Chitrakoota Kshetra - Where Sri Rama stayed during forest exile and Ramagiri Shakti Peetha

► Chitrakoot (Shakti Peetha)
(Chitrakoot district, Uttar Pradesh)
(Satna district, Madhya Pradesh)

☗ Chitrakoota Mountain
☸ Chitrakoota Forest (Puranic)
▬ River Mandakini (Payaswini) flows
- Ram Ghat - Raghav Prayag Ghat - Bharat Ghat - Raj Ghat
(Bundelkhand)
(Baghelkhand)

(Valmiki Ramayana)
(Peetha Nirnaya Tantra)

• Rama: Sri Rama visited the hermitage of sage Valmiki while entering Chitrakoota.
- Sri Rama stayed in Chitrakoota during forest exile in a Parna Shala (Leaf Hut). During his stay in Chitrakoota, Sri Rama described the beauty of Chitrakoota Mountain and river Mandakini to Devi Sita.
- Sri Rama gave his Padukas to Bharata in Chitrakoota.
- Sri Rama visited the hermitage of sage Atri and Devi Anusuiya while leaving Chitrakoota.
- Ram Ghat
- Parna Kuti Mandir
- Janaki Kund
- Sphatik Shila
- Kamadgiri Hill
- Kamtanath Temple
- Lakshman Pahari
- Bharat Milap Temple
- Bharat Koop
- Sita Rasoi
- Gupta Godavari

• Hanuman: Bhakta Hanuman abides in Chitrakoota in Hanuman Dhara. It is said that after Hanuman set Lanka on fire, Sri Rama pacified his anger in Hanuman Dhara.
- Hanuman Dhara

• Devi: Devi abides in Chitrakoota as Ramagiri Shakti Peetha (identified with Kamadgiri Hill as well as Maihar Sharada).
- Kamadgiri Hill
- Maihar Sharada

• Sages: Sages associated with Chitrakoota:

○ Valmiki: Sage Valmiki had his hermitage in Chitrakoota where Sri Rama visited during forest exile (while entering Chitrakoota).
- Valmiki Ashrama

○ Atri: Sage Atri and Devi Anusuiya had their hermitage in Chitrakoota where Sri Rama visited during forest exile (while leaving Chitrakoota).
- Atri-Anusuiya Ashrama

• Saints: Saints associated with Chitrakoota:

○ Tulsidas (1532 - 1623 CE): Sri Tulsidas was born in Rajapur of Chitrakoota. Sri Tulsidas composed part of the Ramcharitmanas in Chitrakoota. Sri Tulsias also got the darshan of Totamukha Hanuman and Sri Rama in Ram Ghat of Chitrakoota.
- Rajapur
- Ram Ghat

चित्रकूटाद्रिनिकेतन राम् ॥ कैकेयीतनयार्थित राम् ॥
राम् राम् जय राजा राम् । राम् राम् जय सीता राम् ।
- Nama Ramayana - verses 30 and 32 (Sri Rama stayed in the Chitrakoota mountain-forest and met Bharata there)

विरचितनिजपितृकर्मक राम् ॥ भरतार्पितनिजपादुक राम् ॥
राम् राम् जय राजा राम् । राम् राम् जय सीता राम् ।
- Nama Ramayana - verses 33 and 34 (Sri Rama performed the last rites of his father in Chitrakoota and gave his padukas to Bharata)

शोणाख्या भद्रसेनस्तु नर्मदाख्ये नितम्बकः ।
रामगिरौ स्तनान्यञ्च शिवानी चण्डभैरवः ॥
- Shakti Peetha Stotram - verse 37 (Chitrakoot has the Ramagiri Shakti Peetha where the Stana of Devi had fallen)


(Valmiki Ramayana)

▬ Sri Rama visiting the Valmiki Ashrama while entering Chitrakoota
(Valmiki Ramayana - Ayodhya Kanda - 56)
▬ Sri Rama staying in Chitrakoota in a Parna-shala
(Valmiki Ramayana - Ayodhya Kanda - 56, 94, 95)
▬ Sri Rama meeting Bharata and giving his padukas in Chitrakoota
(Valmiki Ramayana - Ayodhya Kanda - 99 to 112)
▬ Sri Rama visiting the Atri-Anusuya Ashrama while leaving Chitrakoota
(Valmiki Ramayana - Ayodhya Kanda - 117 to 119)
▬ Ramagiri Shakti Peetha: I meditate on the Ramagiri Shakti Peetha where the Stana (Breast) of Devi had fallen. The Devi there is known as Shivani and the Bhairava is called Canda.
(Peetha Nirnaya Tantra - Shakti Peetha Stotram - verse 37)

► Chitrakoot - Valmiki Ashram
(Chitrakoot district, Uttar Pradesh)
(Valmiki Ashram lies on the Uttar Pradesh side of Chitrakoot)

The Valmiki Ashram is located in Lalapur, Karwi which is around 28 km from Chitrakoot Ramghat.

► Chitrakoot - Ram Ghat
(Chitrakoot district, Uttar Pradesh)
(Ram Ghat lies on the Uttar Pradesh side of Chitrakoot)

Ram Ghat is the main bathing ghat of Chitrakoot on the bank of river Mandakini. It is said that:
- Sri Rama used to bathe in the holy waters of river Mandakini in this place.
- Goswami Tulsidas got the darshan of Totamukha Hanuman and Sri Rama in this place. Sri Tulsidas used to worship Sri Rama with sandal paste in Ram Ghat. There is an image of Sri Tulsidas here. Tulsidas composed parts of the famous Ramcharitmanas here.
- Every evening the Aarti of river Mandakini is performed in Ram Ghat. The entire place then gets surcharged with a holy atmosphere.

► Chitrakoot - Parna Kuti Mandir
(Chitrakoot district, Uttar Pradesh)
(Parna Kuti Mandir lies on the Uttar Pradesh side of Chitrakoot)

Near Ram Ghat is the Parna Kuti Mandir where Sri Rama is said to have stayed during forest exile.

► Chitrakoot - Janki Kund
(Satna district, Madhya Pradesh)
(Janki Kund lies on the Madhya Pradesh side of Chitrakoot)

Janki Kund is situated upstream from Ram Ghat, on the bank of river Payaswini. It is believed to be the bathing place of Devi Sita. There are footprints of Devi Sita engraved on the boulders. The entire place is very calm and serene. Janki Kund is located 3.5 km away from Ram Ghat.

► Chitrakoot - Sphatik Shila
(Satna district, Madhya Pradesh)
(Sphatik Shila lies on the Madhya Pradesh side of Chitrakoot)

Sphatik Shila is a boulder situated on the bank of river Mandakini. It is believed to be the place from where Sri Rama and Devi Sita used to enjoy the beauty of Chitrakoot. The shila is said to have the footprints of Sri Rama and Devi Sita. This place is also associated with the legend of Indra's son Jayanta taking the form of a crow and hitting Devi Sita with its beak. The crow was later punished by Sri Rama. Sphatik Shila is located 4 km away from Ram Ghat.

► Chitrakoot - Kamadgiri Hill
(Chitrakoot district, Uttar Pradesh) (Satna district, Madhya Pradesh)
(Kamadgiri Hill lies partly in Uttar Pradesh and partly in Madhya Pradesh side of Chitrakoot)

Kamadgiri Hill is the place where Sri Rama, Lakshmana and Devi Sita is believed to have stayed during their forest exile. Pilgrims circumambulate the Kamadgiri Hill (Kamadgiri Parikrama or Pradakshina) through a 5 km path. There are many temples on the path of the pradakshina. Kamadgiri Hill is also identified with Ramagiri Shakti Peetha.

► Chitrakoot - Kamtanath Temple
(Satna district, Madhya Pradesh)
(Kamtanath Temple lies on the Madhya Pradesh side of Chitrakoot)

Kamadgiri Pradakshina often starts from the the famous temple of Lord Kamtanath

► Chitrakoot - Lakshman Pahari
(Chitrakoot district, Uttar Pradesh)
(Lakshman Pahari lies on the Uttar Pradesh side of Chitrakoot)

Lakshman Pahari is the place where Lakshmana is said to have stood guard to protect Rama and Sita. This falls on the Kamadgiri Pradakshina path.

► Chitrakoot - Sita Rasoi
(Satna district, Madhya Pradesh)
(Sita Rasoi lies on the Madhya Pradesh side of Chitrakoot)

Sita Rasoi is located on the top of the hill which leads to Hanuman Dhara. Pilgrims have to climb around 700 steps to reach this place. It is believed to be the place where Devi Sita cooked food. The view of Chitrakoot is very beautiful from this place.

► Chitrakoot - Raghav Prayag Ghat

Raghav Prayag Ghat is on the south of Ram Ghat on the bank of river Payaswini. It is believed to be the place where Sri Rama performed Pitri Tarpana during forest exile. It is also said to be the invisible confluence of rivers Mandakini, Payaswini and Gayatri or Savitri.

► Chitrakoot - Bharat Milap Temple
(Chitrakoot district, Uttar Pradesh)
(Bharat Milap Temple lies on the Uttar Pradesh side of Chitrakoot)

Bharat Milap Temple is said to be the place where Bharata met Sri Rama during forest exile and persuaded him to return to Ayodhya. This temple falls on the Kamadgiri Pradakshina path.

► Chitrakoot - Bharat Koop
(Chitrakoot district, Uttar Pradesh)
(Bharat Koop lies on the Uttar Pradesh side of Chitrakoot)

Bharat Koop is a well where Bharata is believed to have poured waters of all the Teerthas which he brought for Sri Rama's coronation. It is around 20 km from Chitrakoot near Bharatpur village.

► Chitrakoot - Atri-Anusuiya Ashram
(Satna district, Madhya Pradesh)
(Atri-Anusuiya Ashram lies on the Madhya Pradesh side of Chitrakoot)

Atri-Anusuiya Ashram is located on the bank of river Mandakini. It is said that Sati Anusuiya brought river Mandakini on earth by her hard penance when there were no rains for several years. Sri Rama, Lakshmana and Devi Sita visited the Atri Ashram during their forest exile.

► Chitrakoot - Gupta Godavari
(Satna district, Madhya Pradesh)
(Gupta Godavari lies on the Madhya Pradesh side of Chitrakoot)

Gupta Godavari is a cave from where River Godavari emerges as a stream and then flowing down inside another cave disappears in the mountain.

► Chitrakoot - Hanuman Dhara
(Satna district, Madhya Pradesh)
(Hanuman Dhara lies on the Madhya Pradesh side of Chitrakoot)

Hanuman Dhara is a cascade of waters falling from a natural spring over a natural rock image of Hanuman inside a cave. It is said that after Hanuman set Lanka on fire, Sri Rama pacified his anger in this place. Pilgrims have to climb 360 steps to reach this place.

► Chitrakoot - Kamadgiri Hill
(Chitrakoot district, Uttar Pradesh) (Satna district, Madhya Pradesh)
(Kamadgiri Hill lies partly in Uttar Pradesh and partly in Madhya Pradesh side of Chitrakoot)

Kamadgiri Hill is the place where Sri Rama, Lakshmana and Devi Sita is believed to have stayed during their forest exile. Pilgrims circumambulate the Kamadgiri Hill (Kamadgiri Parikrama or Pradakshina) through a 5 km path. There are many temples on the path of the pradakshina. Kamadgiri Hill is also identified with Ramagiri Shakti Peetha.

► Chitrakoot outskirts - Maihar Sharada Temple
(Satna district, Madhya Pradesh)
(Maihar Sharada Temple lies on the Madhya Pradesh side of Chitrakoot)

Devi Sharada temple of Maihar is identified with the Ramagiri Shakti Peetha mentioned in the Peetha Nirnaya Tantra. The temple is situated on top of the Trikut Hill.

► Chitrakoot - Valmiki Ashram
(Chitrakoot district, Uttar Pradesh)
(Valmiki Ashram lies on the Uttar Pradesh side of Chitrakoot)

The Valmiki Ashram is located in Lalapur, Karwi which is around 28 km from Chitrakoot Ramghat.

► Chitrakoot - Atri-Anusuiya Ashram
(Satna district, Madhya Pradesh)
(Atri-Anusuiya Ashram lies on the Madhya Pradesh side of Chitrakoot)

Atri-Anusuiya Ashram is located on the bank of river Mandakini. It is said that Sati Anusuiya brought river Mandakini on earth by her hard penance when there were no rains for several years. Sri Rama, Lakshmana and Devi Sita visited the Atri Ashram during their forest exile.

► Chitrakoot - Rajapur
(Chitrakoot district, Uttar Pradesh)
(Rajapur lies on the Uttar Pradesh side of Chitrakoot)

Rajapur is the birthplace of Goswami Tulsidas.

► Chitrakoot - Ram Ghat
(Chitrakoot district, Uttar Pradesh)
(Ram Ghat lies on the Uttar Pradesh side of Chitrakoot)

Ram Ghat is the main bathing ghat of Chitrakoot on the bank of river Mandakini. It is said that:
- Sri Rama used to bathe in the holy waters of river Mandakini in this place.
- Goswami Tulsidas got the darshan of Totamukha Hanuman and Sri Rama in this place. Sri Tulsidas used to worship Sri Rama with sandal paste in Ram Ghat. There is an image of Sri Tulsidas here. Tulsidas composed parts of the famous Ramcharitmanas here.
- Every evening the Aarti of river Mandakini is performed in Ram Ghat. The entire place then gets surcharged with a holy atmosphere.