GONDA

town, eastern Uttar Pradesh state, northern India. It lies northeast of Lucknow, on a tributary of the Ghaghara River. It is situated at the junction of several roads and rail lines and is a trade centre for agricultural products. Its main industries are rice and sugar milling. The area in which Gonda is situated is drained by the Rapti and other Ghaghara tributaries and has sal forests (Shorea robusta, a nonconiferous evergreen tree) in the north. Parts of the locality suffer from frequent flooding. Crops include grains, oilseeds, and sugarcane; oilseed crushing is important, and sugar and alcohol are produced. Northeast of Gonda is Balrampur, which houses a college of Gorakhpur University. Saheth-Maheth, northwest, was the site of the Sravasti, an ancient Buddhist monastic estate. Pop. (1981) 70,847.