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General
Information / History
Chitrakoot, 'the hill of many wonders', nestles
peacefully in the northern spurs of the Vindhyas,
a place of tranquil forest glades and quiet rivers,
and streams where calm and repose are all pervading.
This loveliest of Nature's gifts is also hallowed
ground, blessed by the gods and sanctified by
the faith of pilgrims. For Chitrakoot's spiritual
legacy stretches back to legendary ages: it was
in these deep forests that Rama and Sita spent
eleven of their fourteen years of exile; here
that the great sage Atri and Sati Anusuya meditated;
and here where the principal trinity of the Hindu
pantheon, Brahma, Vishnu and Mahesh, took their
incarnations.
Sightseeing
Ramghat
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.
Sati
Anusuya
Sati Anusuya is located further up-stream, set
amidst thick forests that resound to the melody
of birdsong all day.It was here that Atri Muni,
his wife Anusuya and their three sons (who were
the three incarnations of Brahma, Vishnu and Mahesh)
are said to have meditated.
Kamadgiri
Kamadgiri, the original Chitrakoot, is a place
of prime religious significance. A forested hill,
it is skirted all along its base by a chain of
temples and is venerated, today, as the holy embodiment
of Rama.The Bharat Milap temple is located here,
marking the spot where Bharat is said to have
met Rama to persuade him to return to the throne
of Ayodhya.
Hanuman
Dhara 
Located on a rock-face several hundred feet up
a steep hillside 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.
Sphatik
Shila
A few kilometers beyond Janaki Kund is again a
densely forested area on the banks of the Mandakini.
One can climb up to the boulder which bears the
impression of Rama's footprint and where Sita
was pecked at by Jayant in the form of a crow.
There are large fish in the river here easily
visible in the pellucid water, and a few temples.
Janki
Kund
3 km from Chitrakoot, this cave over the Mandakini
has always astounded visitors. It is said that
Sita took her bath at this spot during her stay
at Chitrakoot.
Excursions: Sitapur, Ganesh Bagh,
Rajapur, Bharat Koop.
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