Chitrakoot - The hill of many wonders, Places to Visit, Tourist Attractions & Travel Guide
Overlooking the districts of Chitrakoot in Uttar Pradesh and Satna in Madhya Pradesh, Chitrakoot is a small town in the north Vindhyan range. According to Hindu mythology and the epic Ramayana, it is very important. According to legend, Lord Rama, his wife Sita, and his brother Lakshmana spent eleven and a half of their fourteen years in exile at Chitrakoot, which is why pilgrims revere it.
The Ramayana states that Bharata, Ram's brother, visited Ram in Chitrakoot and urged him to return to Ayodhya and take control of the kingdom. The main Hindu deities, Shiva, Vishnu, and Brahma, are also thought to have had incarnations here. The 'Hill of many wonders' is another moniker for this divine city, and it is aptly justified. Numerous sites of significant religious significance, including Janki Kund, Hanuman Dhara, and Bharat Milap Temple, can be found in the Chitrakoot mountain range. It is, in fact, a gift from the gods and nature.
'The Ramcharitmanas' author, Goswami Tulsidas, also lived at Chitrakoot for many years. Numerous exciting fairs are held during various festivals and events. Few people are aware that Jagadguru Rambhadracharya Handicapped University, the only university in the world designed specifically for people with disabilities, is located in Chitrakoot.
Thus, Chitrakoot is rightly called the Place of Many Wonders!
Chitrakoot Dham
Located in Uttar Pradesh's renowned Bundelkhand region, Chitrakoot is a spiritual retreat. This town is well-known for its part in the well-known epic Ramayana, where Lord Rama, Goddess Sita, and Lakshman paused here in exile before continuing on to Panchvati. Many could write it off as a fabrication of the imagination, yet there is a wealth of historical evidence to the contrary.
Travellers who are interested should go to Sphatik Shila, the location where Rama and Sita sat during their exile. Sites of interest such as Bharat Milap Mandir, which commemorates the precise moment when Bharat and Rama first met during the exile, are also present. During the exile, Goddess Sita, also called Janaki, would wash at a pond called Janaki Kund. There is Gupt Godavari for the daring traveler, where streams run beneath the claustrophobic, very stuffy caverns.
Mythology
Chitrakoot has a rich and important mythological past and was highly regarded by the ancient sages. In his epic Ramayana, the great scholar Valmiki claims that it was the home of Ram, Laxman, and Sita for a portion of their exile. At Bharat-Milap in Chitrakoot, Bharat met Lord Ram and asked him to return to Ayodhya and assume the throne. With Sita and Laxman, he departed Chitrakoot when Ram politely declined the same. That occasion is now preserved in Bharata Mandir, which also has stone etchings of Lord Ram's and his brothers' footsteps.
In remembrance of his father Dashrath, Lord Ram conducted a shuddhi (purification) ceremony at Chitrakoot. In their writings, the ancient poets Kalidas and Tulsidas both extol Chitrakoot, and Tulsidas stayed here for a long time to meditate and adore Lord Ram.
An important ghat is Ramghat, where Tulsidas was blessed by Lord Ram when he came before him. The Sita's kitchen, where Lady Sita hosted numerous saints and sages, is not far away. It is also thought that the Holy Trinity—the Lords Vishnu, Brahma, and Shiva—took their earthly incarnations at Chitrakoot. Before establishing the universe, Lord Brahma also lit 108 fires here. Yagya Vedi, the site of the once-grand fire, is now only marked by a pit.
Etymology of Chitrakoot
The "hill of many wonders"—Chitrakoot—is stunning and captivating. Have you ever pondered, however, how and where it earned its name, which is now significant to all devout Hindus? Since ancient times, Chitrakoot has been a part of Hindu mythology. The exact roots of the name are unknown. But according to mythology, it's because there are so many Cheetal (spotted deer) in the area.
The name is also said to have come from its creator, Shri Chitraksh, who was a follower of the guru Bhat. In order to build a kingdom close to the Bhat River, the then-king, Shri Chitragupt, dispatched Shri Chitraksh to the Malwa region. Between Malwa and Bhattdesh, Shri Chitraksh founded the kingdom of Chitrakoot, which he made his permanent home.
Best Time to visit Chitrakoot?
The months of July through March are the ideal times to visit Chitrakoot because of the pleasant, temperate weather. The monsoon season, particularly from August onwards, is the best time of year to visit.
Even though summer is the worst time of year to travel, winter is also a bad time to go because of the fog, which makes driving very risky. The region experiences the greatest number of tourists in October and November.
