north india tourism place

Chitrakoot (Madhya Pradesh)

Background: 

Chitrakoot  is  a  town  and  Nagar  Panchayatlocated  in  the  Satna  district  in Madhya  Pradesh.  It  borders  the  Chitrakoot  district  of  Uttar  Pradesh  and  lies  in  the Chitrakoot  region,  which  has  significant  historical  and  religious  significance.  The  region  is known for its many temples and sites (mentioned in the Hindu scriptures).

Main  attraction: 

The  town’s  spiritual  legacy dates  back  to  the  period  of  the  Ramayana. According  to  the  Ramayana,  lord  Ram,  along with  his  brother  and  wife,  stayed  in Chitrakoot  for  a  large  part  of  his  14-year  exile from  his  kingdom.  Chitrakoot’s  top  tourist attractions  include  Ram  Ghat  on  the  bank  of the  Mandakini  river,  the  Gupt  Godavari  Caves, the  Hanuman  Dhara  temple,  the  Bharat  Milap temple  and  the  Kamadgiri  temple,  among others.  The  Sati  Anasuya  Ashrama,  located  16  km  from  the  town,  is  another  tourist attraction  and  finds  special  mention  in  the  Ramayana.  Several  fairs  and  festivals  are organized in the region, such as the Ramayana Mela, and people gather there every year on Diwali, Makar Sankranti and Ramanavami.

Connectivity: 

Chitrakoot  is  closest  to  the Allahabad  airport,  which  is  located  116  km  it. The  Chitrakoot  Dham  (Karwi)  railway  station in  Uttar  Pradesh  is  situated  10  km  from Chitrakoot.  The  townis  connected  through  a  5 km approach road to National Highway 76.

Accommodation: 

Accommodation  facilities available  in  the  town  are  limited  and  include basic  hotels.  The  Madhya  Pradesh  Tourism Development Corporation (MPTDC) has two properties, which have air-conditioned rooms. 

Recommendations: 

The  Chitrakoot  region,  which  is  spreadover  both  Uttar  Pradesh  and Madhya  Pradesh,  has  significant  religious  and  cultural  importance.  The  region’s  appeal  as a tourist destination could be developed by implementation of the following initiatives:

*Smart  toilets  with  bio-digester  facilities  at  all  temples  and  hotels  to  maintain  the green environment

*Eco-friendly conveyance for tourists to travel from the town to nearby attractions

*Specialized  heritage  tours  with  knowledgeable  guides  to  answer  tourist’squeries (Local people can also conduct such tours.)

*Luxury hotels and cottages near or in the town

*Theme-based restaurants serving authentic local cuisine