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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 dawon the gleam upon the river, Ramghat stirs
into life as the devout of all ages take the ritual, purifying dip
in the waers and invoke the blessings of the gods.
The activity builds up in a crescendo of colour 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.
The rippling blue-green waters of the Mandakini can be traversed
by boats, readily available for hire.
Sati Anusuya :
Sati Anysuya 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 incamations 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 twon and
can be reached by road-an undulating, curving drive through densely
wooded areas.
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
to the throne of Ayodhya. Many are the faithful who perfom 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 the idyllic pastrol 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 haloes it, seting it
apart from the bustle of the everyday world. There are two approaches
to janaki kund: 2 km up from Ramghat by boat, or by road along a
foliagelined drive.
Sphatik Shila :
A few kilometers beyond janaki kund is again a dessely 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.
Gupt-Godavari
:
18 km from the town by road 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 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 hill side
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 sopt
a few kilometers from town.
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 dawon the gleam upon the river, Ramghat stirs
into life as the devout of all ages take the ritual, purifying dip
in the waers and invoke the blessings of the gods.
Gupt-Godavari
: 
