Gonda

Gonda is a city and municipal board of Gonda district in the Indian state of Uttar Pradesh. It is situated 125 km north east of the state capital Lucknow. Gonda is divided into four tahsils named Gonda, Colonelganj, Tarabganj and Mankapur. The name of this district comes from the Sanskrit - Hindi word of Goshala, meaning cowshed. The cowsheds of the royal lineage of Ayodhya viz. Ikshavaku (Raghukul) of the Solar dynasty were located here. The territory covered by the present district of Gonda is a part of the ancient Kosala Kingdom. After the departure of Lord Rama to Saket dham, the celebrated sovereign of the Solar line who ruled Kosala, the kingdom was divided into two portions defined by the Ghaghara river. The northern portion was then ruled by his son, Lava with the city of Sravasti as his capital. Sravasti was prosperous and progressive during Buddhas time.

Gonda is also known for Ghagh, a legendary agriculture and weather specialist of folk culture. Mahakavi Ghagh, Adam Gondavi, Suresh Mokalpuri, Shiva Kant Mishra 'Vidrohi', Satish Arya - the poets of Hindi literature belong to this district. Urdu poet Niyaz Ahmed "Saher" (1939–2010)- the adopted son of Jigar Moradabadi, also belong to Gonda. The founder of the Swaminarayan Sampradaya, Swaminarayan was born as Ghanshyam Pandey in the village Chhapaiya of Gonda district.<