Ponda, Goa

Ponda is known as “the cultural city of Goa” and located geographically at the heart of Goa, has been surrounded by scenic green villages, filled with grand temples rather different from the more crowded coast.

Location of Ponda City in Goa (Picture Wikipedia)

Ponda is also known for its proximity to Goa’s wildlife, and is the cultural capital for Indian-style music in Goa, apart from being the heartland for the celebration of a number of Hindu festivities. Of late, Ponda is also attracting visitors for its ‘spice tourism’ that it promotes (visits to real-life spice farm, which offer a tour and food on their estates).

Location of Ponda in Goa

Ponda city is located in North Goa, just 29 kms from Panaji and 17 kms north east of Margao. Ponda is the gateway to Belgaum, Hubli and other cities to the east of Goa (in Karnataka and beyond).

Beaches near Ponda

• Colva Beach
• Benaulim Beach
• Majorda Beach
• Betalbatim Beach
• Betul Beach
• Canaguinim Beach
• Agonda Beach
• Palolem Beach
• Rajbhag Beach
• Polem Beach

Temples in Ponda

Ponda is home to a number of artistic temples. It’s amazing to see the number and spectacular beauty of temples here. Following is the list of Temples in Ponda:

Scenic Temple in Ponda (Picture Wiki User:Fredericknoronha)

• Mahalasa Narayani at Mardol
• The Shanta Durga at Kavlem
• Mangueshi at Priol
• Ramnath at Ramnathi
• Naguesh at Nagueshi
• Mahalaxmi at Bandora
• Laxmi Narasimha at Veling
• Navadurga temple at Madkai
• Gopal Ganapathi at Farmagudi
• Sanusthan Goudpadacharya at Kavlem
• Navdurga Temple at Madkai
• Damodar Temple at Zambaulim
• Chandranath Temple at Paroda

Other places to see in and near Ponda (Tourist Attracations)

• Safa Masjid, a mosque built in 1560 by the Bijapuri ruler Ibrahim Adil Shah is on the outskirts of Ponda.
• Jama Masjid, Sanguem
• Bondla Wildlife Sanctuary
• Bhagwan Mahaveer Wildlife Sanctuary
• DudhSagar Waterfalls
• Khandepar Cave Temples

Spice plantations or Gardens in Ponda

• Pascoal Spice Village:  is near the village of Khandepa, 8 kms northeast of the Ponda NH 4A
• Sahakari Spice Farm: on the Ponda-Belgaum Road at Curti Ponda offers spice tours and a village-style lunch on a banana leaf
• Sanskuti Savoi Verem Plantation:  is at Ghano, Sanvoiverem.
• Tropical Spice Plantation:  Keri, Ponda (about a 30 minute drive from Ponda central)

How to reach Ponda

Ponda is connected to Panjim via non-stop mini-bus shuttle bus services that you queue up for at the Kadamba (KTC) bus terminus in Panjim. ‘Local’ buses take more time to reach. There are buses regularly between Hubli, Dharwad, Belagaum and Ponda run by KSRTC.