Sonbhadra Travel Guide – Overview, Attractions & Visiting Timings

Sonbhadra, located in the southeastern part of Uttar Pradesh, is a unique district known as the “Energy Capital of India” due to its abundant thermal power plants and rich mineral resources. Nestled between Madhya Pradesh, Chhattisgarh, Jharkhand, and Bihar, Sonbhadra lies in the Vindhya and Kaimur hill ranges, offering a striking blend of forests, hills, rivers, and industrial landscapes. The district is bordered by the Son and Rihand rivers, with the famous Rihand Dam (Govind Ballabh Pant Sagar) being a major attraction and a crucial source of hydroelectric power. Sonbhadra is also home to scenic and spiritual destinations like Vijaygarh Fort, Salkhan Fossil Park (one of the world’s oldest stromatolite fossil sites), Agori Fort, and Renukeshwar Mahadev Temple. Well-connected by road and rail, Sonbhadra serves as an emerging destination for eco-tourism, heritage exploration, and industrial significance, making it an important yet lesser-explored district of Uttar Pradesh.