With its indomitable religious tradition blended with an equally legendary past, Gonda gives way to a humble yet heartening town that wins over every traveler passing through its borders. Gonda in Uttar Pradesh has a pleasant small town feel to it, which is further festooned by its scenic beauty and quaint neighborhoods. Believed to be a part of the age-old kingdom of Kosala, which was ruled by Lord Rama, myth and religion form an inseparable part of the city. Sprawling with small-scale agricultural industries, it is also emerging as a hub of flourishing trade. Gonda, with its many faces, is certain to charm its way to every traveler's fancy.
It may not appear more than a simple, sleepy town at first glance, but Gonda has much to offer by way of tourist attractions. Its principal highlights are the religious sites that relate and represent the spiritual importance of this city. An important site isthe Swami Narayan Chhapia, which is the birthplace of the renowned Hindu saint Sahjanand. It also houses the popular pilgrimage, Swami Narain Temple. The Paska is another important religious site, located on the banks of the river Sarayu. It is here that thousands of devotees assemble to cleanse their souls by taking a dip in the river.
The Varahi Devi Temple is a renowned place of worship dedicated to the Hindu Mother Goddess. A great time to visit the place is during the festival of Navratri when it is bustling with vibrant celebrations, and traditional music and dance. The Kartik Purnima fair held annually at the Tirrey Manorama is another ideal time to visit the city, and witness its religious rituals and experience its culture. Other historical tourist attractions of the city include the Prithvi Nathan Mahadeo Temple of Lord Shiva, the Jhali Dham and Colonelganj, among others.
Traveling within Gonda is easy as there are several convenient local transport facilities within the city. City buses are available to travel to the prominent areas in and around the city. You can also hail auto-rickshaws from the street as an inexpensive option to get around The best way of moving around Gonda is to hire a private taxi and tour the city and its many attractions at your own pace.
By road Gonda is surrounded by Balrampur, Faizabad, Bahraich which are 23.78 km, 27.05 km, 37.49 km away respectively. These places are ideal spots for people to plan their short weekend break.