Ponda, the administrative headquarters of the taluka, is situated 28kms southeast of Panaji and 17kms northeast of Margao.The Panaji-Bangalore national highway NH4 passes through Ponda. Its proximity to some of the state's largest iron ore mines has lead to spring up of small factories and industrial estates on the outskirts of the town. One of the main tourists attraction is the Safa masjid, Goa's best preserved sixteen-century Muslim monument. There are few  hotels as compared to Panaji and Margao, restaurants that do exist cater to vegetarian cuisine you may be lucky to find a place serving non-vegetarian dishes.
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.
When Portuguese arrived in Goa, they destroyed every temples and mosques they could lay their hands on. As a result, temples in Goa are generally set back from the coast and comparatively new, although some date back about 400 years. The temples near Ponda have been rebuilt from originals destroyed by the Portuguese, and their lamp towers are a distinctive Goan feature.

Eventhough Goa was isolated from the rest of India for more than four centuries under the Portuguese rule, the people of Goa a unique and separate identity.
The people of Goa prefer to call themselves Goans. Goans are very much aware of this unique identity; they are proud of it and guard it fiercely.
The population of Goa is composed of a Hindu majority of around 65% and a Christian minority of around 30%. Muslims and other religions make up the rest. The interesting part in all these percentages is that, as is the case with most statistical figures, they conceal more than they can ever reveal.
The Hindu community is dominant in the talukas (districts) of Ponda, Bicholim, Pernem, Satari, Sanguem, Quepem and Canacona. These areas actually form part of the Novas Conquistas, or the New Conquests, made by the Portuguese in the last stage of the expansion of their Goan empire in the eighteenth century.
By this time, the Portuguese military might was on the wane and the religious ardour for forced conversions was at its lowest ebb. Hence the population in these newly conquered areas were pretty much left to practise their religion in peace.
The Old Conquests on the other hand, consisting of Salcete, Mormugao, Tiswadi and Bardez bore the brunt of the Portuguese army and the religious zealots. Together, the two arms of the Portuguese empire, managed to destroy temples and converted hundreds of non-Christians in these areas, which are predominantly Christian today.
Fortunately, these bitter memories of the past have done nothing to change the warm, friendly and loving nature of the Goan people. By and large, the Goan considers himself a Goan first and a Hindu, Christian or Muslim afterwards. The bonds of language and the Goan identity are strong enough to allow for different religious persuasions.

Anjuna Beach is popularly known as the freak capital of the world and not without reasons. It claimed popularity for its Trance Parties and the Hippies who tried to synthesize the spiritual traditions of the East and the art, ideas and the music of the West. Sometime in the late 1950s to mid-1960s, the area was "discovered" by a group of travelers, including "Eight Finger Eddie," and a small international psychedelic scene began to meet there to party during the dry season. Anjuna is just the right place for lazing holidaymakers. Besides the calm waters of the Arabian Sea lapping softly on the Indian shore, Anjuna comes live with its ever-famous full-moon parties and the Wednesday flea market to take one on to a trance trip.With its fluorescent painted palm trees and full moon parties, Anjuna Beach, 8-km west of Mapusa, is one of the most popular beaches of Goa. Most people's reasons for coming to Anjuna are the same as they were in the 1970s: dancing and lying on the beach slurping tropical fruit. While browsing in the area have a day trip to the famous flea market of Anjuna, a major shopping hangout, beside the beach.
    The main attractions of Anjuna Beach are the magnificent Albuquerque Mansion built in 1920 (flanked by octagonal towers and an attractive Mangalore tile-roof), the Mascarenhas Mansion, and the Chapora Fort. Anjuna attracts a variety of tourists touring Goa, and the crowd includes from the happy go lucky kinds to overlanders, monks, defiant ex-hippies, gentle lunatics, artists, artisans, seers, searchers etc. Even those particular kinds of tourists who prefer to travel within the limit of their tour itinerary, cannot resist visiting this charming beach site.

Panaji, the capital of Goa and headquarters of North Goa District is a small and charming city on the left bank of silvery Mandovi river, with beautiful, red-roofed houses, also boasts of many modern houses, gardens, statues and avenues. Enchanting panorama unfolds from atop Altinho (Hill Top).
Panaji's history goes back to the Purta Dharmas - the charitable deeds of Gandagopal Kelima whose grandfather Kalapa was entrusted with the administration of Panajim by the Kadamba king, Shasthadeva (1007-1050), a good and a glorious king who "by his works redressed all the wrongs in his kingdom". This is gathered from an inscription of the Kadamba king, Vijayaditya I, dated February 7, 1107, and refers to Panajim as Pahajani Khali - Pahajani from which Panajim supposedly got its name and Khali probably refers to the creeks and backwaters abounding in the area. The first few Portuguese chroniclers, soon after the conquest of Goa, refer to Panajim as Panaji or Ponji which is said to mean "Land that never gets flooded". According to one Portuguese philologist, the word Pongy is derived from Panch Yma Afsumgary or five wonderful castles where the Muslim king, Ismail Adil Shah, and his wives used to live. Its name was later changed by the Portuguese into Panajim. When Old Goa collapsed in the 19th century, Panajim was elevated to the status of a city on 22nd March 1843 and was renamed `Nova-Goa' (New Goa). After liberation in 1961, it came to be known as Panajim.
Panaji or Panajim perhaps does not have great buildings or well-known attractions but what it has is its character and that is more than enough for a willing visitor to have a look around. Panaji is also the travel hub of Goa and this is the first place to be touched up while you are landing in Goa. Dabolim Airport located on the outskirts of Panaji connect Goa with other places in India and also welcomes good number of charter flights directly flying from Europe. The town of Panaji is laid out in typical grid pattern, centered on a church square. It is a charming city on the left bank of the silvery Mandovi River. It has beautiful, red roofed houses with stucco walls built in Latin style, well laid gardens, statues and avenues lined with trees.
The Church Square or Largo de lgreja is the focal point. The Church of the Immaculate Conception, designed in Portuguese Baroque style was modeled on the church at Reis Magos. The image of Lady of Fatima can be found in one of the altars.