Chitrakoot: The land of Epics and Legends

Chitrakoot is the land where legends were made. In this epic, the central figures are none other than the benevolent king Lord Rama, Goddess Sita and his brother Shri Lakshman who are believed to have spent 11 and a half years of the 14 years of their exile here.  

Nestled along the Mandakini river banks, it spreads across the states of Uttar Pradesh and Madhya Pradesh in India. Chitrakoot is revered both for its natural scenery and its spiritual importance. Hindu epic Mahabharat describes Chitrakoot as a sacred place. The Prakrit literature, as well as some Jain texts as well, deem this place as holy. 

The name Chitrakoot from Chitra, of various colours and koot, indicates Kamtanath hill or Kamadgiri hill, the parikrama and the locality. Thus it is a broad term. Ramayan melas have been a regular feature here, and a large fair is regularly held on every Amavasya on Ram Navami. 

Prominent ‘Giriraj Chitrakoot’ is also known as ‘Kamadgiri’. The name itself symbolises the mountain, which fulfils the ambitions or desires of the people. This magnificent ancient mountain of unknown ages is immovable and utmost pious, which bestows boons to the devotees and fulfil their desires. This place is and had been a centre of attraction for devotees, tourists and others since eras on account of its natural beauty and legendry acts and time to time incarnations of divine personalities, such as Maharishi Attri, Mahasati Anusaya, Maharishi Valmiki, the great Saint Kavi Tulsidas and primarily the Purrushottam Lord Rama. Besides all this, the place is also renowned for religions, spiritual wisdom, ‘tappa’ and meditations by sages, saints and other spiritual spirits. The river Mandakini Ganga flows by the ‘Kamadgiri’ having many ‘ghats’ where the pilgrims, devotees, tourists and other religious visitors from all over the country and abroad come here to take holy dips and walks around the ‘Kamadgiri’ to take “Parikrama” so gain blessings to fulfil their desires by the grace of the pious ‘Kamadgiri’. The importance of this place can be perceived by the ‘chaupai’.

“Chitrakoot ke ghat par | bhai santan ki bheed || 

Tulsidas chandan ghisein | tilak karen Raghuveer ||”

Places associated with Lord Rama in Chitrakoot are ancient and considered holy which includes Ramaghat on the banks of river Mandakini, Tulsidas Ashram near Ramghat, Mantagayand Shiva temple at Ramghat, Raghav Prayag Ghat, Bara Math, Paran Kuti where Lord Rama lived during his exile, Bijawar Temple, Kamadgiri where Bharat came to meer Lord Rama and requested to return to Ayodhya to rule the kingdom, Lakshaman Pahari, Pramod Ban, Janki Kund where Goddess Sita took a bath. 

Just 13 km from Chitrakoot, amid the dense forest near River Mandakini's origin, lies Sati Anusuya Temple, where one can relish the chirping of the forest birds, lush greenery open spaces, ideal for meditation. It has countless legends of virtues & purity of Sati Anusuya, the companion of Shri Maharshi Atri and mother of Dattatreya, whose respect and devotion towards him gave her enormous strength and powers. 

In his writings, Valmiki narrates that for 10 years, people were suffering from severe famine and animals and birds were parched and starving. Sati Anasuya’s severe penance and devotion in prayers to end the sufferings of sages and the animals compelled the river Mandakini to come down on earth and bestow the blessing that led to the replenishing of the town and allow flora and fauna to thrive once again. It is because of the sacrifices performed during the prayers, Anusaya was called “Sati” Anusaya.

Legend has it that during their exile, Lord Rama and Goddess Sita visited the pious Sati Anusuya at this ashram, who gave many discourses about chastity during this time during their exile.

Reach Chitrakoot By Air

The nearest airports are Allahabad @ 135

Khajuraho @ 175 km

Varanasi @ 275 km. 

These airports have daily flight services to Delhi.