Pernem (Peddnnem; ) is a town and a municipal council in North Goa district in the Indian state of Goa. It is the capital of the Pernem Sub-District.
Geography
Pernem is one of the twelve sub-districts of Goa. It consists of twenty village panchayats and one municipality (Pernem city), and is surrounded by Vengurla and Sawantwadi sub-districts of Sindhudurga to the north, Dodamarg sub-district of Sindhudurga to the east, Bardez and Bicholim to the south and the Arabian Sea to the west.
Villages and towns in the area include Agarvado, Alorna, Amberem, Arambol, Cansarvornem, Casnem, Chandel, Chopdem, Corgao, Dargalim, Ibrampur, Mandrem, Morjim, Mopa, Ozorim, Paliem, Parcem, Pernem, Poroscodem, Querim, Tamboxem, Tiracol, Torxem, Tuem, Uguem, Varconda and Virnora.
Pernem has two waterfalls, one in the Mauli Temple area at Sarmale and another in the Mulvir Temple area at Malpe.
Demographics
As of 2011, Pernem has a population of 70,726, of which 36,095 are male and 34,631 are female. The literacy rate is 79.7%, with the male literacy rate at 84.1% and the female literacy rate at 75.3%.
It is estimated that Pernem's population is around 90,529 at 2022.
Religion
Igreja de São José
A chapel was built in 1852 by the Portuguese after their successful Nova Conquistador campaign. It was elevated into a Parish on 2 January 1855. St. Joseph Church was rebuilt in 1864 and renovated in 2002. The Parish has 5 substations constituted of 11 small Christian communities. Fr. Paulo Dias is the Parish Priest.
Hindu Festivals
Pernem is famous for Dussehra. The festival spans 5 days, ending on Kojagiri Pournima. On the day of Kojagiri Pournima one of Goa's biggest feasts is organised. Temples include Adisthan Mangar, Bhagawati, Rawalnath, Sateri, Dwarpal, Mauli, Gautameshwar, Narayan, Mulvir, Maruti and Shri somnath.
Economy
There is no major source of income in the sub-district. The sub-district market is not large. Most of the people depend on other regions for employment. Pernem hosts around 300 to 400 small and medium enterprises. The Thursday weekly market is the second largest in North Goa.
Government and politics
Pernem is part of Pernem (Goa Assembly constituency) and North Goa (Lok Sabha constituency).
Education
There are four high schools in Pernem, namely Vikas High School, Viscount of Pernem High School, Shree Bhagwati and St. Joseph. Higher education is pursued at Govt Higher Secondary of Commerce, Arts, Science & Vocational studies, Govt College Sohirobanath Ambiye college of arts and commerce. There are no institutions for higher education for Science, Engineering and Medicine in Pernem.
Medical facilities
There is one hospital in Pernem, the Government Health Centre.
Transport
Pernem is well connected, by road and the Konkan Railway. Pernem railway station is the first railway station in Goa for inbound trains from Mumbai. The Mandovi Express, Konkan Kanya Express and Goa Sampark Kranti Express stop there. National Highway 66 passes through the area, connecting it to Mumbai, Pune and Mangaluru.
List of towns and villages
List of towns in Pernem taluk:
Mandrem Census Town
Morjim Census Town
Arambol Census Town
Pernem Municipal Council
Parcem Census Town
List of villages in Pernem taluk: