Ponda ''

taluka A tehsil (, also known as tahsil, taluka, or taluk) is a local unit of administrative division in some countries of South Asia. It is a subdistrict of the area within a district including the designated populated place that serves as its administr ...

'' is a subdivision of the district of

South Goa South Goa district is one of two districts that comprises the state of Goa, India, within the region known as the Konkan. It is bounded by North Goa district to the north, the Uttara Kannada district of Karnataka state to the east and south, while ...

Goa Goa () is a state on the southwestern coast of India within the Konkan region, geographically separated from the Deccan highlands by the Western Ghats. It is located between the Indian states of Maharashtra to the north and Karnataka to the ...

state,

India India, officially the Republic of India (Hindi: ), is a country in South Asia. It is the seventh-largest country by area, the second-most populous country, and the most populous democracy in the world. Bounded by the Indian Ocean on the so ...

. Its administrative headquarters is the township of Ponda.

Location

It is situated in central part of Goa. It hosts many educational institutes and manufacturing industries. The

Belgaum Belgaum (ISO 15919, ISO: ''Bēḷagāma''; also Belgaon and officially known as Belagavi) is a city in the Indian state of Karnataka located in its northern part along the Western Ghats. It is the administrative headquarters of the eponymous ...

Panjim Panaji (; also known as Panjim) is the capital of the Indian state of Goa and the headquarters of North Goa district. Previously, it was the territorial capital of the former Portuguese India. It lies on the banks of the Mandovi river estuary ...

highway A highway is any public or private road or other public way on land. It is used for major roads, but also includes other public roads and public tracks. In some areas of the United States, it is used as an equivalent term to controlled-access ...

passes through this taluka. Ponda lies in the centre of Goa. It lies in the

North Goa North Goa district is one of the two districts that constitutes the state of Goa, India. The district has an area of , and is bounded by Kolhapur and Sindhudurg districts of Maharashtra state to the north and by Belgavi district of Karnataka t ...

district. Ponda taluka is known as the home for many prominent temples in Goa. The name of the ''taluka'' (sub-district) is the same as the main town or city, which is also Ponda.

''Antruz Mahal''

Ponda has also been known as ''Antruz Mahal'', which the official NIC site says is "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" It has been called the "Hindu heart of Goa".

Temples, a mosque

Ponda is famous for five important temples (including

Shri Mangues Shri (; , ) is a Sanskrit term denoting resplendence, wealth and prosperity, primarily used as an honorific. The word is widely used in South and Southeast Asian languages such as Marathi, Malay (including Indonesian and Malaysian), Javanese ...

and

Shri Mahalsa Shri (; , ) is a Sanskrit term denoting resplendence, wealth and prosperity, primarily used as an honorific. The word is widely used in South and Southeast Asian languages such as Marathi, Malay (including Indonesian and Malaysian), Javanese, ...

, lying between Mardol and

Priol Priol is a village in central Goa, in western India. It is situated in Ponda Taluka, north of the city of Ponda. The Mangueshi Temple is located northwest of the village. From Mardol, Priol is around 2 km, Mardol is on Panaji-Ponda highway ...

villages) situated around the town of Ponda and within the taluka, the largest mosque in Goa. Ponda is an important transport hub.

Capital

The capital of this ''subdistrict'' of Ponda, also called Ponda (town or city), lies 28 km south east of the state-capital

Panaji Panaji (; also known as Panjim) is the capital of the Indian state of Goa and the headquarters of North Goa district. Previously, it was the territorial capital of the former Portuguese India. It lies on the banks of the Mandovi river estuary ...

. It is some 17 km north-east of

Margao Margao or Madgaon is the commercial capital of the Indian state of Goa. It stands on banks of the Sal river and is the administrative headquarters of Salcete sub-district and South Goa district. It is Goa's second largest city by population aft ...

History

In 1791, Ponda was taken over by the Portuguese, then ruling Goa, from the Raja of Sonda. It was annexed to what was then Goa along with the sub-districts of

Quepem Quepem is a town with a municipal council in South Goa district in the Indian state of Goa. The town is the administrative headquarters of the Quepem taluka (sub-district). History The town was established by a Portuguese noble man Deão J ...

Canacona Canacona () is a city and a municipal council in the district of South Goa, Goa state, India. Canacona taluka includes Patnem, Chaudi, Poinguinim, Loliem-Polem, Agonda, and Gaumdongre. Chaudi is the headquarters and the most developed town in t ...

and

Sanguem Sanguem () is a city and a municipal council in South Goa district in the Indian state of Goa. Notable landmarks include the Sagameshwar Temple, Bhagwan Mahaveer Sanctuary and Mollem National Park and the Salaulim Dam. Geography Sanguem is locat ...

. Its main town was built up during Portuguese rule, first as an administrative and court centre, and later a commercial centre.

Part of Kavle

Ponda town was earlier part of kavle village. Lying along the

inland highway the avoids the Mandovi river, it is also a link between Goa and neighbouring

Karnataka Karnataka (; ISO: , , also known as Karunāḍu) is a state in the southwestern region of India. It was formed on 1 November 1956, with the passage of the States Reorganisation Act. Originally known as Mysore State , it was renamed ''Karnat ...

state, via the Ponda-

highway (NH4A).

Ponda today

Goa College of Engineering Goa Engineering College or Goa College of Engineering (abbreviated and colloquially referred to as GEC) is a public college in Goa, India, offering courses in engineering disciplines and affiliated to Goa University. Founded in 1967 and situated ...

is located in Farmaguddi village, in Ponda ''taluka'', on the outskirts of Ponda town. Ponda taluka serves as the gateway to Goa's wildlife sanctuaries -- Bondla and the

Mahavir Wildlife Sanctuary Mahavira (Sanskrit: महावीर) also known as Vardhaman, was the 24th ''tirthankara'' (supreme preacher) of Jainism. He was the spiritual successor of the 23rd ''tirthankara'' Parshvanatha. Mahavira was born in the early part of the 6 ...

List of towns, including census towns, in Ponda ''taluka''

* Bandora (Census Town) *

Borim Borim or Bori is a census town in Ponda taluka, North Goa district in the state of Goa, India India, officially the Republic of India (Hindi: ), is a country in South Asia. It is the List of countries and dependencies by area, seventh ...

(Census Town) *

Candola Candola is a village and census town in Ponda Sub-District, North Goa district in the state of Goa, India. It is located in the ''Novas Conquistas'' region of the state.

(Census Town) * Curti (Census Town) * Marcaim (Census Town) *

Orgao Orgao is a village in Ponda taluka, North Goa district North Goa district is one of the two districts that constitutes the state of Goa, India. The district has an area of , and is bounded by Kolhapur and Sindhudurg districts of Maharashtra ...

(Census Town) * Ponda (Municipal Council) *

(Census Town) * Quela (Census Town) *

Usgao Usgao is a village in Ponda taluka, North Goa district, India. For the purposes of the census, it is considered a "Census Town". It is part of the Usgao-Ganjem Village ''Panchayat''. In the 2011 Census, Usgao was found to have an area of 25.40 sq ...

(Census Town)

List of villages in Ponda ''taluka''

Adcolna Adcolna is a village in Ponda taluka, Goa, India. It is part of the Bhoma-Adconla village panchayat Gram Panchayat () is a basic village-governing institute in Indian villages. It is a democratic structure at the grass-roots level in Indi ...

* Betora (Bethora) * Betqui (Betki) * Boma * Candepar(Khandepar) *

Codar Codar is a village in the Ponda ''taluka'' (sub-district) of Goa. Codar, also spelt as Kodar, is home to the Goa Government Agricultural Farm. Area, population According to the official 2011 Census, Codar in Ponda ''taluka'' has an area of 975.2 ...

Conxem Conxem is a village in the Ponda taluka (sub-district) of Goa, India. Area, population India census, Conxem in Ponda taluka has an area of 188.19 hectares, a total of just 39 households, a population of 186 (comprising 94 males and 92 females) ...

* Cuncoliem * Cundaim (Kundaim) * Durbhat * Gangem *

Nirancal Nirancal is a village in the Ponda taluka Ponda ''taluka'' is a subdivision of the district of South Goa, Goa state, India. Its administrative headquarters is the township of Ponda. Location It is situated in central part of Goa. It hosts man ...

* Ponchavadi (Panchvadi) * Querim (Keri) * Savoi-Verem * Siroda (Shiroda) * Telaulim (Talaulim) * Tivrem * Vadi * Vagurbem * Velinga (Veling) *

Volvoi Volvoi is a village in Ponda taluka, Goa, India. It has its own Volvoi village panchayat Gram Panchayat () is a basic village-governing institute in Indian villages. It is a democratic structure at the grass-roots level in India. It is a p ...

References

External links

Cities and villages in Ponda Taluk
Taluks of Goa Geography of North Goa district {{goa-geo-stub