Chitrakoot - sight seeing / things to do

Chitrakoot - the name brings to our memory the great Epic Ramayana.  Here is the place where Lord Rama, Sita devi and Lakshmana were staying till Sita was adducted by Ravana and carried away to Srilanka.   If you have read Amish Tripathi's Trilogy series, this place makes it more lively to read through the book again.

When the trip was planned, I didnt realize the significance of this place with respect to Ramayana since we are from Chennai and Chitrakoot is so far away and the Ramayana stories were stories alone.  But coming to this place, it was taking me back to my childhood days of reading listening to stories from Ramayana and living through them in all the places in Chitrakoot.




Chitrakoot means " Hill of many Wonders" and is part of the Vindhya Mountain Range.   The city of Chitrakoot is part of Satna District of Madhya Pradesh and adjoins the Chitrakoot District of State of Uttar Pradesh.  It is a small town with less than 25000 people.

Chitrakoot is accessable by Railways and Roadways and the nearest airport is Prayagraj Airport which is just 106 kms away.  It is also connected to Khajuraho Airport which is 167 km away from Chitrakoot.


Places of Interest in and around  Chitrakoot 

 

1.     KAMAD GIRI

Kamadgiri is the main holy place of Chitrakoot Dham . The Sanskrit word ‘Kamadgiri’ means the mountain which fulfills all the wishes and desires. The place is believed to have been the abode of Lord Ram, Sita and Laxman during their exile. Lord Kamtanath, another of His names, is the Ishta Deva principal deity not only of Kamadgiri Parvat but of the whole of Chitrakoot.

Read through my blog and be part of my travel

https://saradaramani.blogspot.com/2022/04/kamadgiri-chitrakoot.html




 

2. RAM GHAT

As the name suggests this Ghat is totally associated with Lord Rama and the steps lead us to river  Mandakini

Visit my blog to read more on this

https://saradaramani.blogspot.com/2022/04/aarthi-ram-ghat-chitrakoot.html


 


3. BHARAT KOOP

Bharat Koop is a huge well near Bharatpur village, located around 20 KMs west of Chitrakoot. It is believed that Lord Rama’s brother Bharat brought water from all the holy places to honour Lord Ram as the King of Ayodhya. Bharat was unsuccessful in persuading Lord Ram to return to his kingdom and take his place as the king. Bharat then, as per the instructions of Maharishi Atri, poured the holy water in this well. It is said that taking a bath from the water of this well means bathing in all teerths (pilgrimage destination). There is also a temple here dedicated to Lord Rama and his family.



 

4. BHARAT MILAP TEMPLE

Bharat Milap temple is believed to be the marking the spot where Bharat met Lord Rama during his period of exile to persuade him to return to the throne of Ayodhya. It is said that the meeting of four brothers was so overwhelming that even the rocks and mountains of Chitrakoot melted. Footprints of Lord Rama and his brothers imprinted on these rocks can still be seen.



 

5. GANESH BAGH

Ganesh Bagh is located on the Karvi – Devangana road. It was built in the 19th century by Vinayak Raj Peshwa. This place consists of a temple which has carvings on its interiors, resembling the art and style of Khajuraho. This place is also known as mini Khajuraho, owing to its architectural similarity with original Khajuraho.



 

6. SATI ANUSUYA ASHRAM

Chitrakoot is not only about Lord Rama and his Parivar but is also associated with various Rishis or Sages from the Vedic Time.  One such Sage is Sage Atiri who did penace in this small hillock and stayed with his wife Sati Anusuya who was tested by the Teen Murtis to showcase her pativridhatha to the whole world. 

 

Read through my blog to know more about this place

 

https://saradaramani.blogspot.com/2022/04/sati-anusuya-temple-chitrakoot.html

 



 

 

7. GUPT GODAVARI

Gupt Godavari is located 18 Kms from Chitrakoot. Legend has it that Lord Rama and Lakshman stayed here for some part of their exile. Gupt  Godavari is a two cave system inside a mountain with knee high water level. The bigger cave has two stone carved thrones believed to be belonging to Rama and Laxman.

 

https://saradaramani.blogspot.com/2022/04/gupt-godavari-chitrakoot.html

 



 

8. HANUMAN DHARA

This Hanuman temple is situated on top of a huge rock. A steep climb of several carved steps lead to the temple.  Now we have a ropecar to do the climb much more easily.   While climbing these steps one can see splendid views of Chitrakoot underneath. Legend says that inside this temple Lord Rama stayed with Lord Hanuman, after Lord Hanuman set Lanka on fire and returned back. Here Lord Rama helped him pacify his anger.

 

You will read the entire epic story in my blog

 

https://saradaramani.blogspot.com/2022/04/gupt-godavari-chitrakoot.html

 

 


9. SPHATIK SHILA

The sphatik shila is a small boulder situated on the banks of River Mandakini, upstream from the Rama Ghat. This place is believed to be the spot where Mother Sita did her Shringaar (makeup).   What is called Sphatik Shila is in fact two enormous boulders which are believed to contain the footprints of Lord Rama and Goddess Sita.

There is an interesting mythology associated with this religious site in Chitrakoot. It is said that one day Lord Rama was seated at this spot along with Goddess Sita and Laxmana (Rama’s brother) and was engaged in making garlands for her. Just then, Jayant, the son of Lord Indra, appeared on the scene disguised as a crow and pecked at her feet.

Furious with him, Lord Rama shot a blade of grass to kill him. He escaped and arrived at Indralok (the abode of Lord Indra, his father) but was disappointed when his father refused to help him in any way. Scared, guilty and filled with remorse, he returned to the scene and threw himself at Lord Rama’s feet, begging forgiveness. As fate would have it, the blade cut one of his eyes and blinded it. Several mythological tales attribute the one eyed blindness of crows since then to this episode.


10.  RAM DARSHAN

Ram Darshan temple is one unique temple where puja (worship) and offerings are prohibited. This temple helps people enter integral Humanism by imparting them the valuable moral lessons. The temple is an amalgamation of cultural and human aspects and leaves a mark on anyone’s heart who ever visits this temple. The temple gives an insight to Lord Rama’s life and his inter- personal relations. One needs an entry ticket to enter the premises.

 

11.    Sitapur

Lying on the left bank of Payaswani about 8 km. From Karvi, it is intimately connected with the sacred hills of Kamtanath, which is 2 km to its south – west. Pilgrims first bathe in payaswani at Sitapur and then move on to do the Parikrama of Kamtanath hill. Originally known as Jaisinghpur, it was given to Mahant Charandas by Aman Singh Raja of Panna, who gave it the new name Sitapur in honour of maa Sita. There are twenty four Ghats and several temples along the river, which add to the glory of the town.



12.    Kalinjar

88 km. From Chitrakoot lies the invincible Fort of Kalinjar. Once desired by kings & dynasties, it houses within itself the Nilkanth temple, Swarga Rohan Kund, Vakhandeshwar Mahadev Temple, Shivasari Ganga & Koti Tirth. Other interesting spots within the fort area are Sita Sej, Patal Ganga, Pandu Kund, Budhi-Tall, Bhairon Ki Jharia and Mrigdhara.



 

 

 

 

13.    Rajapur

38 km from Chitrakoot Dham Railway Station. The birthplace of Goswami Tulsidas, who wrote the world famous Shri Ram Charita Manas. 42 km from Chitrakoot, this place is believed to be the birth place of Goswami Tulsidas. A Tulsi Mandir is situated here.

 


( Information and photo courtesy Uttar Pradesh Tourism board)

#chitrakootsightseeing
#chitrakoot

 


 

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