Divine Amarkantak

Divine Amarkantak

Amarkantak is a well known Hindu pilgrimage destination that is popularly known as "Teerthraj" - "the king of pilgrimages". Apart from spiritual significance, the city is also known for its geographical and natural richness. It is the meeting point of the Vindhya and the Satpura Ranges, with the Maikal Hills being the prominent one among them. The forests surrounding Amarkantak have a rich variety of plants with medicinal properties, which make it extremely significant from an ecological point of view. 

Amarkantak is draped with lush mango trees and hence it is believed that the great Sanskrit poet Kalidasa visited Amarkantak and called it Amrakoot. This can be witnessed at Mai Ki Bagiya, which is a grove of mango and banana trees.

Waterfalls of Amarkantak 

Kapil Dhara  

It is associated with the legends of Saint Kapil or Kapila. It is said that he spent 12 years in meditation at this place. The holy Narmada pours downhill as a gigantic waterfall forms the Kapil Dhara waterfall. On the rocky banks of the brisk, the blue water is the holy Narmada and is a popular picnic spot for visitors. This waterfall is the most famous among all the Amarkantak Waterfalls due to its association with the Hindu saint.

Dugdh Dhara

People take a one-kilometre trek from the Kapil Dhara to the next Narmada fall which is Dugdh Dhara. This trek is quite a popular thing to do in Amarkantak among the tourists. It is surrounded by rocky steps with wild bushes. The froth of water looks like a stream of Dugdh (Milk), naming it the Dugdh Dhara waterfall.

Narmada Udgam

Three rivers - the holy Narmada, the Sone and the Johila emerge from the womb of Amarkantak. A rising stream of Narmada can be seen at The Narmada Udgam Temple which is the most visited place in Amarkantak. Every year on the occasion of Narmada Jayanti, devotees in abundance gather here to attend the special event. Narmada Udgam Temple is surrounded by wonderful natural wonders like Narmada kund, Sonemuda (the source of river Sone), plunging Dugdhara falls and the Kapildhara falls.

Shri Yantra Mandir

The most noticeable feature of the temple is the massive sculpture with four heads at the entrance path. The head represents the face of goddess Laxmi, Saraswati, Kali, and Bhuvaneshwari. They are accompanied by statues of Lord Ganesha and Kartik, as well as 64 exquisitely carved deities also known as Chaunsath Yoginis. The temple is constructed as a 3D projection of the Sri Yantra  or Sri Chakra, which forms the core of the Sri Vidya worship in Hinduism.

Mai Ki Bagiya

The natural tree grove known as Mai ki Bagiya, surrounds the woodland and is devoted to the Goddess Narmada. The garden has Gulbakavli, Roses, and other blooming plants in addition to mango, banana, and other fruit trees. The garden also houses a Charanodak Kund pond and a small temple dedicated to the Goddess Narmada. This location is thought to be where the Narmada river actually originated. It is believed that the water stream that first emerged in Mai's garden has since continued on and now emerges at the current Narmada origin temple.

Apart from natural spots, Amarkantak is home to many temples.  The group of ancient temples of the Kalachuri period such as Machhendranath, Pataleshwar and Kailash Narayan, Shri Yantra Mandir, Mrityunjay Ashram, Bhrigu Kamandal are some more places to see in Amarkantak that you should not miss exploring. At a short distance from Amarkantak is the Kabir Chabutra, where the mystic poet Sant Kabir is said to have meditated and achieved salvation.

The rich natural heritage and spiritual vibes of Amarkantak will fill your heart with happiness and positivity. Visit Madhya Pradesh to revive your soul and take back the memories of its unique culture, majestic architecture and mesmerizing natural beauty to splash your IG feeds.

Best time to visit Amarkantak

Although Amarkantak can be toured throughout the year, the peak summer season could be avoided to escape the scorching heat. The best time to visit Amarkantak is between September to February. Post monsoon brings greenery to the environment, making it picturesque to visit. Narmada Jayanti, Makar Sankranti and Shiv Chaturdashi are celebrated during winters with great enthusiasm.

How to visit Amarkantak?

By Air: The nearest airports to Amarkantak are Jabalpur at 228 km and Raipur at 230 km. Both the airports are well linked to many major cities of India.

By Rail: The closest railhead to Amarkantak is situated at Pendra Road in Chattisgarh at 42 km.

By Road: Amarkantak is 71 km from Anuppur, the district headquarter. There is the option of direct buses from Rewa, Allahabad, Mandla, Seoni, Bilaspur, Katni, Jabalpur, and Raipur.