Plan Your Chitrakoot Yatra
The forest tirtha where Shri Ram, Sita, and Lakshman spent eleven and a half years of their vanvas. Kamadgiri parikrama, Ram Ghat, and the sites of the Ramcharitmanas.
Chitrakoot · वनवास भूमि · श्री राम
The tradition
What is the Chitrakoot Yatra?
Chitrakoot is the forest tirtha where Shri Ram, Sita, and Lakshman spent eleven and a half years of their fourteen-year vanvas. The yatra centres on the 5-km Kamadgiri parikrama — circumambulation of the hill where Bhagavan and Mata Sita lived — Ram Ghat on the Mandakini, and Tulsi Peeth where Goswami Tulsidas composed parts of the Ramcharitmanas. Many pilgrims combine Chitrakoot with Prayagraj (130 km) and Ayodhya as part of the Ram-vanvas-path yatra.
Kamadgiri
Wish-fulfilling hill
Ram Ghat
Mandakini bank
Tulsi Peeth
Tulsidas's seat
Hanuman Dhara
Cooling waterfall
Plan your darshan
Kamadgiri, Ramghat & Hanuman Dhara — Plan Your Darshan
The heart of Chitrakoot is the Kamadgiri parikrama — a circuit of about 5 km around the forested hill held to be Shri Ram himself in his vanvas form. Pilgrims traditionally walk it barefoot at dawn, taking 1.5 to 2 hours at a comfortable pace. On the path stands the Bharat Milap Mandir, where Bharat met Shri Ram to beg him back to Ayodhya — the rocks here are said to bear the impressions of that meeting.
| Site | What it is | Time to allow |
|---|---|---|
| Kamadgiri parikrama | ~5 km barefoot circuit of the wish-granting hill | 1.5–2 hrs, at dawn |
| Bharat Milap Mandir | Where Bharat met Shri Ram — on the parikrama path | Included in the parikrama |
| Ramghat | Evening aarti on the Mandakini; Tulsidas ji's ghat | ~1 hr at sunset |
| Hanuman Dhara | Hillside spring that falls on the Hanuman vigraha — several hundred steps, or the ropeway (~6 AM–9 PM) | 1.5–2 hrs |
| Gupt Godavari | Twin caves with a hidden stream, ~19 km from Ramghat | Half a day, with Sati Anusuya Ashram |
Evenings belong to Ramghat, where the Mandakini aarti is sung as lamps go out on the river — the same ghat where Goswami Tulsidas is held to have had darshan of Shri Ram. Hanuman Dhara, on a Vindhya hillside, is the spring said to have been released by Shri Ram to cool Hanuman ji after the burning of Lanka; climb the steps or take the ropeway. The Gupt Godavari caves — where a stream appears inside the hill and vanishes again — are a half-day excursion; read more on our destination page at satmarg.com/destinations/gupt-godavari.
Timings shift on festival days. When you travel with Satmarg, we reconfirm every timing before your darshan — it is part of what we promise.
Getting here
How to Reach Chitrakoot
Chitrakoot straddles two states — Karwi side in Uttar Pradesh, the other bank of the Mandakini in Madhya Pradesh. Every Satmarg package includes pickup from the station.
| From | By rail | By road |
|---|---|---|
| Prayagraj | Vande Bharat ~2 hrs to Chitrakoot Dham Karwi; other trains 3–5 hrs | ~130 km, ~3–3.5 hrs |
| Varanasi | Trains via Prayagraj / Manikpur | ~245 km, ~5–6 hrs |
| Delhi | Overnight trains to Chitrakoot Dham Karwi | Long drive — rail recommended |
| Ayodhya | Via Prayagraj | ~290 km via Prayagraj — most pilgrims break the journey at the Sangam |
Chitrakoot Dham Karwi (CKTD) is the railhead, about 10 km from Ramghat — 25 minutes by cab. Satna and Banda are alternative railheads about 70–80 km away, useful for pilgrims coming from central India. Most pilgrims pair Chitrakoot with Prayagraj: the road between them follows part of the vanvas path itself.
Find your yatra
Choose Your Chitrakoot Path
11.5
Vanvas years here
5 km
Kamadgiri parikrama
Year-round
Yatra season
Tulsi Peeth
Manas composed here
అన్ని ఎంపికలు
Chitrakoot Packages
Standard yatra, Diwali Mela specials, and Ram-Vanvas-Path combinations.
సత్మార్గ్ ఎందుకు
How Satmarg supports your yatra
Parikrama guidance
Ashrams or hotels
Vehicle from gateway
Ramcharitmanas-aware guide
తరచుగా అడిగే ప్రశ్నలు
Chitrakoot Yatra — Frequently Asked
Why is Chitrakoot called wish-fulfilling?
Kamadgiri means 'wish-granting hill' — tradition holds that those who do the parikrama with sankalpa receive fulfilment of their righteous desires. The hill is said to be Shri Ram himself in his vanvas-form.
How long is the Kamadgiri parikrama?
5 kilometres around the forested hill. Most pilgrims complete it in 1.5-2 hours at a comfortable pace. Many walk barefoot. The traditional time is dawn.
When is the Diwali Mela?
Kartik Amavasya (October-November). The dawn parikrama on the day draws lakhs of pilgrims walking through the night. Book accommodation at least a month in advance.
Can elderly pilgrims do Chitrakoot?
Yes — Chitrakoot is one of the gentler tirthas. The parikrama is on a flat-to-rolling path. For very senior pilgrims, a car-parikrama option is available.
Can I combine Chitrakoot with Ayodhya and Prayagraj?
Yes — the Ram-vanvas-path yatra covers Ayodhya, Prayagraj, Chitrakoot, and back. 7-10 days is comfortable.
Is photography allowed?
Yes on most paths and at Ram Ghat. Not inside the older sanctums. Always respect those at prayer.
Do I have to do the Kamadgiri parikrama barefoot?
Barefoot is the custom, and at dawn the path is cool and kind to the feet. Pilgrims who find it difficult may wear socks — this is widely accepted. For elderly pilgrims or those unable to walk the 5 km, a vehicle parikrama on the outer road is available; tell us at enquiry and we plan for it.
How many days are enough for Chitrakoot?
One full day covers the Kamadgiri parikrama at dawn, Bharat Milap Mandir, and the evening Mandakini aarti at Ramghat. A second day adds Hanuman Dhara, Sphatik Shila, and the Gupt Godavari caves with Sati Anusuya Ashram. Two days is what we recommend to most families.
How do I reach Chitrakoot?
The railhead is Chitrakoot Dham Karwi (CKTD), about 10 km from Ramghat. From Prayagraj the Vande Bharat takes about 2 hours, or it is roughly 130 km and 3–3.5 hours by road. From Varanasi it is about 245 km by road, 5–6 hours. Station pickup is included in every package.
Is Gupt Godavari worth the trip out of town?
Yes — the twin caves, where a stream rises inside the hill and disappears again, are about 19 km from Ramghat and among the most loved darshans of Chitrakoot. Tradition places Shri Ram and Lakshman's secret court here during vanvas. It pairs naturally with Sati Anusuya Ashram a little further on; together they make a gentle half-day. See satmarg.com/destinations/gupt-godavari.
Begin your Chitrakoot Yatra
Tell us your travel month and we will send a clear itinerary and quote within hours.
ప్రయాణం కొనసాగించండి
మరిన్ని యాత్రలు
బుకింగ్ & చెల్లింపు
ఇది ఎలా పనిచేస్తుంది
ఆశ్చర్యాలేమీ ఉండవు. మీ మొదటి సందేశం నుండి యాత్ర రోజు వరకు ఏమి జరుగుతుందో ఇదిగో.
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మీ తేదీలు చెప్పండి
వాట్సాప్, ఫోన్ లేదా విచారణ ఫారం ద్వారా తేదీలు, బృంద పరిమాణం, ఇష్టాలు తెలపండి. ఇంకా ఎలాంటి బాధ్యత లేదు.
- 2
ప్రయాణ ప్రణాళిక & కోటేషన్ అందుకోండి
లిఖితపూర్వక ప్రణాళిక, ఏమి ఉన్నాయో, నిర్ణీత కోటేషన్ పంపుతాం. ఎలాంటి ఖర్చు లేకుండా మార్చుకోవచ్చు లేదా వద్దనుకోవచ్చు.
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ఆన్‌లైన్ ఇన్‌వాయిస్ ద్వారా చెల్లించండి
చెల్లింపులు ప్రామాణిక ఇన్‌వాయిస్, డిజిటల్ చెల్లింపు మార్గాల (UPI, కార్డులు, నెట్ బ్యాంకింగ్) ద్వారా జరుగుతాయి.
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నిర్ధారణ & సహాయం
నిర్ధారణ ఇమెయిల్‌లో మీ బుకింగ్‌లు, సంప్రదింపు వివరాలు, పికప్ సమయాలు ఉంటాయి. వర్తిస్తే రీఫండ్‌లు మా ప్రచురిత విధానం ప్రకారం ఉంటాయి.