Robertsganj
Robertsganj (Hindi: राबर्टसगंज; Urdu: رابرٹس گنج; or sometimes Sonebhadra) is a city in Uttar Pradesh in India. The town was named after the British soldier Frederick Roberts, 1st Earl Roberts. As with much of the Indian plains, the best time to visit is during the cooler months from October to March.
Get in
By plane
- 1 Muirpur Airport. is the closest airport to Robertsganj and serves the town. However, it is still 80 km far away.
By train
Robertsganj has a small railway station with 3 platforms. The station is well connected to the major northern, central and eastern cities of India.
By car
The closest city of note to Robertsganj is Varanasi, from which it takes a little over 2 hours to get to by car or taxi. Drive along State Highway 5A for most of the journey.
By bus
There are regular bus services from Varanasi to Robertsganj too along State Highway 5A. These usually take about 2 1⁄2 hours to reach town.
Get around
See
- 1 Son View Point (Eco Valley). A lookout and a picnic area. Great views of the Son Valley.
- 2 Salkhan Fossils Park, SH 5A, Salkhan village, ☏ +91 97932 98272. The 25 hectare park contains fossils of stromatolites, algae and ancient trees that are around 1.4 billion years old, dating to the Proterozoic period. For science lovers, it is a wonderful place but the park is not well maintained by the locals. Signs, guides and basic amenities are limited. The tourism potential of the site is untapped, making it for now, off the beaten track.
- 3 Veer Lorik Stone, Markundi Hill. The split stone structure has its origin in a folklore love story. The hero Veer Lorik demonstrates his love for Manjari by cutting the stone with his sword in a single swipe.
- 4 Vijaygarh Fort. The fort is believed to have existed in the mythological times of the Mahabharata. In the 11th century, it was upgraded by Maharaja Vijay Pal. Inside the fort there are stone gravings and a number of statues. Four lakes surround the fort, adding it to its visual appeal.
- 5 Kaimoor Wildlife Sanctuary, Churk.
- 6 Dhanraul Dam.
Do
Buy
- 1 Maurya Vegetables Market, New Colony, ☏ +91 79055 32446. Daily 3am-10pm. Fresh rural produce.
Eat
- Khalsa Hotel Restaurant, Tagore Nagar. Daily 9am-11pm. Lunch, dinner and a variety of sweets.
Drink
Sleep
- New Hotel Savera, Civil Lines Rd (Near State Bank Of India). Has an in-house restaurant serving pizza and tandoori options. All rooms have running hot and cold water. From ₹600.
- Hotel Subh Shree Palace, 62, SH 5A, Tagore Nagar (near Mission Hospital), ☏ +91 94152 72411.
Go next
- Head north to the town of Chunar or further to the Hindu holy city of Varanasi
- Go east, cross the state border and end up at Bodh Gaya, the place where the Buddha attained enlightenment