Anjuna, located in North Goa, is one of the most famous villages in India. Known for its beaches, flea markets, and nightlife, Anjuna’s history reflects a unique blend of ancient traditions, Portuguese colonial heritage, hippie culture, and the birth of Goa Trance.

Below is a detailed history of Anjuna.

1. Ancient and Pre-Portuguese Era (Up to 16th Century)

• Agricultural Beginnings: Long before it was a tourist destination, Anjuna was a simple, fertile village. Its name is believed to be derived from the Arabic word ‘Anjuman’, meaning “a meeting place” or from a local term referring to a type of coconut tree (anjir), indicating its agrarian nature.
• Kadamba Dynasty: The area was part of the territory ruled by the Kadamba dynasty (10th to 14th centuries), a period known for developing Goa’s agrarian economy and local administrative systems.
• Village Structure: The social and administrative life revolved around the communidade system—a unique form of land ownership and village governance where the land was collectively owned by the descendants of the original Brahmin settlers.

2. Portuguese Colonial Period (1510–1961)

• Forced Conversion and Religious Shift: The Portuguese arrival in the 16th century had a profound impact. Like the rest of the Velhas Conquistas (Old Conquests), the Portuguese pursued a aggressive policy of religious conversion. The local Hindu population was forced to convert to Roman Catholicism or flee to the neighbouring Hindu kingdoms.
• Architectural Legacy: This period left a lasting architectural and cultural mark:
  • St. Michael’s Church: Built in the 17th century (1619), this beautiful white-washed church is a classic example of Portuguese-Baroque architecture. It became the new social and religious heart of the converted village.
  • Chapel of St. Anthony: Another smaller chapel dedicated to the patron saint of lost things.
• Socio-Economic Life: Under Portuguese rule, Anjuna remained a primarily agricultural and fishing village. The communidade system was co-opted by the Portuguese but continued to function. Life was slow-paced, dictated by the monsoon cycles and the Catholic liturgical calendar.

3. The Hippie Revolution (1960s & 1970s)

• The Arrival of the First Travelers: After Goa’s liberation from Portuguese rule in 1961, the first intrepid Western travelers began to arrive overland via the “Hippie Trail.” Anjuna’s pristine, crescent-shaped beach, cheap cost of living, and tolerant local community made it an ideal haven.
• The “Eight Finger Eddie” Legend: The arrival of an American ex-pat named Eight Finger Eddie (real name: Eddie Garver) is often cited as the catalyst. He “discovered” Anjuna and began telling other travelers about this paradise, effectively founding the hippie colony.
• A Global Countercultural Mecca: Throughout the 60s and 70s, Anjuna became a legendary destination for hippies, artists, musicians, and seekers from Europe and America. They were drawn by:
  • Freedom: Escape from Western societal constraints.
  • Psychedelic Culture: Easy availability of drugs, particularly cannabis and LSD.
  • Music and Lifestyle: A life of sun, sea, spirituality, and psychedelic rock music.
• The Wednesday Flea Market: What started as a small gathering for hippies to barter and sell their belongings (clothes, jewelry, crafts) to fund their extended stays evolved into the now-world-famous Anjuna Flea Market, a key part of its identity.

4. The Rave and Electronic Music Era (1980s–2000s)

• From Psychedelic Rock to Goa Trance: The hippie culture gradually evolved. In the 1980s, parties on the beach featuring electronic music began to emerge. This sound, a hypnotic, melodic, and psychedelic form of electronic music, became known globally as “Goa Trance.”
• Full Moon Parties: Anjuna, along with beaches like Vagator, became the epicenter of all-night, open-air full moon parties and psychedelic trance festivals, attracting a new generation of party tourists from across the world. This cemented its reputation as a party capital.

5. Modern Era and Mass Tourism (2000s–Present)

• Commercialization: The 21st century saw massive commercialization. Anjuna transformed from a secluded hippie enclave into a mainstream tourist destination.
• Diverse Crowd: Today, it caters to a wide spectrum of visitors: backpackers seeking the bohemian legacy, middle-aged “hippies” reliving their youth, Israeli post-army travelers, and luxury tourists drawn to its cliff-side bars and restaurants.
• Balancing Act: The village now grapples with the challenges of preserving its unique character and environment amidst the pressures of mass tourism, real estate development, and the shifting trends of the global travel industry.

✅ Conclusion

The history of Anjuna is a story of dramatic reinvention. It journeyed from a:

1. Traditional Portuguese-Catholic village defined by agriculture and religion,
2. to a global symbol of counterculture and bohemian freedom in the 1960s,
3. into the birthplace of a globally influential music genre (Goa Trance),
4. and finally, to a bustling, commercialized, yet still iconic tourist destination.

Its historical significance lies not in ancient monuments or grand colonial forts, but in its profound cultural impact on 20th-century Western youth culture and its role as a melting pot where East met West in a unique and transformative way. Anjuna is a living archive of alternative history, whose legacy continues to shape its present and future.