Chitrakoot Dham Yatra Guide: Places to Visit, How to Reach

Facts checked November 2026.

Chitrakoot is the forest tirtha where, by the Ramayana tradition, Shri Ram, Sita Mata and Lakshman stayed during their exile, and where Bharat came to ask Ram to return to Ayodhya. MP Tourism says they spent 11 of their 14 years of exile here. Today it is a small, busy pilgrim town on the Mandakini river, crowded on every Amavasya and packed during the Deepawali mela.

This page is part of our Kashi Vishwanath Darshan guide. Planning the yatra? See our Kashi and Ayodhya yatra packages.

Which state is Chitrakoot in?

Both. The tirtha sits right on the border, so you will cross from one state to the other several times in a day without noticing. The Uttar Pradesh side is Chitrakoot district, with its headquarters at Karwi and the railway station Chitrakoot Dham (Karwi). The Madhya Pradesh side is in Satna district and includes much of the area around Ramghat, Sphatik Shila, Janaki Kund and Sati Anusuya. Kamadgiri hill and its parikrama path also run across the border.

This matters for two practical things: police and mela arrangements are shared by both districts, and hotels may list either “Chitrakoot, UP” or “Chitrakoot, Satna, MP”. Both are the same pilgrim town.

What are the main places to visit in Chitrakoot?

Most families cover the sites in two loops: the town loop (Ramghat, Kamadgiri, Bharat Milap) and the outer loop by car (Janaki Kund, Sphatik Shila, Sati Anusuya, Gupt Godavari, Hanuman Dhara, Bharat Koop). Distances below are as given by official or reference sources; where no reliable figure exists, we say so rather than guess.

Ramghat and the Mandakini aarti

Ramghat is the heart of Chitrakoot: stepped ghats along the Mandakini, small boats, sadhus and pilgrims bathing from dawn. Come back in the evening for the aarti on the river. The exact aarti time shifts with the season, so ask at your hotel or at the ghat that day.

Kamadgiri parikrama

Kamadgiri is the forested hill believed to be the original Chitrakoot, and Kamtanath (Kamadanath) is worshipped as the deity of the hill. Walking around it is the most important ritual here. Government tourism sites (Incredible India and MP Tourism) give the parikrama path as 5 km. It is paved and lined with small temples, including the Bharat Milap temple. Expected (estimate): about two to three hours with darshan stops, based on 5 km at a slow family pace; fit walkers take less. Many devotees do the parikrama barefoot as a vow, but this is a personal choice.

Janaki Kund and Sphatik Shila

Upstream of Ramghat, Janaki Kund is a quiet stretch of the river linked with Sita Mata’s bath. A little further on, Sphatik Shila is a boulder on the riverbank said to carry the imprint of Shri Ram’s feet; tradition holds that Ram and Sita sat here. In the monsoon the Mandakini can flood low spots such as Sphatik Shila, so check conditions after heavy rain.

Sati Anusuya ashram

This ashram marks where Rishi Atri and Mata Anusuya lived, and where, in the Ramayana, Anusuya gave Sita advice on dharma. Incredible India puts it about 15–18 km from Ramghat, in forest near the source of the Mandakini. The temple complex includes a large chariot statue of Krishna and Arjun, mentioned on the district website.

Gupt Godavari caves

About 18 km from town, Gupt Godavari is a pair of caves inside the hill with knee-high water. The larger cave holds two carved stone seats believed to be the thrones of Ram and Lakshman, who by tradition stayed here for a time. Wear clothes you do not mind getting wet, and leave expensive phones in the car or in a waterproof pouch.

Hanuman Dhara

Hanuman Dhara is a Hanuman temple high on a rock face, where a spring falls onto the murti. By tradition, after the burning of Lanka, Shri Ram sent Hanuman here so that the cool stream would soothe him. Reaching it means climbing 618 steps, as reported by Amar Ujala. Since November 2020 a 302-metre ropeway has run up the hill, taking about 5 minutes. Check the current fare at the counter. The ropeway is the sensible choice for elderly parents.

Bharat Milap temple and Bharat Koop

The Bharat Milap temple stands where Bharat is said to have met Shri Ram to beg him to come home; rock impressions here are taken to be the footprints of the brothers. Bharat Koop, about 20 km west of Chitrakoot near Bharatpur village, is the well where Bharat is believed to have placed the waters he brought for Ram’s coronation. Ganesh Bagh, a 19th-century temple on the Karwi–Devangana road built by a Peshwa ruler (the district website names him Vinayak Raj Peshwa), is a short add-on if you have time.

Rajapur, birthplace of Tulsidas

Rajapur, a town in Chitrakoot district (UP), is said to be the birthplace of Goswami Tulsidas, author of the Ramcharitmanas. Devotees of the Manas sometimes add it to a Chitrakoot yatra; ask your driver for the current road time, as it is a separate drive from the main sites.

How to reach Chitrakoot?

• By train: Chitrakoot Dham (Karwi), code CKTD, is the nearest station, about 10–20 km from the main sites depending on where you stay. It has trains from Delhi, Lucknow, Prayagraj, Varanasi and Jhansi. Satna station on the MP side is about 75–78 km away and has more trains, so check both.
• By air: The nearest airport with regular flights is Prayagraj (Bamrauli, IXD). MP Tourism gives the distance as 106 km; Incredible India says about 115–126 km depending on the route. Khajuraho airport is about 175 km. Chitrakoot has its own small airport, which opened in March 2024 with a small-aircraft service to Lucknow, but that service was suspended in December 2024, as reported in February 2026. Confirm whether flights have resumed before you plan around it.
• By road: Chitrakoot is linked by road to Prayagraj, Varanasi and Ayodhya, so most pilgrims hire a taxi from Prayagraj or Satna.

How many days are enough for Chitrakoot?

Two days covers the main places comfortably for a family. A suggested plan:

1. Day 1: Morning snan at Ramghat, Kamadgiri parikrama with the Bharat Milap temple, rest, then the evening aarti at Ramghat.
2. Day 2: Drive the outer loop: Janaki Kund, Sphatik Shila, Sati Anusuya ashram, Gupt Godavari, then Hanuman Dhara by ropeway. Add Bharat Koop if time allows.

With only one day you can do Ramghat, the parikrama and two of the outer sites, but it will be rushed. On Amavasya or mela days, add half a day for crowds and traffic.

What is the best time to visit Chitrakoot?

October to March is the pleasant season for walking the parikrama and visiting the caves. April to June is very hot, and in July to September the river can rise and flood low-lying spots. The town is busiest on these occasions:

• Every Amavasya (new moon): a monthly mela, with large crowds bathing at Ramghat and walking the parikrama.
• Deepawali: the biggest event. A five-day mela begins on Dhanteras, and devotees float lamps (deepdaan) on the Mandakini. PTI reported 25 to 30 lakh visitors in 2024, according to the Satna collector.
• Mauni Amavasya in Magh, and Ram Navami in Chaitra, also draw heavy crowds.

Mela and Amavasya dates in the coming months

Dates below are from Drik Panchang (New Delhi). Local panchangs can differ by a day when the tithi spans two dates, so confirm locally before you travel.

If you want a quieter darshan, avoid these days and the day before each. If you want the mela experience, book rooms well ahead and plan to walk, as vehicles may be stopped short of Ramghat and Kamadgiri on big days.

What should I wear and carry in Chitrakoot?

• Modest, comfortable clothes for temples; a change of clothes for the Ramghat snan and Gupt Godavari caves.
• Footwear you can slip off quickly. Shoes are left outside temples, and the parikrama path is long.
• A light shawl or jacket for December–January mornings and evenings; a cap and water bottle from March onward.
• Small change for offerings and a torch for the caves.

Where to stay in Chitrakoot?

Most pilgrims stay near Ramghat or along the Kamadgiri road so they can walk to the aarti and parikrama. MP Tourism runs the MPT Tourist Bungalow and the MPT Mandakini Resort on the MP side, bookable through MP Tourism. There are also many dharamshalas, ashram guesthouses and private hotels on both sides of the border. On Amavasya and during the Deepawali mela, book early or stay in Karwi and drive in.

Can I combine Chitrakoot with Prayagraj and Ayodhya?

Yes, and many families do. Chitrakoot is the natural partner of Prayagraj on the Ramayana circuit: Ram is said to have crossed the Ganga near Prayagraj and stopped at Rishi Bharadwaj’s ashram before going on to Chitrakoot. A common order is Prayagraj (Sangam snan, see our Prayagraj Sangam snan guide), then Chitrakoot for two days, then Ayodhya for Ram Lalla darshan (see the Ayodhya Ram Mandir darshan guide). Families starting from Varanasi can add Kashi too; our guide to temples in Varanasi lists the main darshans there.

Related guide: Vivah Panchami: date, Ayodhya and Janakpur celebrations

Related guide: Naimisharanya yatra guide

How Yatra To Temples can help

We do not have a fixed Chitrakoot package yet. Our Kashi–Prayagraj–Ayodhya tirth yatra from Varanasi covers Varanasi, Sarnath, Prayagraj and Ayodhya but does not include Chitrakoot. If you would like Chitrakoot added to that route, or want a custom Chitrakoot yatra, ask us and our yatra team will tell you what is possible for your dates. Write to shiva@yatratotemples.in or use the contact page.

Frequently asked questions

Why is Chitrakoot called Chitrakoot Dham?

“Dham” marks it as a sacred abode linked with Shri Ram. In the Ramayana tradition, Ram, Sita and Lakshman lived here during the exile, and it is where Bharat came to meet Ram, so devotees treat the whole area as one tirtha.

How long is the Kamadgiri parikrama?

The parikrama path around Kamadgiri is 5 km, according to Incredible India and MP Tourism. Expect (estimate) about two to three hours at a slow family pace with darshan stops.

How many steps are there at Hanuman Dhara?

Amar Ujala reports 618 steps to the Hanuman Dhara temple. A 302-metre ropeway, opened in November 2020, takes about 5 minutes and avoids the climb.

Is Chitrakoot in UP or MP?

It is in both. The UP part is Chitrakoot district (Karwi), and the MP part is in Satna district. Ramghat, Kamadgiri and the main sites straddle or sit close to the border.

Which is the nearest railway station to Chitrakoot?

Chitrakoot Dham (Karwi), station code CKTD, is the nearest. Satna, about 75–78 km away, is a useful alternative with more trains.

When is Mauni Amavasya in 2027?

Drik Panchang gives Mauni Amavasya as Saturday, 6 February 2027, with the tithi from 7:05 PM on 5 February to 9:25 PM on 6 February (New Delhi). Expect large crowds at Ramghat that day.

Is one day enough for Chitrakoot?

One day is enough for Ramghat, the Kamadgiri parikrama and one or two outer sites. For Sati Anusuya, Gupt Godavari and Hanuman Dhara as well, plan two days.

Can elderly pilgrims manage Chitrakoot?

Yes, with planning. Use the ropeway at Hanuman Dhara, take the parikrama slowly with rests, and skip the Gupt Godavari caves if wading through knee-high water is hard.