Pernem taluka

Pernem पेर्णम
taluka
Cattle walks along a farming area in Morjim village, Pernem taluka
Country	India
State	Goa
District	North Goa
Population  (2001)
• Total	5,285
Languages
• Official	Konkani
Time zone	UTC+5:30 (IST)
PIN	403512
Telephone code	91-832

Pernem is a northmost administrative region or Taluka in North Goa.It acts as the Gateway of Goa from Maharashtra side. It is also the name of the town of Pernem, which is its headquarters. It has a Municipal Council. Geographically, Pernem is surrounded by Sawantwadi taluka (Maharashtra State) on East, Arabian Sea on West, Bardez and Bicholim taluka on south and Sawantwadi taluka (Maharashtra State) on north.The two rivers which decide the boundary of this taluka are Terekhol River and Chapora River. Terekhol river acts as a border of Maharashtra and Goa while Chapora river acts as a border of Pernem taluka and Bardez Taluka.

History

Pernem is counted as belonging to one of the two Goan sub-regions, the Novas Conquistas, or New Conquests. It was taken over, lost and finally regained from the Rajas of Sawantwadi, a state on Goa's northern border that allied sometimes with the Portuguese and sometimes with the Marathas. (The Kingdom of Sawantwadi was integrated into the district of Ratnagiri after 1947 and is now part of the district of Sindhudurg). Later, it was largely belonged to Deshprabhu family as an estate. After the Liberation of Goa by Indian Armed Forces from Portuguese, it became part of Union Territory of Goa.

Pernem is the Portuguese spelling (the m only makes the e nasal). The name in Konkani and Marathi is Pedne, and inhabitants are called Pednecar in Konkani and Pedneker in Marathi (giving the spoken forms). The surname Pednekar used by Konkanastha indicates origins in Pernem.

Location

The Konkan Railway passes through Pernem, and there is a railway station called Pernem at a distance of about 4 km east from the town. The proposed Mopa International Airport is situated at Mopa in Pernem Taluka. National Highway 17 (NH-17), which connects Mumbai (Bombay) and Goa, passes through Pernem (bypassed at Malpem)

Transport

Pernem Taluka is well connected through road and Konkan railway. Pernem railway station is the first railway station in Goa while coming from Mumbai. Mandovi Express, Konkan Kanya Express, Goa Sampark Kranti Express and Margao - Sawantwadi Road passenger (Train No.50107/50108 halts here. NH-17 passes through this area which connects it to Mumbai and Mangalore.

Culture

Pedne hosts a very popular annual fair on Kojagiri poornima at Shri Bhagavati Temple premises.

Pernem has contributed immensely to the cultural and literary scene of Goa.

Tourism

This taluka plays a major part in tourism of North Goa District. Famous places are Kerim or Querim Beach, Arambol Beach, Terekhol Fort, Mandrem beach, Ashwem Beach, Morjim Beach, Alorna Fort (near Alorna panchakroshi). Also near to malpem on NH-17 there is a beautiful temple known as Shri Mulveer Temple.

Towns in the district include: Pernem, and Patradevi.