Hindu mythology is filled with exotic places that are just aching to be explored. One such wondrous place is Chitrakoot located in the midst of Madhya Pradesh. The Ramayana doesn’t fail to mention this place in its chronicles of the great Lord Rama, and neither do the locals of Chitrakoot fail to mention that Lord Rama and his entourage coming to their little town.
If translated Chitrakoot means ‘the hill of many wonders’ and in many ways, this town manages to stay loyal to its name.
According to Ramayana, this is the very town where the important discussion between Bharata and Lord Rama took place, where Bharata informed Rama of their father King Dashratha’s demise urging him to come back and rule the kingdom. Upon Lord Rama’s refusal, Bharata took his slippers and went back, only to put those slippers on the throne, while ruling in the absence of this exiled brother. Many also say that this place was also used by Rama to perform the last rites of his father.
As you touch the base of Chitrakoot you will find a lovely holy presence around you. There are so many things that are related to Lord Rama here, that it makes one feel as if they are jumping into the storybooks filled with stories from the Ramayana. It is in Chitrakoot that Rama, Sita, and Lakshman spent most of their exiled years.
Blessed with picturesque locales, and abundant greenery, many sages, saints, and poets fell in love with the town, and settle here to practice their art and devotion. It is so beautiful that even famed poet Kalidasa gave his heart away to this town, and made this the place to host his dance dramas. Many poets have written about the spirituality of this place, and how it has the power to heal anyone who sets foot here. Poet Tulsidas is said to have seen Lord Rama here.
Chitrakoot is also a famous place for Yoga ashrams, and many foreigners come here to practice Yoga in serenity.
Places To See
Chitrakoot is an important pilgrimage centre for saints and sages, and you will often find them on the banks of the Mandakini River in their own zone. The site is very reminiscent of what you might find on the banks of River Ganga in Varanasi.
Ram Ghat
Is the main holy area of the town, and the Aarti here in the evening is absolutely magical and will feel you with a strange kind of divine and cosmic aura. In the day time just visit the beautiful Ram Ghat and try and soak up all the divine powers and the smell of the incense stick then surrounds you.
Lord Ram Ghat | source: TripAdvisor
You can also take a serene boat ride on the Mandakini River, and head on to the majestic view of the three rivers Mandakini, Payaswini, and Savitri coming together as one forming something sanctimonious.
While you are at Ram Ghat you can also head over to the Janaki Kund, where Goddess Sita used to take a bath every day during her stay in this town.
After a religious visit to the Ram Ghat, go towards the unique Kamad Giri, which is one of the most exciting and interesting of places in Chitrakoot.
This place is essentially a magnificent mountain which is dotted with small and big temples, all of which attract great crowds. If you look from a distance you will find yourself staring at a mountain top filled with saffron-clad pilgrims walking towards several small white dots which are actually small shrines.
Bharat Milap
Bharat Milap Mandir/Temple | source: Cell Code
This seraphic temple is famed for being the spot where Bharata met Rama to ask him to come back to the Ayodhya. It derives its name straight from that meeting, and once you visit there you too can feel the love that the brothers must have felt after being reunited for a while.
Sati Anasuya Ashram
Sati Anasuya Ashram | source: TripAdvisor
Chitrakoot is not just famous for its angelic temples and the presence of Lord Rama, but also for its greenery. To experience this greenery head over to the Sati Anasuya Ashram. Nestled in the dense thick forests, this ashram was once the abode of Muni Atri, his wife Anasuya, and three sons (said to be incarnations of Brahma, Vishnu, and Mahesh), who mediated here, which led to a heavy monsoon after an exceedingly dry and torturous time in Chitrakoot. Since then Chitrakoot has always been filled to the brim with greenery and lush meadows.
There are other places like Sphatic Shila- another dense forest known to be the place where Lord Hanuman came bearing the news of Sita being kidnapped by Ravana, and Gupt Godavari– which are two caves. There is a small stream that passes alongside here and makes the place look absolutely charismatic.
You can also visit Hanuman Dhara and Bharat Koop among many other places in Chitrakoot.
Hanuman Dhara Temple | source: www.jagran.com
Located further upstream about 10 plus km from the town, it was here amidst thick forests that Muni Atri, his wife Anasuya, and three sons (said to be incarnations of Brahma, Vishnu, and Mahesh) did their meditation. It is said that once when there was no rain for very many years, the penance of Sati Anasuya brought Mandakini to Chitrakoot and since then there has always been greenery here.
Once you are done with all your sightseeing, just start exploring and walking around this town. Every nook and corner of this spiritual town has hidden stories that you must here and discover. The locals are always brimming with stories and anecdotes, and as you wonder about like a nomad you will come across several temples that will fill you with joy and devotion.
If you really want to experience the fervour that is Chitrakoot, then come here during Ram Navami or Navratri. The entire town comes alive during this time, and there is never a dull moment here. Such are the celebrations here that you will find yourself immersed in the wonders of Lord Rama and his worship.
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