The Chitrakoot forest of the Treta era lies to the north of the Bindhyas covering Satna district of MP and Banda of UP. It is a town of religious, cultural, historical and archaeological importance, situated in the Bundelkhand region. Chitra stands for colourful and koot for mountain. Chitrakoot situated at 50m constitutes of the five stray villages of Karvi, Sitapur, Kanta, Kohhi and Nayagoal. The highest triad of Hindu mythology was born at Chitrakoot. The land is made auspicious by virtue of its mention in the works of Valmiki and Vyasdeva. Kalidas in his love ballad of the Yaksha, Meghdutam, immortalized Chitrakoot.

Chitrakoot is 72 km. from Allahabad and 10 km. from Karwi railway station. Nearest airport is in Khajuraho about 185 km.

The Mandakini River flows parallel to the distant hill ranges. Temples are there at the Ram Ghat i.e, ghat of the Mandakini River. On the west bank there is the Raghavprayag Ghat, accessible from Ram Ghat by boat. One can enjoy a 2 km boat ride from Ram Ghat along Mandakini.

4 km to the east from Chardham (Gupta Godavari, Sati Anasuya Mandir, Crystal rock and Janaki Kunda) 360 steps High Mountain named Hammandhara.

Gupta Godavari - a spacious cave cut out from the hill called Sita Kund. The Godavari River dives underground at Nasik and emerges here. 14 km from Gupta Godavari and Chitrakoot in a quiet jungle lies the Sati Anasuya Temple on the hill slope. 11 km from the Anasuya temple on the bank of Mandakini there is the Crystal Rock bearing the foot prints of Ram and Sita. Adjacent to the city are Janakikund and temple. Kamatgiri, the land is dotted with holy places deeply associated with varies tales and characters of the great epic Ramayana.

At Lakshman Pahari, south of Kamatgiri there is a Lakshman Temple besides ancient wells. Beside the holy bath at Ramghat at Bharatkup, the 17 km away there is a reservoir said to be built by Bharat where holy waters from various pilgrim centre across the land were collected and mixed by him.

At Sankarshan Mountain there is Koti Tirth or kund. Adjacent to Karvi railway station is Ganesha Bag or Mini Khajuraho, built early 19^th century the architectural splendour of this pleasure garden built by Srimant Vinayak Rao Peshwa. 38 km from Chitrakoot is Rajapur, the birth place of poet Tulsidas.

Accommodation facilities: No good accommodation is available at Chitrakot. The tourists usually stay at Jagdalpur.

Last Updated on Tuesday, 19 January 2010 20:30