Overview
Gonda is a city and municipal board in the Gonda district of Uttar Pradesh, India. It serves as the administrative headquarters of Gonda district, which falls under the Devipatan division. The town lies in the Awadh region of the state, in the fertile Ghaghra (Saryu) river plain, and functions as a commercial, educational and administrative centre for the surrounding agricultural hinterland.
Key Facts
| Type | City and municipal board |
|---|---|
| Country | India |
| State | Uttar Pradesh |
| Division | Devipatan |
| District | Gonda |
| Role | District headquarters |
| Region | Awadh / Eastern Uttar Pradesh |
| Languages | Hindi, Awadhi, Urdu |
Geography
Gonda lies in the Terai belt of Uttar Pradesh, north of the Ghaghra river and south of the Himalayan foothills. The terrain is largely flat alluvial plain, well suited to paddy, wheat, sugarcane and pulses. The district shares borders with Balrampur, Shravasti, Bahraich, Basti, Siddharthnagar, Ayodhya and Barabanki districts.
History
The region around Gonda has historical associations with the ancient kingdom of Kosala, with Shravasti and Ayodhya lying in the wider area. During the medieval period it formed part of the Awadh subah under the Mughals, and later came under the Nawabs of Awadh. After the annexation of Awadh in 1856, Gonda was reorganised as a district under British administration in the United Provinces. The town was a notable site during the Revolt of 1857 in Awadh.
Civic Administration
Gonda town is administered by a Nagar Palika Parishad (municipal board), while the district administration is headed by a District Magistrate. Law and order is supervised by a Superintendent of Police. The district is part of the Devipatan commissionerate division, headquartered at Gonda.
Transport
Gonda Junction (station code GD) is a major railway junction on the North Eastern Railway zone, connecting routes towards Lucknow, Gorakhpur, Barhni, Bahraich and Varanasi via Mankapur. The town is served by National Highway connectivity linking it to Lucknow, Faizabad (Ayodhya), Bahraich and Balrampur. The nearest major airports are at Ayodhya and Lucknow.
Economy
The local economy is predominantly agrarian, with rice, wheat and sugarcane as principal crops. Sugar mills, rice mills and small-scale agro-processing units operate in the district. Trade in agricultural produce, retail commerce and government services contribute significantly to the town's economy.
Education
Gonda hosts a number of degree colleges affiliated to state universities, government inter colleges, and a Government Medical College established in the district. Schools follow the CBSE, ICSE and Uttar Pradesh state board curricula.
Culture and Notable Places
The district is associated with several religious and historical sites. Notable places in and around Gonda include the Dukh Haran Nath temple, Pasaka, and the historical town of Wazirganj. The neighbouring district of Shravasti, an important site in Buddhist history, was carved out of the erstwhile Gonda district.
Politics
Gonda is a Lok Sabha parliamentary constituency of Uttar Pradesh and includes several Vidhan Sabha (state assembly) segments within the district, such as Gonda Sadar, Mehnaun, Katra Bazar, Colonelganj, Tarabganj and Mankapur.
Related Topics
- Gonda district
- Devipatan division
- Uttar Pradesh
- Awadh
- Shravasti
- Ayodhya
- Ghaghra River
- North Eastern Railway zone
References
- Wikidata: Q2428556
- Government of Uttar Pradesh, official district portal of Gonda
- Census of India, district handbook for