Chitrakoot means ‘the hill of many wonders’, and rightly so. Much of this region is made of ancient lava fields, but there are large stretches of woods interspersed with streams and rivers. Heavily associated with the Ramayana, the town enjoys a spiritual legacy that is unparalleled in the entire country. Dotted with temples and religious spots believed to be linked to Lord Rama, Chitrakoot attracts pilgrims throughout the year. It is said that after Rama was exiled from the kingdom of Ayodhya for 14 years along with his wife, Sita and brother, Lakshmana, he took refuge in the forests of Chitrakoot, and the trio spent 12 years in these beautiful woods, already home to many hermits. Lakshmana, a clever workman, is said to have built a comfortable and sturdy cottage for them to live in. Dominating the landscape is a forested hill, believed to have been the same refuge where Rama, Sita and Lakshmana spent their years in exile. In fact, a tour of this religious town is like replaying scene after scene from the Ramayana, as many sites described in the epic are said to exist in Chitralkoot. A temple marks the area where Lakshmana built the first cottage. The lunar calendar attracts a lot of pilgrims to Chitrakoot. people gather here in each amavasya (moonless night), Somvati Amavasya (new moon on a Monday), Sharad Poornima (night of the full moon), along with festivals like Diwali and Makar Sankranti (celebration of the harvest). Ramanavami, which celebrates the birth of Rama, is an especially important festival here. For those with a religious inclination, Chitrakoot is a treasure waiting to be discovered.
