SULTANPUR

formerly Kusapura, or Kushbhawanpur, town, administrative headquarters of Sultanpur district, Uttar Pradesh state, northern India, on the Gomati River, southeast of Lucknow. Sultanpur has existed since ancient times; it was destroyed and rebuilt repeatedly before passing under the rule of Muslim sultans. The Muslim town was destroyed in 1857, and the present settlement arose as a British military outpost. It is primarily an agricultural trade centre. Sultanpur district, 1,708 sq mi (4,424 sq km) in area, comprises a stretch of alluvial plain on both sides of the Gomati River. Wheat, rice, and barley are grown. Pop. (1981) town, 48,782; district, 2,042,778.