Gopal Ganapati temple is located in Ponda taluka in Bandiwade. In the 17th century, the Marathas were in possession of the Ponda palace. Fort Mardangad was erected by Chatrapati Sambhaji and he camped with his army nearby this particular place. He ordered his army to erect a Gudi on a hill nearby and called it Farmangudi.
Even today, every Anant Chaturthi, a Gudi is erected here. According to Hindu religious scholars, “About 90-100 years back, a cow herder called Hapo, who was employed by King Soundhekar of Bandiwade, found a 1 ft stone Ganesha idol in the forests. He consecrated it in a mandapa made of coconut branches.
The then Chief Minister was inspired to build a new temple here. The work was completed in May 1966. A new Pancharashi idol was sanctified along with the old stone idol in the same temple. The temple is located on the Panaji – Madgaon main road about 3.2 km from Fonda near the foothill”.
Address of the Temple: Gopal Ganapati Temple, Donshiwado, Ponda, Bandoda, Goa.