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Mapusa City
Most Popular for Friday Market

Mapusa is derived from the Konkani word "Maap", which means measure. Besides being the capital of the Bardez taluka, it is also the largest town in northern Goa.

Before a series of invasions by the Aryans, Marathas, Sultans and Portuguese, Mapusa was an agrarian community with its villagers working on the community land and sharing the profits. Legend has it that Mapusa has grown and prospered because of Lord Bodhgeshwar's benevolence.

Located on NH17 connecting Mumbai to Panaji, Mapusa is in the centre of Bardez taluka and is a convenient point to access the beaches on the Bardez coast.

HOW TO GET THERE

You can take a taxi from Dabolim Airport (45km), Thivim Station (8km) or Panaji (13km) to reach Mapusa. Try the Kadamba bus shuttle to get here.

PLACES TO VISIT

The Friday Market

Tourists throng the Friday Market, held outside Mapusa Municipal market. You can shop here for local fruits, plants, vegetables and spices from Goa and elsewhere. Women from surrounding villages come here specially to sell their wares in the Friday Market. Unlike the Anjuna Flea Market, this market is an overwhelmingly local affair and caters to the needs of local people who come here to buy food, provisions, clothes and accessories. You will have to bargain wisely to get fair deals on antiques, textiles and souvenirs.

Bodhgeshwar Temple

For tourists, a visit to the Bodhgeshwar Temple is an enriching experience. Folklore has it that the temple was built around an old "Bodgo" tree that Lord Bodhgeshwar used to sit under. The old custom of providing solutions to those in adverse situations continues till today.

The Hanuman Theatre

In the theatre, located across the road from the Bodhgeshwar Temple, you can watch plays like tiatrs in Konkani, nataks in Marathi and performances by groups from outside Goa.

Churches in Mapusa

The Mapusa Church, located on St. Jerome Road, past Asilo Hospicio, which is actually the St. Jerome's Church, is better known as the Church of Our Lady of Milagres.

The Feast of St. Jerome is celebrated in October. The Milagres Feast is important for Christians and Hindus and is celebrated with great fervour for three days in the Church of Our Lady of Milagres.

Close to the buildings of Mapusa Court, St. Mary's School and the Communidade building is the Swiss Chapel. This chapel has a cream-and-blue-coloured wooden altar and shrine. The Holy Cross Feast that falls in the beginning of Lent is celebrated here.

ACCOMMODATION

Mapusa has only basic accommodation, and is not the place for those looking for luxury hotels.

WHERE TO EAT

The night food market has plenty of options if you are looking for cheap food. Also available are good vegetarian thalis, South Indian food and a few international dishes.

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