town, eastern Uttar Pradesh state, northern India. It lies northeast of Lucknow, on a tributary of the Gh─ghara 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 R─pti and other Gh─ghara 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 Balr─mpur, which houses a college of Gorakhpur University. Saheth-Maheth, northwest, was the site of the ?r─vast┤, an ancient Buddhist monastic estate. Pop. (1981) 70,847. |