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Ponda taluka is a subdivision of the district of South Goa, Goa state, India. Its administrative headquarters is the township of Ponda.[1]

Ponda
Taluka (sub-district)
Location of Ponda in Goa
Coordinates: 15.40°N 74.02°E / 15.40; 74.02
Country	India
State	Goa
District	South Goa
Headquarters	Ponda
Government
• Lok Sabha constituency	North Goa
• MLA	na
Demographics
• Literacy rate	na
• Sex ratio 8/9	na
PIN	4034XX
Vehicle registration	GA-05
Rain	na

Location

It is situated in central part of Goa. It hosts many educational institutes and manufacturing industries. The Belgaum-Panjim highway passes through this taluka.

Ponda lies in the centre of Goa. It lies in the North Goa 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".[2]

Temples, a mosque

Ponda is famous for five important temples (including Shri Mangues and Shri Mahalsa, lying between Mardol and Priol villages) situated around the town of Ponda and within the taluka, the largest mosque in Goa. Ponda is an important transport hub.[2]

Capital

The capital of this subdistrict of Ponda, also called Ponda (town or city), lies 28 km south east of the state-capital Panaji or Panjim. It is some 17 km north-east of Margao.[2]

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, Canacona and Sanguem. Its main town was built up during Portuguese rule, first as an administrative and court centre, and later a commercial centre.[2]

Part of Kavle

Ponda town was earlier part of kavle village. Lying along the Panjim-Margao inland highway the avoids the Mandovi river, it is also a link between Goa and neighbouring Karnataka state, via the Ponda-Belgaum highway (NH4A).[2]

Ponda today

Goa College of Engineering 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.[2]

List of towns, including census towns, in Ponda taluka

• Bandora (Census Town)
• Borim (Census Town)
• Candola (Census Town)
• Curti (Census Town)
• Marcaim (Census Town)
• Orgao (Census Town)
• Ponda (Municipal Council)
• Priol (Census Town)
• Quela (Census Town)
• Usgao (Census Town)

List of villages in Ponda taluka

• Adcolna
• Betora (Bethora)
• Betqui (Betki)
• Boma
• Candepar(Khandepar)
• Codar
• Conxem
• Cuncoliem
• Cundaim (Kundaim)
• Durbhat
• Gangem
• Nirancal
• Ponchavadi (Panchvadi)
• Querim (Keri)
• Savoi-Verem
• Siroda (Shiroda)
• Telaulim (Talaulim)
• Tivrem
• Vadi
• Vagurbem
• Velinga (Veling)
• Volvoi

See also

• Ponda, Goa

References

External links

• Cities and villages in Ponda Taluk

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