Chitrakoot is a town (a municipality) in the Satna district of Madhya Pradesh and is situated near Budelkhand. (Do not confuse it with a famous religious place called Chitrakoot dham (Karwi) bordering Chitrakoot district in Uttar Pradesh). The historical region of Chitrakoot is divided between the two Indian states i.e Uttar Pradesh and Madhya Pradesh and is famous for numerous temples . This religious place has great mythological significance. This place is the combination of history, mythology, archaeology and rituals.
As per the local language, Chitrakoot means 'a hill of many wonders' and the name suits this place perfectly as it is in the lap of the hilly terrain of the northern Vindhya ranges spread over Madhya Pradesh and Uttar Pradesh. Surrounded by lofty mountain ranges and ornamented with quiet rivers, streams, forests, the majestic beauty and idyllic surroundings, this place is a treat to tousist seeking cultural richness, spirituality and serenity all at once.
Chitrakoot is widely visited beacuse of its connection with the mythological stories of the epic of the Ramayana. This town in the central part of India witnesses huge gatherings of devotees on Somwati Amavasyas, Deepawali, Sharad-Poornima, Makar Sankranti and Ramanavami. There are greater details available about about mythical stories about Lord Rama in the mythological books related to Chitrakoot. Be it the narratives of the bond between Lord Rama and Lakshmana, or the love between the Lord and Goddess Sita, Chitrakoot holds spir
Since Chitrakoot is a religious place, there are only local eateries that offer Indian food. You can try the food in Mata Shri Jai Devi Anand Ram Jaipuriya Smriti Bhawan and Kamad Giri Bhawan which are by far the best places available for tasting local delicacies. Famous for its Samosa (Fried snack), khoprapak (Coconut sweet), mawa-bati and malpua (Indian sweet varieties), this place is truly a gourmet’s delight. However, being a Hindu Pilgrim city, you would not find alcohol easily here.
At Chitrakoot, you can shop for tokens that bear connection with the religious place like pendants, wall hangings with mythological images etc. Apart from that, handicrafts and textiles of Madhya Pradesh would steal your attention with quality products like Maheshwari Sarees, Chanderi Stoles, cotton dupattas with zari work etc.
Sightseeing around Chitrakoot will be incomplete, if you do not visit the nearby places.
- Kanpur: About 194 km. from Chitrakoot, Kanpur is the biggest city of Uttar Pradesh. It is a place that is most known for its temples, bird sanctuaries and rivers. This city has rich history and is also associated with the great epic of Ramayana.
- Varanasi: Chitrakoot is around 254 km. away from Varanasi that is also known as Kashi or Benaras. It is a fascinating holy city in Uttar Pradesh and people believe that it was founded by Lord Shiva. The place is a conglomeration of temples, forts, museums, rivers and devotees.
- Lucknow: The city of the 'nawabs', Lucknow is the capital of Uttar pradesh and is about 240 km. away from Chitrakoot. Full of historical buildings, mosques and culture, this place is a seat of cultural heritage. If not for anything else, you must visit Lucknow to taste the amazing food that this place boasts of.