District Chitrakoot is situated between 240 48' to 250 12' N and Lang. 800 58' to 810 34' E. Distance Covered by district from east to west is 62 Km. & north to south is 57.5 Km. It is bounded in the north by Kaushambi, in the south by Satna(M.P.) & Rewa (M.P.) , in the east by Allahabad (PrayagRaj), in the west by Banda. Area of District is 345291 Sq. Kilometer. District is linked with Roadways to all adjoining districts of Banda, Allahabad, Satna, Rewa & Kaushambi. There are two tehsils namely Karwi and MAU and five blocks Chitrakoot Dham Karwi, Ramnagar, Mau, Manikpur, Pahadi in the district.

Chitrakoot City

The large sprawling town of Chitrakut stands on the banks of the Mandakini, 128 km southwest of Allahabad and 116 km east of Mahoba. Celebrated in ballads and the scriptures for its natural beauty and closely associated with the Epic Ramayana, Chitrakoot or "the hill of many wonders" is a hallowed center of Pilgrimage. Together with its twin town of Karbi, 8km east, Chitrakut, known also as Sitapur or Chitrakut Dham, is a major Vaishnavite pilgrimage centre. In the Ramayana, Rama, his wife Sita, and his brother Lakshmana, sought refuge in a forest that covered this entire area, after being banished from Ayodhya. Most of Chitrakut's religious and leisure activity revolves around the small, charming, and very central Ramghat, where boats with electric-blue mattresses and pillows create a pretty picture against a backdrop of ashrams and ghats to either side of the narrow, slow-moving river. Half-hour boat trips cost around Rs2 per person or Rs12 per boat. Among the pilgrim shops and cafes nearby are several temples, such as the new Tulsibadi, dedicated to the poet saint who apparently spent time here. This was built on the site of an earlier shrine, located in an extended cave up an alley off the ghat. Steps above the ghat lead to the Math Gajendranath Shiva temple, and its picturesque river views. Taking a rickshaw beside the Mandakini to Sitapur enables you to see several more riverside temples, as well as waterfront ghats much like Ramghat. Pilgrims to Chitrakut traditionally perform the Parikrama, or ritual circumambulation of the wooded hill of Kamedgiri, 3 km southwest of town. On its course around the base of the hill, the five-kilometre path passes numerous temples and shrines, including the big Kantanath Swami temple, which holds a modern image of Rama and Sita and a more venerated monolithic stone image, black and embellished with large eyes. A long flight of stairs at the Hanumandhara hill shrine, 6 km east, leads up to a large image of the monkey god Hanuman, a companion of the trio from the Ramayana. Chitrakoot has very little shopping options. Only items available on sale are rituals items or small wooden toys, which can be taken back as souvenirs.

How to reach

By Air

From Chitrakoot the nearest airport is Khajuraho : 185 km.

By Train

The nearest railway station for Chitrakoot is Karvi : 8 km.

By Road

Chitrakoot is well connected by road. There are regular bus services to Banda, Allahabad, Jhansi, Varanasi, Chhatarpur, Satna, Kanpur, Faizabad, Lucknow, Agra, Maihar, etc.

Fairs and Festivals

Ramayan Mela (Feb-March )

Ramnavmi (March-April )

'Deepdan' during Dipawali (Oct.-Nov.)

Navaratri (March, Oct. )

Vijayadashmi ( Oct. ) Shrawan Jhoola Mela (August )

Amavasya Fair ( Every month )

Places of Interest

Kamadgiri

A forested hill of prime religious significance, this is believed to be the original Chitrakoot. The Bharat Milap Temple is located here. Pilgrims perform a ritual circumambulation of the hill to seek blessings.

Sphatik Shila

This picturesque spot is marked by two immense rocks. It is believed to be the place where Lord Rama and Sita feasted their eyes on the beauty of Chitrakoot.

Hanuman Dhara

Located on a steep hillside, it is approachable by a flight of 360 steps. Here, the waters of a natural spring cascade over an image of Lord Hanuman.

Ram Ghat

On the banks of the River Mandakini, and centre of ritual activity, this ghat is the most frequented in Chitrakoot. The "Aarti" performed in the evening is particularly beautiful.

Janki Kund

An unusual cave over the Mandakini. Said to be the place where Sita bathed.

Places of Interest around Chitrakoot

Gupt Godavari

19 km. This is a tiny rivulet which flows into tanks at the end of an underground cave. The source of this rivulet remains unfathomable. Two natural throne-line rocks in the cave have led to the belief that Lord Rama and his brother Laxman held court here.

Bharat Koop

To attain Salvation, the pilgrimage to Chitrakoot is incomplete without a visit to this hallowed place of worship. It is said that , to crown Lord Rama as the king of Ayodhya, his brother Bharat, collected the waters of all sacred rivers to anoint him with. On the advice of Sage Atri, the waters were later poured into a deep well popularly known as Bharat Koop. A temple dedicated to Lord Rama is also found here.

Sati Anasuya

13 km. It was here that Atri Muni, his wife Anasuya and their three sons meditated. An ashram in Anasuya's name is located here. It is believed that the Mandakini river emerged as a result of Anasuya's meditation.

Rajapur

38 km. The birthplace of Goswami Tulsidas, who wrote the world famous Shri Ram Charita Manas.

Ganeshbagh

11km. On the Karvi-Devangana road near Bankey Siddhapur village, is located Ganeshbagh, where a richly carved temple, a seven storeyed baoli and ruins of a residential palace still exist. The complex was built by Peshwa Vinayak Rao as a summer retreat and is often referred to as a mini-Khajuraho.

Kalinjar

88 km. From Chitrakoot lies the invincible Fort of Kalinjar. Once desired by kings & dynasties, it houses within itself the Nilkanth temple, Swarga Rohan Kund, Vakhandeshwar Mahadev Temple, Shivasari Ganga & Koti Tirth. Other interesting spots within the fort area are Sita Sej, Patal Ganga, Pandu Kund, Budhi-Tall, Bhairon Ki Jharia and Mrigdhara

Sitapur

Lying on the left bank of Payaswani about 8 km. From Karvi, it is intimately connected with the sacred hills of Kamtanath, which is 2 km to its south - west. Pilgrims first bathe in payaswani at Sitapur and then move on to do the Parikrama of Kamtanath hill. Originally known as Jaisinghpur, it was given to Mahant Charandas by Aman Singh Raja of Panna, who gave it the new name Sitapur in honour of maa Sita. There are twenty four Ghats and several temples along the river, which add to the glory of the town.

Rajapur

42 km from Chitrakoot, this place is believed to be the birth place of Goswami Tulsidas. A Tulsi Mandir is situated here.

Marpha

4 km from Gupt Godavari is Marpha, famous for its natural beauty alongwith waterfalls, Jal Mochan Sarovar, Shri Balaji mandir, 5 faced statue of Lord Shankar and ruins of a fort, believed to be built by Chandel Rajas.