Ponda, India
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| फोंडें/Fonddem Ponda |
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| Coordinates | 15°24′N 74°01′E / 15.40°N 74.02°E |
| Country |  India |
| State | Goa |
| District(s) | North Goa |
| Population | 17,688 (2001[update]) |
| Time zone | IST (UTC+5:30) |
| Area • Elevation |
• 42 m (138 ft) |
Ponda (Konkani: फोंडें/Fonddem, pronounced [fɔɳɖɛ̃ː]) is a city and a municipal council in North Goa district in the Indian state of Goa. It is located in the central part of Goa. Ponda city lies about 28 km south-east of Panaji and 17 km north-east of Margao and is also the capital of Ponda Taluka. Ponda is well connected by road to the Panaji (Capital of Goa) and main railway junction of Margao. It is the industrial centre of the state of Goa with many large factories and industrial estates located there. Ponda also is the fastest growing city in Goa. Goa's major engineering college, the Goa Engineering College, is located at nearby Farmagudi.
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[edit] Geography
Ponda is located at 15°24′N 74°01′E / 15.40°N 74.02°E[1]. It has an average elevation of 42 metres (138 feet).
Ponda lies strategically along the NH-4A highway connecting Panaji to Belgaum in the neighboring state of Karnataka.
[edit] History
Ponda formed part of the Novas Conquistas or the "New Conquests" of the Portuguese. It was ruled by the Sonde Rajas under the Vijaynagar Kingdom or the Bijapur Sultanate. The territory of Ponda was not under Portuguese rule in the 16th Century and hence was seen as a safe haven by the Hindus fleeing persecution by the Jesuits and Portuguese. The forests of Ponda were ideal places for Hindus to form make shift temples with the Idols they had salvaged from the broken temples of Sashti (Salsette). These make shift temples were slowly renovated as the Hindus prospered again and now most of the Major Hindu temples in Goa are found here. The Portuguese eventually took over the area in 1791 from the Raja of Sonda along with Quepem, Canacona and Sanguem. It began as an administrative center with the establishment of administrative offices and court and soon became a commercial center. Most of the area known as Ponda today was a part of "Quela" village. However religious zeal of the Portuguese had ebbed by the 18th century and Portugal itself had seen many political and religious changes due to the prevailing inquisition. Therefore Ponda continued to have a Hindu Majority even during the Portuguese rule.
[edit] Demographics
As of 2001[update] India census[2], Ponda had a population of 17,688. Males constitute 52% of the population and females 48%. Ponda has an average literacy rate of 82%, higher than the national average of 59.5%: male literacy is 84%, and female literacy is 80%. In Ponda, 11% of the population is under 6 years of age.
[edit] Education
Government engineering college of Goa is in Farmagudi, part of Ponda town. The Kamakshi Higher Secondary School is located at Curti, Ponda. A.J.D.E Almeida high school, Goa Engineering College (Farmagudi), GVM's College of Arts and Science, P.E.S> College
[edit] Transport
There are regular bus services from Panaji and Margao and they depart from the Kadamba Transport Corporation bus stand on the outskirts of the town. There are also buses to nearby villages and towns leaving from here. The interstate buses also depart from the Kadamba Transport Corporation bus stand. There are buses regularly between Hubli, Dharwad, Belagaum and Ponda run by KSRTC.
[edit] Economy
[edit] Industries
Ponda is industrial centre of Goa. There are many industrial estates in and around Ponda . Some are Kundaim,Bethorda ,Tisk.
[edit] Places of interest
Ponda is also the gateway to Goa's wildlife sanctuaries, both the Bondla and the Mahavir Wildlife Sanctuary and also the Dudhsagar Waterfalls. The Butterfly conservatory run by the Butterfly Conservatory of Goa (NGO) is an interesting place for nature enthusiasts. It is at Pisgal, Priol and very close to the Tropical Spice Plantation. It is open for visitors.
[edit] Local sightseeing
Nearby cities: Margao, Vasco da Gama, Panaji Nearby beaches: Colva, Benaulim, Majorda, Betalbatim, Betul, Canaguinim, Agonda, Palolem, Rajbhag, Polem.
[edit] Religion
As mentioned before, Ponda was a safe haven for Hindu temples. The many Hindu temples in the area include the famous being the Mahalasa Narayani at Mardol, The Shanta Durga temple, Mangueshi Temple, Ramnathi , Mahalaxmi, Nageshi and Navadurga I temples. Safa Masjid, a mosque built in 1560 by the Bijapuri ruler Ibrahim Adil Shah I is there. It is one of two Islamic shrines that escaped destruction by the Portuguese in Goa. It is very close to the town of Farmagudi.
[edit] Churches
- Church of Holy Spirit, Margao
- Rachol Seminary, Rachol
[edit] Temples
- Shree Gopal Ganapathi, Farmagudi
- Shree Mahalasa Narayani Temple, Mardol
- Shree Kamakshi Devasthan, Shiroda
- Shree Mangueshi Temple, Mangeshi, Priol
- Shree Laxminarsimha Temple, Nagueshi
- Shree Mahalaxmi Temple, Bandora
- Shree Ramnathi Temple, Kavale
- Shree Shanta Durga temple, Kavale
- Shree Sanusthan Goudpadacharya, Kavale
- Shree Navdurga Temple, Madkai
- Shree Damodar Temple, Zambaulim
- Shree Chandranath Temple, Paroda
- Shree Navdurga Temple, Borim
- Shree Shantadurga Temple, Fatorpa
- Maruti Temple , Ponda
- Maruti Temple, Curti
- Ishwar Parwati Temple, Khadpaband
- Shree Sateri Temple, Mestawada
- Shree Vithoba Temple, Upper Bazar
[edit] Masjids
- Safa Shahouri Masjid, Ponda
- Jama Masjid, Sanguem
[edit] Monuments
- Cabo de Rama
- Buddhist caves, Rivona
[edit] References
- ^ Falling Rain Genomics, Inc - Ponda
- ^ "Census of India 2001: Data from the 2001 Census, including cities, villages and towns (Provisional)". Census Commission of India. Archived from the original on 2004-06-16. http://web.archive.org/web/20040616075334/http://www.censusindia.net/results/town.php?stad=A&state5=999. Retrieved 2008-11-01.
