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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 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 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 Milap temple
is located here, marking the spot where 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.
Sati Anusuya
 Sati
Anusuya is located further up-stream, 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 16 km 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 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.
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.
There are two approaches to Janaki Kund, 2 km up from Ramghat by boat,
or by road along a foliage-lined drive.
Hanuman Dhara
Located on a rock-face several hundred feet up a steep hillside 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 spot a few
kilometers from town.
 Ramghat
The religious activity builds up in a crescendo of colours 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.
Janaki Kund
In this idyllic pastoral setting, it is said, Sita would bathe in the
crystal clear waters, during the years of her exile with Rama.
Certainly, this quite spot seems to have been specially blessed, for an
aura of total harmony and quietitude haloes it, setting it apart from
the bustle of the everyday world.
 Gupt-Godavari
18 km from the town 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 Laxman held court in the latter cave, which
has two, natural throne-like rocks.
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