//
Photo: Kartik Tiwary, CC BY-SA 2.0 via Wikimedia Commons
A lookout and a picnic area. Great views of the Son Valley.
Son View Point, also known as Eco Point Robertsganj, is an Eco Garden in Sonbhadra district, India. The panoramic view of Son Valley is best witnessed from this point. It is about 6 km from Robertsganj, and hundred meters from Veer Lorik Stone, on Markundi Hill. Eco Point Robertsganj was inaugurated on 11 August 2003 by the District Magistrate of Sonbhadra. The place is thronged by tourists during the monsoon season as it provides a view of the valley, including small rainy waterfalls that mushroom during the season. A small restaurant close by provides fast food items. Son View Point is a picnic spot.
© OpenStreetMap contributors
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.
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.
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.