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The
inland town of Ponda is of little interest to travelers, but there
are number of unique Hindu temples in surrounding area.
The
five main temples were rebuilt from originals destroyed by the
Portuguese and their lamp towers are a distinctive Goan
feature. The Shiva Temple of Shri Manguesh in at Priol-Ponda
taluka, 22km away from Panaji (5km from Ponda). This tiny
18th-century hilltop temple, with its white tower, is a local
landmark. Less than 2km further down the road is Shri Mahalsa,
a Vishnu temple.
Near
Shri Manguesh are two temples; Shri Ramnath and the Shri Shantadurga
Temple. Dedicated to Shantadura, the goddess of peace, this
temple sports an unusual, almost pagoda-like, structure with a roof
made from long slabs of stone.
The
oldest mosque remaining in Goa is the Safa Shahouri Masjid, located
on the outskirts of Ponda. It was built by Ali Adil Shah in
1560.
There
are regular buses form Panaji and Margao to Ponda, but to get to the
temples it's best to have your transport. |
