 |
 |
 |

|

Ramghat
The religious activity builds up in a crescendo of colours
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.
 |
 |
| |
 |

Janaki Kund
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.
|
 |
| |
 |

|

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.
|
 |
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
Package Tours
From Kolkata - Temples & Tigers
|
 |