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Information about
Chitrakoot |
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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. |
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Sufferers
and seekers, poets and visionaries, princes and
noblemen have, through the ages, sought and found
solace in Chitrakoot, drawn inspiration from its
sublime natural beauty, gained spiritual strength from
its serene temples and in turn, become part of the
hallowed legend that is Chitrakoot. |
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What to see |
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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. 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.
The religious activity builds up in a
crescendo of colours |
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and spontaneous expressions of faith through the
day, past high noon, gently diminishing as the
setting sun picks out the bright colours of flower
petals floating down the river, while the evening
'arti' lends its melodious cadences to the
deepening dusk. At all times, Ramghat witnesses a
deep and abiding faith which finds expression in
the rituals which honour the sanctity of
Chitrakoot. |
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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.
Many are the faithful who perform the ritual
circuit (Parikrama), of the sacred hill, to ask
for a boon or a blessing. |
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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. The
Mandakini is believed to have been created by
Anusuya through her meditation. Sati Anusuya lies
about 16 km from the town and can be reached by
road - an undulating, curving drive through
densely wooded areas. |
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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. |
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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. There are two approaches to
Janaki Kund, 2 km up from Ramghat by boat, or by
road along a foliage-lined drive.
In this idyllic pastoral setting, it is said, Sita
would bathe in the crystal clear waters, during
the years of her exile with Rama. Certainly, this
quite spot seems to have been specially blessed,
for an aura of total harmony and quietitude haloes
it, setting it apart from the bustle of the
everyday world. |
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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. |
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Bharat Koop
Bharat Koop is where Bharat stored holy water
collected from all the places of pilgrimage in
India. It is a small, isolated spot a few
kilometers from town. |
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Gupt-Godavari
18 km from the town is a natural wonder located
some distance up the side of a hill. The wonder
here is a pair of caves, one high and wide with an
entrance through which one can barely pass, and
the other long and narrow with a stream of water
running along its base. It is believed that Rama
and his brother Laxman held court in the latter
cave, which has two, natural throne-like rocks. |
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Excursions |
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Chachai and Keoti Falls
Situated 46 km from Rewa on the banks of the river Bihad,
Chachai Falls are a beautiful spectacle of water falling
in torrents from a height of 130 mts. Nearby, the Keoti
and Bahuti Falls are also worth a visit.
Maihar
40 km
from Satna, Maihar is famous for its Sharda Devi Temple
built on a hilltop. It is an important centre for Indian
classical Music.
Govindgarh
Situated amidst sylvan surroundings, Govindgarh is 19 km
from Rewa, the capital of the old Vindhya State, on
National Highway 7. it is famous for its scenic beauty,
mangoes and the White Tigers. The Govindgarh Palace on
the banks of a huge lake houses the personal museum of
the Maharajah of Rewa. The first White Tiger, Mohan,
captured in 1951 in the nearby jungles, was kept in this
palace till his death.
Mara Caves
These
caves are situated in the Singhrauli tehsil of Sidhi
district. The ancient caves stand in the middle of the
jungle about 22 km from Singhrauli. For sheer majestic
beauty, they can be compared with the caves of Ajanta
and Ellora.
Sohagpur
Only 3
km from Shahdol, Sohagpur in the former State of Rewa
has a beautiful Hayahaya temple dedicated to Shiva as
Virateswara that bears close resemblance to the
Khajuraho temples. It has a square sanctum, a vestibule
and a large enclosed hall, in front of which originally
was a beautiful pyramidal roof. |
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How to Reach |
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By Air
The
nearest airport is at Khajuraho (175 km), connected with Delhi
& Agra.
By Rail
The nearest railhead is at Chitrakootdham (Karwi)
(11 km) on the Jhansi-Manikpur main line.
By Road
Regular bus services connect Chitrakoot
with Jhansi, Mahoba, Chitrakoot Dham, Harpalpur, Satna and
Chhatarpur. |
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Best
Season |
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October to
March. |
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