{{Use dmy dates|date=July 2019}} {{Infobox settlement |name = Ponda |native_name = {{langx|kok|Fonde}} |other_name = {{langx|pt|Pondá}} |settlement_type = Taluka |image_map = Ponda.png |map_caption = Location of Ponda taluka in South Goa district in Goa |coordinates = {{coord|15.40|N|74.02|E|display=inline,title}} |subdivision_type = Country |subdivision_name = India |subdivision_type1 = State |subdivision_type2 = District |subdivision_name1 = Goa |subdivision_name2 = South Goa |seat_type = Headquarters |seat =Ponda |parts_type = Settlements |parts_style = para |p1 = |leader_title = |leader_name = na |leader_title1 = Lok Sabha constituency |leader_name1 = North Goa |area_total_km2 = |population_total = 165830 |population_as_of = 2011 |population_footnotes = |population_density_km2 = auto |population_urban = |demographics_type1 = Demographics |demographics1_title1 = Literacy rate |blank_name_sec1 = |blank_info_sec1 = na |website = |footnotes = |leader_title2 = Assembly constituency |leader_name2 = |leader_title3 = MLA |leader_name3 = na |demographics1_info1 = na |demographics1_title2 = Sex ratio 8/9 |demographics1_info2 = na | registration_plate = GA-05 | postal_code_type = PIN | postal_code = 4034XX }}

'''Ponda''' '''''taluka''''' is a subdivision of the district of South Goa, in the Indian state of Goa. Its administrative headquarters is the township of Ponda.<ref>{{Cite news | author = TNN | url = https://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/city/goa/Ponda-taluka-in-S-Goa-soon/articleshow/45916913.cms | title = Ponda taluka in North Goa soon | date = 17 January 2015 | work = The Times of India | publisher = The Times Group | location = Panaji | access-date = 10 December 2019 }}</ref>

==Location== Located in central Goa, it hosts many educational institutes and manufacturing industries. The Belgaum-Panjim highway passes through this taluka.{{cn|date=April 2026}}

Ponda lies in the South Goa district, previously in North Goa until 2015.<ref>{{Cite news |date=2015-01-17 |title=Ponda taluka in South Goa soon |url=https://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/city/goa/ponda-taluka-in-s-goa-soon/articleshow/45916913.cms# |access-date=2026-04-03 |work=The Times of India |issn=0971-8257}}</ref> 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 taluka 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".<ref name="NIC">{{Cite web|title=Government of Goa {{!}} Ponda|url=https://www.goa.gov.in/places/ponda/,%20https://www.goa.gov.in/places/ponda/|access-date=2020-10-17}}</ref>

==Temples, a mosque== Ponda taluka is famous for five important temples (including Mangueshi Temple, Shanta Durga Temple, Nagueshi Temple and Mahalasa Narayani Temple, 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.<ref name="NIC" />

==Capital== The capital of this ''subdistrict'' of Ponda, also called Ponda (town or city), lies 28&nbsp;km south east of the state-capital Panaji or Panjim. It is some 17&nbsp;km north-east of Margao.<ref name="NIC" />

==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.<ref name="NIC" />

==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).<ref name="NIC" />

==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.<ref name="NIC" />

== Demographics == At the time of the 2011 Census of India, Ponda had a population of 165,830 with sex ratio of 940 females to 1000 males. Ponda taluka has an average literacy rate of 89.21%, higher than the national average of 74.04%: male literacy is 93.56% and female literacy is 84.58%. Scheduled Castes and Scheduled Tribes make up 1.16% and 16.64% of the population respectively. 62.50% of the population lives in urban areas.<ref name="districtcensus">{{cite web |title=District Census Hand Book – North Goa |url=https://censusindia.gov.in/nada/index.php/catalog/368/download/1120/DH_2011_3001_PART_A_DCHB_NORTH_GOA.pdf |website=Census of India |publisher=Registrar General and Census Commissioner of India}}</ref>

===Languages===

{{Pie chart |thumb = left |caption = Languages of Ponda Taluka (2011)<ref name="langs"/> |label1 = Konkani |value1 = 69.05 |color1 = salmon |label2 = Marathi |value2 = 10.66 |color2 = red |label3 = Hindi |value3 = 8.43 |color3 = orange |label4 = Kannada |value4 = 3.52 |color4 = darkslateblue |label5 = Urdu |value5 = 2.32 |color5 = green |label6 = Malayalam |value6 = 1.15 |color6 = cornflowerblue |label7 = Others |value7 = 4.87 |color7 = grey }}

Konkani is the most spoken language in Ponda taluka.

At the time of 2011 Census of India, 69.05% of the population of Ponda taluka spoke Konkani, 10.66% Marathi, 8.43% Hindi, 3.52% Kannada, 2.32% Urdu and 1.15% Malayalam as their first language.<ref name="langs">{{cite web |title=Table C-16 Population by Mother Tongue: Goa |url=https://censusindia.gov.in/nada/index.php/catalog/10202/download/13314/DDW-C16-STMT-MDDS-3000.XLSX |website=censusindia.gov.in|publisher=Registrar General and Census Commissioner of India}}</ref>

===Religion=== {{bar box | title = Religion in Ponda Taluka (2011)<ref name="Religion"/> | titlebar = #Fcd116 | left1 = Religion | right1 = Percent | float = right | bars = {{bar percent|Hinduism|darkorange|83.64}} {{bar percent|Christianity|dodgerblue|8.45}} {{bar percent|Islam|green|7.56}} {{bar percent|Others|black|0.35}} | caption = }}

Hinduism is followed by the majority of population of Ponda taluka. Christians and Muslims form significant minorities. At the time of the 2011 Census of India 83.64% of the population of the taluka followed Hinduism, 8.45% Christianity, 7.56% Islam and 0.35% of the population followed other religions or did not state religion.<ref name="Religion">{{Cite web|date=2011|title=Table C-01 Population by Religion: Goa |url=https://censusindia.gov.in/nada/index.php/catalog/11372/download/14485/DDW30C-01%20MDDS.XLS |website=censusindia.gov.in|publisher=Registrar General and Census Commissioner of India}}</ref>

==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== <references />

==External links== *[http://www.indiastudychannel.com/india/cities/Taluks-624-Ponda.aspx Cities and villages in Ponda Taluk]

{{Goa topics}}

Category:Talukas of Goa Category:Geography of North Goa district

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