Ponda has a very special place in the history of Goa. For many reasons, its story stands out from that of other important towns and cities in the State. The first and most obvious reason is that Ponda and many of its nearby towns were not conquered by the Portuguese until the late 18th century. Even during the 16th and 17th centuries, when Portuguese rule in Goa was at its peak, Ponda managed to defend itself from the Portuguese armies. This was mainly because of the strong defence put up by the Adil Shahi rulers of Bijapur, who, after losing a large part of Goa to the Portuguese, made Ponda their main citadel.
Because Ponda remained free from Portuguese control for almost three centuries, it became a safe place for refugees, who fled there to escape persecution. This is why Ponda is still seen as a Hindu heartland of Goa and why it has the largest number of temples in the State. Hindus in Ponda saw a brief golden period when the town came under the Maratha Empire. The Marathas promoted Hinduism and helped rebuild small, makeshift temples into larger and grander temples.
However, this Hindu renaissance was short-lived. In 1791, Ponda finally came under Portuguese rule. The Portuguese, however, chose not to persecute the local Hindus and made peace with them. This was mainly to avoid rebellion and to keep tighter control over the territory of Ponda. Overall, Ponda’s history is notable for staying out of Portuguese control for centuries and for becoming a refuge for Hindus from other parts of Goa.
