling a staggering variety of local produce brought in by farmers and small entrepreneurs from all over Goa to sell directly to the consumer. The market winds up by dusk and Mapusa quickly gets back to normal.

The Trade

This market reflects the essence of Goa and it is a riot of colour and noise. Goan vendors dressed in their colourful best come in from the surrounding villages to sell their locally grown or manufactured wares, including spices of all kinds. Fresh fruits, mostly organically grown, is sold in abundance. The market is well known for its jewellery, pottery, spice, and carpet shops. Many of the stalls in the bazaar are grouped by type of goods, with special areas for straw hats, Goan home-made chouriço and the like. Strings of Goan chouriço, spiced and marinated pork sausages, are sold here. Seedless tamarind, or amot as it is known locally, is also traded in great demand.