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Ponda
Ponda, known as Antruz Mahal because of the concentration of culture, music,
drama and poetry also houses the temples of Lord Mangesh (Shiva), Lord Nagesh,
Lord Ganapati, Lord Ramnath and the Goddesses Mhalasa and Shantdurga.
Ponda can be described as the Hindu heart of Goa. It is famous for the
five important temples that are situated around the town, and also has
the largest mosque in Goa. Most of these temples look relatively new as
they have been restored after being destroyed by the Portuguese. That
explains why there are no temples around the coast, which was the prime
territory of the Portuguese. Ponda is also an important transport link.
The city of Ponda lies about 28kms south-east of Panaji and 17kms north-east
of Margao and is also the capital of Ponda Taluka.
The town was born after the Portuguese took over the area in 1791 from
the Raja of Sonda and annexed it along with Quepem, Canacona and Sanguem
forming the New Conquests.
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. It lies
strategically along the main Panaji-Margao highway and is also connected
to the neighboring state of Karnataka via the Ponda-Belgaum highway or
the NH-4.
Today it is an industrial city with many large factories and industrial
estates nearby. Goa's only engineering college, the Goa College of Engineering
is located at nearby Farmagudi.
Ponda taluka is most famous for its temples, most of which have made
the area their home for centuries following displacement from their original
sites elsewhere in Portuguese occupied Goa during the early days of the
Inquis ition.
Ponda is also the gateway to Goa's wildlife sanctuaries, both the Bondla
and the Mahavir Wildlife Sanctuary and also the Dudhsagar Waterfalls.
The temples are concentrated in two main clusters: the first to the north
of Ponda, on the busy NH4, and the second deep in the countryside, around
5 km west of the town. Most people only manage the Shri Manguesh and Shri
Mahalsa, between the villages of Mardol and Priol.
Among the most interesting temples in the state, they lie just a stone's
throw from the main highway and are passed by regular buses between Panjim
and Margao via Ponda. The others are farther off the beaten track, although
they are not hard to find on motorbikes: locals will wave you in the right
direction if you get lost.
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