Chitrakoot Travel Guide
Chitrakoot,
'the hill of many wonders', nestles peacefully in the northern spurs of
the Vindhyas. This loveliest of nature's gifts is also hallowed ground,
blessed by the gods and sanctified by the faith of pilgrims. A city with
more than legendary significance, it was the abode of Lord Ram and Sita
for eleven year when in exile, the place where Sage Atri and Sati
Anusuya meditated, the divine spot saw the incarnations of Brahma,
Vishnu and Mahesh. This holy city is dotted with innumerable temples and
shrines today.
This large sprawling town stands on the banks of the Mandakini River
about 132 km from Khajuraho and it was here that Brahma, Vishnu and Siva
are believed to have been born and taken on their incarnations. Bathing
Ghats line the Mandakini River. Both Madhya Pradesh Tourism and Uttar
Pradesh Tourism have Tourist Bungalows here.
Getting There :
By Air : The nearest airport is at Khajuraho ( 175 km
) , connected with Delhi, Agra and Varanasi.
By Rail : The nearest railhead is at Chitrakoot with
Jhansi, Mahoba, Chitrakoot Dham, Harpalpur, Satna and chhatapur.
Tourist Attractions :
Janaki Kund :
Upstream from Ramghat is a serenely beautiful stretch of the Mandakini,
a symphony of nature in tones of earth-brown and leaf-green, the intense
blue of the river waters finding a paler echo in the canopy of the sky.
It is in this idyllic setting that Sita used to bathe during the years
when she and Rama were exiled. Her footprints can still be seen here.
Many people seem to follow her example and come to bathe in these
especially blessed waters. The monkeys that live here perform acrobatic
somersaults from the trees into the river. Easily accessible, you can
get there by road or by boat from Ramghat.
Sphatik Shila :
Sphatik Shila is a densely forested area on the banks of the Mandakini.
One can climb up to the boulder which bears the impression of Lord
Rama's footprints. There are large fishes in the river which are easily
visible in the water. It also has a few temples.
Hanuman Dhara :
Located on a rock face several hundred feet up a steep hill side is a
spring, said to have been created by Rama to assuage Hanuman when the
latter returned after setting Lanka afire. A couple of temples
commemorate this spot which offers a panoramic view of Chitrakoot. There
is an open, paved area here in the shade of a massive peepul tree, a
lovely halting place after the long climb up.
Ram Ghat :
The ghats that line the banks of the river Mandakini reveal a
constantly moving and changing kaleidoscope of religious activity. Here,
amidst the chanting of hymns and the sweet fragrance of incense, holy
men in saffron robes sit, in silent meditation or offer the solace of
their wisdom to the countless pilgrims who converge here. With the very
first rays of dawn that gleam upon the river, Ramghat stirs into life as
the devout of all ages take the ritual, purifying dip in the waters and
invoke the blessings of the gods. The rippling blue green waters of the
Mandakini can be traversed by boats, readily available for hire.
Kamadgiri :
Kamadgiri, the original Chitrakoot, is a place of prime religious
significance. A forested hill, it is skirted all along it's base by a
chain of temples and is venerated, as the holy embodiment of Lord Rama.
The Bharat Milap temple is located here.
