Ponda, India

Infobox Indian Jurisdiction
native_name = Ponda | type = city | latd = 15.40| longd = 74.02
state_name = Goa
district = North Goa
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altitude = 42
population_as_of = 2001
population_total = 17,688| population_density =
area_magnitude= sq. km
area_total =
area_telephone =
postal_code =
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sex_ratio =
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Ponda (Konkani: फोंडा/Fonde) 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 28km south-east of Panaji and 17km 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 Madgaon. 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.

Geography

Ponda is located at coord|15.40|N|74.02|E| [ [http://www.fallingrain.com/world/IN/33/Ponda.html Falling Rain Genomics, Inc - Ponda] ] . It has an average elevation of 42 metres (138 feet).

Ponda lies strategically along the main Panaji-Margao highway and is also connected to the neighboring state of Karnataka via the Ponda-Belgaum highway (NH-4).

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.

Demographics

As of 2001 India census [GR|India] , 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.

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

Transport

There are regular bus services from Panaji and Margao and they depart from the Kadamba Transport Corporation bus stand in the middle of 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,Belagavi and Ponda run by KSRTC.

Economy

Industries

Ponda is industrial centre of Goa. There are many industrial estates in and around Ponda .Some are Kundaim,Bethorda ,Tisk.

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.

Local sightseeing

Nearby cities: Margao, Vasco da Gama, Panaji Nearby beaches: Colva, Benaulim, Majorda, Betalbatim, Betul, Canaguinim, Agonda, Palolem, Rajbhag, Polem

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 temples. Safa Masjid, a mosque built in 1560 by the Bijapuri ruler Ibrahim Adil Shah 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.

Churches

*Church of Holy Spirit, Margao
*Rachol Seminary,Rachol

Temples

*Shree Gopal Ganapathi, Farmagudi
*Shree Mahalasa Narayani Temple, Mardol
*Shree Kamakshi Devasthan, Shiroda
*Shree Mangueshi Temple, Priol
*Shree Laxminarsimha Temple, Nagueshi
*Shree Mahalaxmi Temple, Bandode
*Shree Ramnathi Temple, Ramnathi
*Shree Shanta Durga temple, Kavlem
*Shree Sanusthan Goudpadacharya, Kavlem
*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

Masjids

*Safa Shahouri Masjid, Ponda
*Jama Masjid, Sanguem

Monuments

*Cabo de Rama
*Buddhist caves, Rivona

Infrastructure available in Ponda

*Branches of Banks : Karnataka Bank,Corporation Bank,ICICI Bank,HDFC Bank, Saraswat Bank .
*Drug store / Pharmacy : Kurtarkar Pharmacy
*Restaurants around Ponda : Hotel Menino, Abiksha Palace, Cafe Bhonsle
*Internet Cafes: ebay
*Post office - Ponda Post Office, Ponda.
*Police Station - Police Station, Ponda - Tel: 722175
*Hospitals - Priolkar Nursing Home - Tel: [0832] 2314178

References

External links

* [http://www.goaunplugged.com/ponda.html Ponda town]
* [http://www.indialine.com/travel/goa/ponda/ Temple town of Goa,Ponda]
* [http://www.goatourism.org/Destinations/Towns/ponda.htm Ponda tourism]
* [http://www.geocities.com/ggavaska/navadurga.html Info on Navadurga Temples]