Goa in the 70s & 80s – Welcome to Paradise

What was it about Goa, the former Portuguese colony, that became the smallest Indian state in 1961, that made it into a haven for hippies, freaks, misfits and independent minds from around the world? These rare photos can give you a clue of how paradise looked!

Don’t forget to check our article and photo gallery about Goa in the 1990s.

Electronic music started to find its way to Goa and these parties in the late 80s, and so it became the cradle to the movement we know these days as Goa Trance

We all heard of Goa Trance parties, we all been to one of their incarnations (we hope so anyway). But it didn’t start with a DJ and electronic music (though you can see the beginning of these in the photos in the end of the article). Goa, The small state in India on the shores of the Indian Ocean was a haven for hippies arriving on the hippie trail overland to India since the early 70s. Many people concluded their journeys on the beaches of Goa. Some of these people just stayed in Goa, either through the year, or coming back for the season and living again for other destinations when Monsoon struck. Full Moon parties were happening in Goa since the mid 1970, with sound systems carried by hands to far away empty (then) beaches, and stages erected for jam bands that played all night long concerts. There were a lot of drugs, a lot of freedom and very few rules. The legendary Anjuna flea market started also in those times.

Full Moon parties were happening in Goa since the mid 1970, with sound systems carried by hands to far away empty (then) beaches, and stages erected for jam bands that played all night long concerts.

Electronic music started to find its way to Goa and these parties in the late 80s, and so it became the cradle to the movement we know these days as Goa Trance that emerged in Goa in the 90s later developed into psytrance and all its broad sub-genres, and more important to the psychedelic culture that is manifested till today around the globe when millions of people gather together in small parties and huge festivals to dance together. So go back in time to Goa in the 70s & 80s where and when it all started. Welcome to Paradise!

Goa in the 70s & 80s – photo gallery

Below you can find a series of photos taking you through that decade collected by isratrance.com from around the web. The photos show Goa in the 70s & 80s and are arranged chronologically.



Dancing in the sands of Anjuna Beach in the 1970s (Photo by Sunny Schneider).



Full Moon party in Goa in mid 1970s (photo credit unavailable)



Goa Gil & Arriane in their house in Goa in the early 1970s (Photo by Goa Gil).



The first Flea Market, Anjuna, Goa, 1970s (Photo by Jacques Lasry).



Early Flea market on Anjuna Beach, Goa, 1970s (Photo credit unavailable)



Girl selling Hashish & Charas in Anjuna flea market, early 1970s (Photo by Michael Palmieri).



Calengute Beach, Goa, 1974 (Photo by Scott Holocomb).



Anjuna Flea Market, mid 1970s (Photo credit unavailable).



2nd or 3rd Full Moon Party on South Anjuna Beach, Goa, 1976 (Photo by Sunny Schneider).



Anjuna Beach, Goa, 1976 (Photo by Michel Hilzinger).



The Anjuna Jam Band – the first electric full moon party on the South end of Anjuna Beach 1976 (Photo by Sunny Schneider).



Selling Charas (Hashish) from Manali, LSD and jewellery in Anjuna flea market, Goa, 1976 (Photo by Michel Hilzinger).



Full moon on Vagator, Goa, 1976 (Photo by Michel Hilzinger).



Vagator by Moonlight, Goa, 1976 (Photo by Michel Hilzinger).



Late 1977, Full moon party morning on South Anjuna beach (Photo by Sunny Schneider).



Gilbert Garcia Band performing in a full moon party. Goa Gil on bass in the middle and Gilbert Garcia on guitar on his right (Photo by Sunny Schneider).



Full Moon party in Anjuna Beach, Goa in January 1978 (Photo by Sunny Schneider).



Costume party in North Anjuna, Goa in the end of the 1970s (Photo by Jacques Lasry).



Full moon party dancers, Goa 1978 (Photo credit unavailable).



8 Finger Eddie (RIP) with the band in New Years Eve party in the late 70s (Photo by Sunny Schneider).



Anjuna Beach, Goa, December 1979 (Photo by Hauxwell Harland).



Full moon party morning, Anjuna, Goa, 1979 (Photo by Jacques Lastry).



Full moon party morning, Anjuna, Goa, 1979 (Photo by Jacques Lastry).



Full moon party morning, Anjuna, Goa, 1979 (Photo by Jacques Lastry).



Full moon party, Goa, 1979-80 season (Photo by Pam Frayer).



Morning of New Years Eve party, Goa, 1979 (Photo by Sunny Schneider).



Little Vagator, Goa, 1980 (Photo by Jon Tizi).



Anjuna flea market, Goa, 1982 (Photo credit unavailable).



Flea market, Anjuna, Goa, 1982 (Photo by Piers Ciappara).



Things happening on Anjuna Beach after a full moon party in April, 1983 (Photo by François C. Villaret).



Party in Vagator, Goa, 1987-88 season (Photo credit unavailable).



Party in Baga, Goa, February 1988 (Photo by Tal Cohen Alloro).



Party on top of Chapora Fort, Goa, 1988 (Photo by Piers Ciappara).



Party on top of Chapora Fort, Goa, 1988 (Photo by Piers Ciappara).



Party on top of Chapora Fort, Goa, 1988 (Photo by Piers Ciappara).



Party on top of Chappora Fort, Goa, 1988 (Photo by Inge Danjuna).



Party on the front of Disco Valley, Vagator, Goa, 1988 (Photo by Ray Castle).

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