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Chitrakoot

Uttar Pradesh, India· Last updated

Chitrakoot, offbeat Uttar Pradesh — landscape view
Best time
October–March

The main season, cool and comfortable for the pilgrimage circuit.

Getting there
Prayagraj (Allahabad) Airport, approx. 125–140 km; Khajuraho Airport, approx. 175 km.

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Chitrakoot straddles the Uttar Pradesh-Madhya Pradesh border, its name meaning "hill of many wonders," revered in Hindu tradition as the specific forested region where Lord Rama, Sita, and Lakshmana spent a substantial portion of their fourteen-year exile as described in the Ramayana — considerably longer, according to tradition, than their time at any other single location during that period. The Mandakini River runs through the town, its ghats (Ram Ghat chief among them) forming the center of daily pilgrimage activity, while Kamadgiri hill, circumambulated by devotees as an act of worship, anchors the town's spiritual geography. Chitrakoot suits pilgrims and culturally curious travelers wanting Ramayana-linked sites with a considerably calmer atmosphere than India's larger pilgrimage centers — Hanuman Dhara, a spring and temple reached by a hillside climb, and Janki Kund, associated with Sita specifically, extend the pilgrimage circuit. Given the town's straddling position between two states, most infrastructure and access routes run through the Madhya Pradesh side, though the Uttar Pradesh portion holds equally significant sites.

Nearby highlights

Kamadgiri Hill

The spiritual center of Chitrakoot, circumambulated by pilgrims.

Ram Ghat

The main riverside ghat on the Mandakini River, site of evening aarti.

Hanuman Dhara

A hillside spring and temple associated with Hanuman.

Janki Kund

A riverside spot associated with Sita in Ramayana tradition.

Gupt Godavari Caves

Twin caves with religious significance, a short distance from town.

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How to reach Chitrakoot

Nearest Airport: Prayagraj (Allahabad) Airport, approx. 125–140 km; Khajuraho Airport, approx. 175 km. Nearest Railway Station: Chitrakoot Dham Karvi Railway Station, approx. 1–9 km, on the Jhansi-Manikpur line. By Road: From Prayagraj, drive to Chitrakoot, roughly 125-140 km, taking approximately 3 hours; regular buses run from Prayagraj, Banda, Satna, and Jhansi.

Best time to visit

October–March: The main season, cool and comfortable for the pilgrimage circuit. April–June: Very hot, generally not recommended for extensive walking. July–September: Monsoon season, the Mandakini runs fuller and the surrounding hills turn green.

Where it is

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