Chitrakoot, the Place with Several Interesting Religious Sites in Uttar Pradesh

Chitrakoot is one of the oldest pilgrimage centers in India and it is located in the state of Uttar Pradesh,
on the banks of Mandakini River. Due to its abundant beauty and plenty of tourist attractions along with various religious sites, Chitrakoot is also popularly known as the ‘hill of many wonders’. A number of fairs and festivals are celebrated in this town all round the year, which adds to the attraction of this place. Domestic tourists along with international tourist from different parts of the country visit this place throughout the year. 

Chitrakoot has been taken as a holy place according to the Hindu mythology. The place is related with the Hindu epic, Ramayana, as the forests of Chitrakoot is believed to a temporary residence of Lord Ram during his years of exile. With its strong association with Ramayana, lush green mountains, mystical caves and captivating waterfalls, Chitrakoot is regarded as one of the must visit destinations in the state of Uttar Pradesh.

Attractions

Ram Ghat

Ram Ghat is one of the most beautiful bathing ghats in India, located at the center of the Chitrakoot town. It is believed that Lord Ram, his wife, Sita and his brother Laxman took bath at this ghat during their stay at this place during their exile. A renowned poet and saint, Tulsidas used to stay close to this ghat and he met Lord Ram, Laxman and Sita at this place. Later, he went on to write Ram Charit Manas. There is also a famous temple of Mattagajendreshwar or MadganjanSwami, located at this ghat. Tourists can witness the saints, dressed in saffron cloth, taking a deep and meditating in the waters of the Ram Ghat. They can also attend the evening aarti in the Mattagajendreshwar temple that includes the sounds of the bells and the chanting of the slokas.

Hanuman Dhara

Hanuman Dhara is located at a distance of about 4 km from Ram Ghat. It is a shrine dedicated to Lord Hanuman, placed on a hillside of Chitrakoot. According to the legends, Lord Hanuman flew to this hill after destroying Lanka with the fire on his tail. As he was very much in anger, he stood under a stream of icy water at this spot, in order to cool his anger. Now, the stream is known as Hanuman Dhara. Inside the temple, tourists and devotees can witness the icy water of the stream falling on the idol of Lord Hanuman. Tourists and devotees have to climb over 360 steps to get to this temple, in order to receive blessings from the great warrior Lord. The spot also provides scenic views of the Chitrakoot town.

Shabari Falls

Shabari Falls is a mesmerizing fall, located at the origination of the Mandakini River close to Jamunihai village, at a distance of about 8 km towards south of Markundi village. The main highlight about this fall is that one streams flows above the other. There is a huge water reservoir close to this fall, which is named as Mandakini Kund. The fall was explored on 31^st July 1998 by Sri Jagannath Singh, the District Magistrate of Chitrakoot. 

Apart from these places there are various other religious sites found in this region.

Best Time to Visit

The most appropriate time to visit Chitrakoot is during the months of March to July, as the place experiences a pleasant climate during this time of the year. 

Accommodation

There are plenty of comfortable options available for staying in Chitrakoot. Though there are not much hotels in luxury category but the budget cheap category hotels are considerably well equipped to make the staying of the guests into a comfortable one. All most all the hotels and resorts found at this place are facilitated with all the basic amenities.

How to Reach

By Air: The nearest airport to this town is Khajuraho, located at a distance of about 175 km. The airport is well connected with Delhi and Agra through flights. Bus and taxi services are available from the airport to get to the place.

By Rail: The closest railway station to this town is Chitrakoot Dham Station, located at a distance of about 11 km from the main town. The station lies on the Jhansi-Manikpur main line, connecting the place with several major cities in the country.

 

By Road: Chitrakoot has a good network of roads that connects the town with major places like Jhansi, Satna, Allahabad, Chhatarpur, Mahoba and Harpalpur. Regular bus and taxi services are available from these places to Chitrakoot.