Ponda city of Goa
In this article I have provided information on the Ponda city of Goa. I have mentioned it's hitorical importance and given glimse of various tourist spots in Ponda city.
Ponda city of Goa
Goa is known for its many beaches throughout the world. Apart from the beaches there are many historical and religious architectural monuments. Ponda city of Goa is filled with such architectural marvels and tourists regularly visit these places in their Goa vacation.
Ponda comes under the northern district of Goa and is one of the most sought after tourist places in Goa. It is located at 29 km south east of Panaji and 18 km north east of Margoa. Ponda is not only an old city of heritages but also new technological industries and factories. It is the industrial capital with its many industries. It is the fastest growing city of Goa and has a population of 20,000.
Goa engineering college, one of Goa's premier colleges is located in Farmagudi near Ponda. Hence it is quite aptly known as the cultural capital of Goa.History of Ponda city
Ponda was a part of the Vijaynagar kingdom or the Bijapur sultanate and was ruled by the Sonde kings. Ponda was a safe haven for all the Hindus during the 16th century from the Portuguese who were strong in the neighbouring areas. Chatrapati Sivaji Maharaja later conquered it from the Bijapur Sultanate in 1675. Till 1764 it was under the hands of the Maratha kingdom. The Portuguese however took it from the Marathas in 1791.
As this city was constantly under inquisition and religious changes, Ponda has a Hindu majority even during the Portuguese rule.As Ponda was a safe haven for the Hindus, a lot of temples can be found in Ponda. Also there are many mosques and churches in Ponda.
Ponda is famous for its wildlife sanctuaries. It is a gateway to the Bondla and the Mahavir wildlife sanctuary and also for the famous Dudhsagar waterfalls of Goa. Also the Butterfly conservatory of Ponda is quite famous and is a must visit place for the nature enthusiasts. Not only one can find various kind of butterflies here; but also people are provided information on butterfly gardening as well as the use of SLR camera.
Most of the famous beaches and cities are quite near to Ponda and one can easily commute through the roadways. The historic fort Cabo de Rama is also situated in the Ponda region and is one of the famous destinations for the tourists.
Konkani and Marathi are the main languages spoken in Ponda. Ponda city has a literacy level of 82% which is quite high as compared to the national literacy level of 59.5%.Religious and historical monuments of Ponda
How to reach Ponda
There are regular bus services available from Panaji and Margoa available for Ponda. Also buses are available between Hubli, Dharwad, Belagaum and Ponda. One can also hire a taxi or get a rented vehicle for commuting.
