North India Highlights

Flying from Goa to Delhi this two-night, three-day tour includes a train journey to visit the Taj Mahal and Agra Fort plus a guided tour of the sites of India's historic capital city.

 
 
 

The temples and spices of Ponda

Updated on Sep 23, 2019 by Alastair McClymont

Blog > The temples and spices of Ponda

Ponda is the cultural heart of Goa, home to a stunning array of temples and an aromatic smattering of intriguing spice plantations.

It is perfectly acceptable to spend the duration of your Goa holiday relaxing by the pool of your luxurious hotel or sunning yourself on the sands of one of the state's many stunning beaches, but for those who want to discover the 'real Goa', there's no better place to explore than Ponda.

Ponda, located in the region of Central Goa, is widely recognised as the cultural city of Goa and the heartland for numerous Hindu celebrations and festivals. Due to this character and identity, it is safe to say that Ponda is very different to the Goa that holiday-makers become acquainted to around the coast.

Ponda's landscapes are dotted with rice paddies, spice plantations and colourful Hindu temples, displaying a combination of rural life and spiritual identity that is unlike anywhere else in the state.

Shri Lakshminarasimha Temple

 

It is possible to explore a number of these temples, most conveniently via one of our fantastic and informative Excursions and Tours. The Glimpses of Goa tour provides a comprehensive insight into the identity and architectural qualities of Ponda, transporting holiday-makers to at least two of Ponda's most famous temples, the Shri Mangeshi Temple and the Shri Shanta Durga Temple.

Shanta Durga Temple

 

Shri Mangeshi Temple

 

In addition to ticking off some of Ponda's famous Hindu temples, it is well worth paying a visit to one of the area's spice plantations during your day of culture and history. Nothing displays Goan culture quite like its food, and it is the local spices that make Goan cuisine so flavoursome.

You'll get the opportunity to drop in on one of these plantations during the Glimpses of Goa tour, giving you the chance to learn about spices and other key local ingredients in a fun and educational manner. After spotting the likes of peppercorns, cardamom, cumin and cinnamon growing in their natural habitat, you'll have the tempting proposition of sampling them at their freshest through the means of an authentic Goan buffet!

Fruits growing at the Sahakari Spice Farm

 

A delicious Goan buffet at the Sahakari Spice Farm

 

Several souvenirs can be purchased at Ponda's spice plantations, including local produce and arts and crafts - some great gift ideas for friends and family back home. You can also try feni here; a local spirit with an acquired taste, made from either cashew or coconut palm sap, which is then fermented and distilled to around a 30% proof. It's not for everyone...!

If you'd like to find out more about Ponda, check out our Central Goa guide for some great inspiration and information.

 

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Day 1: Departing Goa for Delhi our representative will meet you in the arrivals area of the airport. They will assist with your private transfer to your Delhi hotel which will be your base for two nights.

Day 2: This morning, you will depart Delhi railway staion to Agra. Once a small village on the banks of the Yamuna, it was transformed by two great Mughal monarchs, Akbar and his grandson Shah Jehan into the second capital of the Mughal Empire, Dar-ul-Khilafat, or ‘seat of the Emperor’ in the 16th and 17th century.

Taj Mahal

When you arrive in Agra you will be met by our representative who will introduce you to your guide who will take you to Taj Mahal (closed on Fridays). On the inner walls, jewel-like stones create beautiful designs in white marble. The Mughals perfected the art of embedding semi-precious stones into marble and the Taj is the finest example of this special process called pietra dura. It begins with a marble plate, varying in size. Then jewels are sliced paper thin and embedded in the marble with such precision that the joints are invisible to the naked eye. Continue for a visit to the Agra Fort, a walled city constructed of red stone which was inscribed as a UNESCO World Heritage site in 1983. Construction of the fort was originally started by Emperor Akbar in 1565, but his son, Jahangir, and grandson, Shah Jahan, later made valuable additions to it.

You will also visit Itmad ud Daula, also known as Baby Taj. This tomb was built in 1622 for Ghiyas Beg, father of Empress Noor-Jahan, the wife of Emperor Jahangir. It is beautifully conceived in white marble, mosaic and lattice and set a precedent as the first Mughal building to be faced with white marble inlaid with contrasting stones.

Later, you will be driven back to Agra Cantt railway station, where you will board your train back to Delhi.

Day 3: After breakfast, proceed for the orientation city tour of Old and New Delhi including a visit of the 17th-century Jama Masjid and enjoy a rickshaw ride through the narrow, winding lanes of colourful and bustling Chandni Chowk. Stop in front of the Mughal Empire’s most opulent fort, the Red Fort for a photo opportunity.

Later proceed to New Delhi where you will be taken for a drive past the Presidential Palace, the one-time imperial residence of the British viceroys, the India Gate, a memorial raised in honour of fallen Indian soldiers and a drive along the Rajpath past the Parliament House and secretarial buildings. You will also visit Qutab Minar, the 12th-century tower of victory built by a slave king and prototype of all minars (towers) in India.

After the tour you will be transferred to Delhi Airport to board your short flight back to Goa.

 

Two-night price from £825 per person

  • Prices are based on two people sharing including internal flights and two nights' accommodation on B&B and include transfers.
  • A choice of superior or deluxe accommodation is available.
  • You will be able to book this excursion either in the UK or on arrival / during your holiday to Goa.
  • Operates any day (subject to availability) except for Friday due to closure of the Taj Mahal.
 
Contact Us

Contact Us

For more information about this excursion, please contact our Goa specialists:

01489 866994 | Email Sales

 

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