Located in the central area of Goa, Ponda lies 28 km (17 miles) southeast of Panaji, the capital of Goa and 17 km (10.6 miles) northeast of Margao, the district headquarters.

Ponda lies along the National Highway 748, which connects Panaji to Belagavi in the neighbouring state of Karnataka.

The original Church of Ponda, dedicated to St. Anne and St Anthony, was founded in 1700.

The parish of Ponda was entrusted to the pastoral care of members of the Order of Franciscans Minor in 1957.

[5] Chapel (with Chaplain) in the Parish of St. Anne Church, Ponda, Goa Chapels (without chaplains) in the Parish of St. Anne Church, Ponda, Goa The historic Safa Masjid is a mosque built in 1560 by the Bijapur ruler Ibrahim Adil Shah I about 2  km from the center of Ponda.

[6][verification needed] The village Bandivade in Ponda was established by King Sripala.

Ponda is connected by road to the capital of Goa, Panaji, to the main railway junction of Margao, and to the International Airport at Dabolim.