One of the main commercial hubs of Goa, Mapusa is just 13km from capital Panjim. The city is popular among tourists because it is the gateway to most of famous beaches in north Goa. It is a small and busy town with modern buildings and bustling markets, spread across the slopes of a small hillock called Altinho. Mapusa is renowned for its Friday market. This age old market was first heard by a Dutch historian, who described it as " Bazaar Grande". The popularity grew out of an ancient festivals in honor of the God Kanakeshwar Baba, Bodgeshwar temple in Mapusa is dedicated to this god. A large number of people visited the festival with their offerings of pots and light lamps. Mapusa became a commercial town as well as pilgrimage center. Today, there is no festival happen in here but the age old tradition made Friday market to grow to its current size and contour.

Sights And Activities

Friday Market
Friday market in Mapusa is old and renowned place where every Friday people from different parts of Goa buy and sell their goods in this crowded place. Women 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. The market is an excellent to observe the essence of Goa. In midst of riot of color and noise, Goan housewives attired in colorful best, sell their locally grown or manufactured wares, including spices, locally-grown fruit, dried fish, toddy vinegar and clothes. The best part of the market is despite of good bargains, you still chance of higgling.

Bodhgeshwar Temple
This is small but highly revered by the local people, lies beautifully under a huge banyan tree. Bodgeshwar temple is dedicated to Lord Kanakeshwar who is believed to be very accessible and seat under a banyan tree. Goans of all faiths would come to him with troubles and he would offer solutions, an age old tradition still continues into the present. The Hanuman Theater just across the road from the temple holds local plays - tiatrs in Konkani, nataks in Marathi and performances by visiting artists from outside Goa.

Milagres Feast
Milagres feast celebrated every third Sunday after Easter in St Jerome's Church. The church is also known as Church of Our Lady of Milagres. The second feat is important to both Hindus and Christians, who participate int he feast with equal fanfare. The fest is three day process with many cultural activities, crowned by the Milagres Queen Contest. The feast is an annual Easter festival.

Swiss Chapel
This chapel is close by the heritage buildings of Mapusa Court, St Mary's School and the Communidade building at the crossroads near the municipal building. It has a quaint cream and blue colored wooden altar and shrine.