 Ponda
The town of Ponda can easily be considered the heart of Hinduism in Goa. For when the Hindus abandoned their coastal settlements and moved inland during the Inquisition, a majority of them settled in Ponda. Ponda is now a transportation hub and some of the best temples in Goa are located here. A few small factories and industrial estates have sprung up on the outskirts of the town due to its proximity to some of Goa’s largest iron ore mines. It has fewer hotels as compared to Panaji and Margao and most restaurants serve vegetarian cuisine.
Attractions
The Safa Masjid is Goa's best-preserved sixteen-century Muslim monument. It was constructed by Adil Shah in 1560 and is also known as Safa Shahouri Masjid. It has a beautiful backdrop of wooded low hills rising in the background.
The Shri Mangesh Temple is set atop a hill at Priol, northwest of Ponda leading to Old Goa. The temple has a seven-storey lamp tower (which is a unique trait of Hindu temples in Goa), a Nandi bull (Lord Shiva's conveyance), as well as shrines to Parvati and Lord Ganesha. During the festival of Mangesh Jatra, the rath (temple chariot) is pulled by several devotees.
The Mahalsa Narayani Temple is dedicated to Lord Vishnu's consort Laxmi, though some people believe it is the Lord Vishnu's female form Mohini. A lamp tower, which is seven floors high can also be found here. Garuda, the great bird that was Lord Vishnu's conveyance sits atop a pillar, which rests on the back of a turtle. There are intricately carved columns and painting of the 10 avatars or incarnations of Vishnu.
The Shantadurga Temple is dedicated to Durga. Shant means peace and Durga supposedly mediated a dispute between Lord Shiva and Lord Vishnu, bringing peace to the world; in the temple she is depicted in between the two deities. The interior has polished marble and several chandeliers provide that light. The deity of Shantadurga with Lord Vishnu and Lord Shiva on either side is behind a silver screen. This is one of the largest Hindu temples in Goa.
The Nagesh Temple is dedicated to a form of Lord Shiva, Nagesh, the God of serpents. There is an inscription here dating the temple back to 1413, which was renovated some time in the 18th century. This temple also has a lamp tower, five floors high. There are woodcarvings depicting scenes from the Ramayana and Mahabharata. There is a Nandi bull, Lord Shiva's vahana or conveyance as well as shrines to Lord Ganesha and Laxmi-Narayan.
South of here lies the Mahalaxmi Temple. It is said to be the original form of the principal deity of the Shakti sect. A Marathi inscription dates this temple back to 1413.
The Bhagvan Mahaveer Sanctuary and Bondla Sanctuary are locted close by.
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