The change has definitely not been sudden. Vagator, a place
that was a preferred haunt of mostly the hippies until a few years ago, has
undergone subtle yet steady changes over the years to accommodate international
and domestic tourists whilst entertaining a healthy number of locals as well.
From playing host to some of India’s best events to some of the most happening
parties in town, Vagator has it all. And to seal the deal for the wandering
foodie, this place has restaurants that serve cuisine from all corners of the
world, which in turn has made Vagator the most interesting place to be in Goa.
EVENTS / PARTIES:
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Thanks to its vast tracts of open land, most of which offers
a breathtaking view of the sea, Vagator is perfect to manage a huge gathering
of people and that by default puts it in the perfect spot to be chosen as the
preferred venue for big-scale events. Annual events like Royal Enfield Rider
Mania, which starts on November 20 this year, Krank – a boutique music event
that invites some of the country’s and world’s best music talent, have chosen
Vagator as the regular venue. Priyam Cornuit, Director/Partner of Indivibe
Entertainment the event company that
organises Krank, says, “Over the years, Krank has been moving across various
parts of North Goa. It started in Candolim, then Morjim, then Siolim, and last
year it happened in Vagator. The main decision for this was Chronicle being in
Vagator and the beauty of the venue that comes with a great view of the ocean.
Also, with some of the popular up-market places like Thalassa and others being
nearby, the area attracts a crowd that fits perfectly with the Krank boutique
concept. The issue we faced with Krank in Ashvem/Morjim was that it was quite
far off from the other happening areas. The current location is great – it’s
close to Anjuna and not too far from the Baga-Calangute-Candolim area.”
RESTAURANTS:
If Greek food is your thing, a visit to Thalassa will
probably be the first check-box in your list. Apart from being the only
stand-alone restaurant that serves the most awesome Greek food, Thalassa also
offers a panoramic sea view that is just wow! Along with Thalassa, Sakana – the
only stand-alone restaurant that serves authentic Japanese cuisine, is also a
must-visit in Vagator. And if that weren’t enough, the latest to be smitten by
the beauty of Vagator is none other than MasterChef Australia Season 6
contestant Sarah Todd who will be opening her restaurant, Antares, later this
month. The restaurant is said to serve modern Aussie cuisine. When asked if
there has been any remarkable change in terms of the kind of crowd that has
been frequenting Vagator in the past couple of years, Ashish Kapur, Partner,
Antares, says, “Yes definitely. Vagator, which used to be more a place that
would attract the hippy crowd in Goa, has now, over the last few years, started
attracting more cosmopolitan and upper class tourists from all over the world.
So surely the establishments that exist in this belt of Goa have made a
difference. The tourists and even the local Goans now choose to be in trendier
spots which gives more of a ‘glocal’ (global+local) experience. Vagator caters
to this, be it their restaurants or clubs.”
PUBS / NIGHTCLUBS:
It is still not clear as to whether the hill top area in
Vagator gets its name from the Hill Top – the nightclub that is housed there or
vice versa. Known to host some of the craziest parties that go on till the wee
hours, Hill Top is joined by other players such as 9 Bar, Waters Beach Lounge
and Grill and other little joints that attract a huge number of EDM fans that
make the most of being in this part of the capital party of India. Samar
Merchant, Director/Partner, Waters Beach Lounge and Grill, says, “Vagator used
to predominantly have hippie and artisan crowd, a hangover from the ’60s and
’70s era. There is still of lot of this community that resides here and in the
surrounding areas, which helped bring an international flavour to Vagator.
Their influence in the early rave scene and food arena made Vagator appealing
initially to the trendy and affluent metro crowd and helped put this hidden gem
on the map in Goa. Baga and Calangute are well known tourist destinations but
overly saturated, commercial and have lost their appeal to the tourist with a
more refined travel ethic and palate. There are very few beach front properties
in Baga and Calangute that are easily and directly accessible, which works in
Vagator’s favour. With narrow back roads, tucked away watering holes and
stunning views from the cliffs, the charm of Vagator still remains.”
THE DOWN SIDE:
While Vagator has a lot that works in its favour, it also
comes with its share of negatives that owners of businesses in this area wish
were taken care of. Priyam says, “During the peak time at the end of December,
the infrastructure of the area is not made to handle large crowds and their
vehicles. So logistics and parking become an issue, with some people not being
able to reach the area, let alone move around in the area.” Ashish Kapur
seconds the thought and says, “I think it is not just Vagator; setting up any
large entity in Goa is a challenge with respect to infrastructure.” On an
optimistic note, Merchant concludes, “Having started operations here two years
ago with my partners, the biggest challenge then was drawing a crowd and
raising brand awareness as Vagator wasn’t as popular and well promoted as Baga
or Calangute. Other businesses in this area were sparse and Vagator was
considered far from the popular holiday stays. With a sustained effort from our
team and other well-known brands seeing the potential of this area, Vagator has
now become one of the top destinations in Goa. We welcome all new developments
as it helps draw business and attention to this area, benefiting everyone.”
