Top Things to do in Chitrakoot
Top Restaurants in Chitrakoot
Top 10 Things to do in Chitrakoot, India
Discover the best top things to do in Chitrakoot, India including Gupt Godavari Caves, Ram Ghat, Hanuman Dhara Temple, Sati Anusuya Temple, Kamadgiri Temple, Kamtaji Temple, Sphatik Shila, Janaki Kund, Sita Rasoi, Bharat Koop.
Restaurants in Chitrakoot
1. Gupt Godavari Caves
Overall Ratings
4.5 based on 50 reviews
Reviewed By Kumar M - Bokaro Steel City, India
The name is derived from the tiny stream of water flowing inside the caves, whose source remains unfathomable. Located 18km from Ram Ghat, the architectural beauty of the caves is overwhelming and makes you forget the deplorable condition of the road leading to the caves. Colorful carvings of the Trinity-Brahma, Vishnu and Mahesh on the entrance is fascinating. It is one of the most popular destination for photographers, adventure fanatics and experience seekers.
2. Ram Ghat
Overall Ratings
4 based on 46 reviews
Reviewed By Kumar M - Bokaro Steel City, India
Ramghat is the most important pilgrimage site of Chitrakoot located on the banks of River Mandakini. The importance of this place is so immense that the place Chitrakoot has almost become synonymous with Ramghat.Legend has it that Ram and Sita spent 11 years in exile in Chitrakoot. Both of them also visited the banks of the River Mandakini and this is how this place came to be associated with them. A large number of devotees come here to offer their prayers. One can also take a boat ride in the rippling waters of the River Mandakini. The view of the banks of the river from the boats is lovely and is sure to impress you. Chitrakoot is the nearest railway station .
3. Hanuman Dhara Temple
Overall Ratings
4.5 based on 28 reviews
Reviewed By Kumar M - Bokaro Steel City, India
Hanuman Dhara provides the awe inspiring scenery of a cascade that falls from the nearby Mountains. Though the uphill path is little bit tiresome, the pictorial beauty of the gleaming waterfall take away all your hardships and you will be enthralled by the lovely environ that surrounds .The temple is dedicated to Hanuman holds a deity which is regarded as one of a rare idol of the monkey god. The spring that falls on the deity gradually fills the nearby kund ais indeed a delightful site to be remembered for a long. Apart from this, Hanuman Dhara gives a implausible view of the legendary town of Chitrakoot .
4. Sati Anusuya Temple
Overall Ratings
4.5 based on 26 reviews
Reviewed By KRAMA200 - Seattle, Washington
The Sati Anusuya Temple and Atri Munis Ashtam situated within lush green forest attracts you once you reach there. There are many stories pertaining to this place and you better hear it from Priests and Guides to be spiritually elevated..The Ashram has natural beauty. Enjoy the nature ,stories and be spiritually elevated
5. Kamadgiri Temple
Overall Ratings
4.5 based on 18 reviews
Reviewed By KRAMA200 - Seattle, Washington
Kamdagiri Mountain and Kamdagiri Temple are one of the Major attractions in Chitra koot. It is believed that Rama ,Lakshmana and Sita spent most part of Vanavas here. Another story is that Rama gave Paduka to Lakshmana here.Shri Kamta nathji temple is a must for Hindu devotees. Most of the devotees do parikrama of the mountain which is Eight Kilometres.If you visit and do parikrama it is believed your wishes will be fulfilled. Wheel chair facility for doing Parikrama is available.Ardent Hindus visit the place multiple times. A pLACE WORTH VISITING.
6. Kamtaji Temple
Overall Ratings
4.5 based on 12 reviews
Reviewed By HS-MISRA - New Delhi, India
Kamta Nath Temple is very important in Chitrakoot. It is located in the Pradakshina Marg of Kamadgiri hillock. As per the descriptions given by Tulsidas in RamCharit Manas, the Mountain Kamadgiri was praised By Sage Balmiki and Lord Ram was suggested to make it abode during his exile. Most of the time, Ram passed on this hillock. Since then, this hillock is supposed to be very holy and it kills all the sins of human beings. Around 5 km in circumference is the Parikrama Marg which can be covered barefoot in around one hour at normal speed but it takes around two hours as there are number of temples like Bharat Milap and janak milap enroute. At the entrance gate no -1 Kamtanath Temple is situated. God Kamtanath fulfills all the wishes of the devotees, such is belief. The Parikram is exciting and one can see the manuscript of Ramcharit Manas in the Handwriting of Tulsidas in Manas Mandir at Parikrama Marg. The road of Parikrama is cemented but it is not so clean and beggars enroute irritate the devotees, Yes half of the Parikrama is in Uttar Pradesh and the other half in in Madhya Pradesh.
7. Sphatik Shila
Overall Ratings
4 based on 22 reviews
Reviewed By KRAMA200 - Seattle, Washington
The Crystalline rock on the banks of Mandakini river is supposed to have foot prints of Rama and hence highly revered.Sita and Rama are supposed to have rested on this rock when they were resting on Manakiniriver in Chitrakoot.The episode of Kakasura also supposed to have taken place is here. So this place is highly rated and visited in Chitrakoot. A must visit for those having faith.
8. Janaki Kund
Overall Ratings
4.5 based on 12 reviews
Reviewed By HS-MISRA - New Delhi, India
Jankaki Kund is around three km from Ramghat, the main point of Chitrakoot Dham. It is not far away from Sphatik Shila. At this place on river Mandakini, Devi Sita used to take bath during the exile. Of course, the scenic beauty is praiseworthy. A very small temple of Sita's footprints is built here and devotees bow down. The place would be more worthseeing if it were maintained. The river is polluted and no care for cleanliness seems to be takes. Overall. do not miss if you have planned to visit Chitrakoot.
9. Sita Rasoi
Overall Ratings
4.5 based on 6 reviews
Reviewed By Kumar M - Bokaro Steel City, India
Sita Rasoi (Kitchen) is perched at an altitude of about 100 feet above Hanuman Dhara temple. It is considered to be the place where Devi Sita cooked food. The place is extremely alluring and peaceful. The place is enveloped by several trees. What captivated my attention was the small rolling pin (chakla belan) that was built on the rock. From this place, one can have an excellent view of the whole Chitrakoot village
10. Bharat Koop
Overall Ratings
4.5 based on 7 reviews
Reviewed By Profvns - Bengaluru, India
Some of the people who are unable to understand the inner meaning and divine scheme in the events or episodes in Ramayana have mistaken that Sri Rama went to forest because of Bharatha’s mother Kaikeyi who was instigated by her hunch-back maid. In reality it is not so. Bharatha was son of Kaikeyi and the second son of king Dasaratha of Ayodhya. To understand the secret of the play it is necessary to recall the back-ground of the epical story of Ramayana.
Lord Bramha had four sons (Manasa puthras) namely Sanaka, Sananda, Sanathana and Sanathkumara. They were very short in height (Midget or Lilliputian). They were very powerful Bramharshis. Bramharshi is one who has attained all the divine powers by doing concentrated meditation. They wanted to meet Lord Vishnu in his abode at Vaikunta. When they went and stood at the gate of Vaikunta, the watchmen namely Jaya and Vijaya refused to allow them inside, inspite of knowing them well. They were extremely angry and cursed the obstructers to take birth on the Earth. Jaya and Vijaya begged for their pardon but they did not forgive them. Then they fell at the feet of their Lord Vishnu and to show a way to suffer the curse. They were very much attached to their Master and sincere in their duty. Taking pity on them Lord Vishnu gave them an alternative option. They could take seven births on earth and be as His friends or take three births but be His bitter enemies. They preferred the latter choice as they wanted to complete the curse period as early as possible and as quick as permissible. Vishnu said Thathasthu (granted permission as they desired).
In their first birth in Kruthayuga they were born as Hiranya Kashipu and Hiranyaksha and got killed by Lord Vishnu in the incarnation of Lord Narasimha (Lion Headed God) and Lord Varaha Murthy (Boar headed god). In Threthayuga they were born as Ravana and Kumbakarna. The very object of taking incarnation as Sri Rama was to kill those demons and to relieve them of their curse but certainly not to enjoy the royal life as princes of powerful king. The act of Kaikeyi and the hunch-back maid were limited rolls to send Rama to forest so that he could achieve the object of his incarnation. Bharatha, his mother and her servant maid were only creators of cause of action to enable Rama to go to forest for the purpose for which He had come on earth as human being.
In Lanka the demon king Ravana proved to be the most powerful as he defeated Devendra, the king of gods and captured the heaven. Later his son Meghanada defeated Devendra as such he was nicknamed as Indrajithu (winner against Lord Indra the king of heaven). Indrajithu had a boon from Lord Brahma that he should not be killed by anyone except by a person who had not slept for fourteen years continuously. Laxmana the brother of Rama accompanied Rama to forest. At the time of leaving the palace his wife Urmila also wanted to follow him as Seetha was following Rama. Laxman did not agree and convinced her to remain in the palace and miraculously transferred his fourteen years sleep to her and he did not sleep for fourteen years and engaged himself in his sacred duty of guarding his elder brother and sister-in-law Seetha whom he revered as Mother. Consequently he attained eligibility prescription to kill Indrajithu in war. These are all the reasons for Rama, Seetha and Laxmana to go to forest in exile. Seetha had to be kidnapped by Ravana. That was the cause for Rama to kill Ravana. Otherwise he had no reason to kill Ravana. Thus we see a cause behind every event or episode in Ramayana.
Similar is the position in regard to other epic Mahabharata. In the next Dwaparayug Jaya and Vijaya were born as Danthavakra or Jarasanda and Sishupala and got killed by Lord Krishna.
When Rama left Ayodhya Bharatha and Sathrugna were not in the palace and they did not know the scheme of Kaikeyi. They were at their maternal grand-father’s palace at Kashmir. Bharatha learnt about banishment of Rama on returning to palace. He became furious and sworn to reverse the exile of Rama and condemned his mother and her maid. Bharatha, Sathrugna along with the royal families and the people of Ayodhya went to Chitrakoot to request Rama to return to Ayodhya and to accept the Crown of the kingdom. Bharatha never aspired for the kingship.
These three brothers (Laxman, Bharath and Sathrugna) were very much attached to Rama, their elder one. You know the reason? All these four brothers put together would make one Lord Vishnu. How could it be? Because in Vaikunta Rama is Vishnu, Laxmana is his bed-serpent, Adisesha, Bharatha is the disk (Vishnu chakra or Sudarshana) and Sathrugna is conch shell (Sanka). That was the divine welded attachment of relationship inborn in them.
The event of Kaikeyi's betrayal of her husband and demanding to perform his promise and to put Bharatha on the throne and banish Rama to forest for 14 years of exile were only dramatic events to enable Rama to achieve the object of his coming to earth as a human being.
Any amount of appeal, request and prayers yielded no fruit before Rama who did not budge for the tears of Bharatha. Then helplessly Bharatha asked for the wooden slippers of Rama and carried them on his head to Ayodhya. Bharatha built a small hermit at Nandigrama where he ruled Ayodhya as a representative of Rama. He used to worship the slippers of Rama placing them on the royal throne.
Coming back to Chitrakoot, Bharatha left many memorials bearing at Chitrakoot. The most important one is the Bharat Milap Temple which marks the spot where Bharatha met Rama and took his slippers. We can see the footprints of all of the four brothers here.
Bharatha had a desire and planned to celebrate the crowning ceremony at Chitrakoot itself. For that purpose he had collected holy waters from various sacred rivers and theerthas to use such mixture of water for the purpose of the intended ceremony which never took place since Rama refused to accept the request of Bharatha and others. However on the advice of Sage Athri Bharatha dug this well and poured all that holy water in the well for the well being of the people who may use it. The well remained as a memory of the Bharatha’s visit to Chitrakoot. It is called Bharath Koop. Koop means well.
Bharat Koop (well) is at the village Bharatpur in Chitrakoot of Uttar Pradesh in India. It is a massive well found at few kms West of Chitrakoot.
We can also see a temple of Lord Rama close to this well. Because of the Bharath Koop the village is called Bharatpur. The well is known as "Bharat Koop Holy Theertham". The pilgrims take bath in this well water (Theertham) to wash off all their sins so far accumulated.
Chitrakoot is a well known place for peaceful environment. I am sure you will enjoy your trip to Chitrakoot and the nature, rivers, hills, greenery and calmness. You wash your sins by taking bath in holy waters and attain a bit of spiritualism, increase your Bhakthi and don’t miss to visit Waterfalls and spend atleast 3-4 days in the divine atmosphere.
Chitrakoot is well connected by road. There are regular bus services from Banda, Allahabad, Jhansi, Varanasi, Chhatarpur, Satna, Kanpur, Faizabad, Lucknow etc. The nearest railway station is Karvi at 8 km. The nearest airport is Khajuraho at about 180 km. There are good facilities for food and accommodation.
