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Chitrakoot
What
to See
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 activity builds up in a crescendo of 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.
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 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.
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. In this pastoral setting, it is said, Sita would bathe in the
crystal clear waters, during the years of her exile with Rama.
Certainly, this quiet spot seems to have been specially blessed, for
an aura of total harmony and quietitude holes it, setting it apart
from the bustle of the everday world. There are two approaches to
Janaki Kund: 2 Km up from Ramghat by boat, or by road along a
foliagelined drive.
Sati
Anusuya
Sati Anusuya is located further upstream, 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 16km 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
froested 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.
Gupt-Godavari
18km
from the town by road is a natural wonder located some distance up the
side of a hill. Two wonder here is a pair of caves, one high and
wide with other, long and narrow with a stream of water running along
its base. It is believed that Rama and his brother Lakshman held court
in the latter cave, which has two, natural, throne like rocks.
Hanuman
Dhara
Located on a rock-face several hundred feet up a steep
hillside is a spring, said to have been created by Ram to assuage
Hanuman when the later 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.
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