Considered the soul of Chitrakoot, Kamadgiri is not just a hill covered with trees; it is revered as a living form of Lord Rama who fulfills the sincere wishes of devotees.
Begin the ParikramaIf Ram Ghat is the heart of Chitrakoot, Kamadgiri is its soul. For countless devotees, this hill is not a mass of rocks but a living Deity who listens to prayers and silently blesses every step of the parikrama.
The name comes from two Sanskrit words – “Kamad” (desire) and “Giri” (hill). Together, Kamadgiri means “the hill that fulfills wishes”. Walking around it with faith is believed to bring inner peace and divine grace.
It is believed that Lord Rama, Mother Sita and Lakshmana spent a major part of their exile on this very hill. Because the Lord lived here, the hill itself is worshipped as Lord Kamtanath.
Devotees therefore bow to the hill from a distance and perform parikrama around its base instead of trekking on top of it.
A fascinating local belief says that Kamadgiri is hollow from inside. Saints describe a divine, hidden lake within, where luminous beings and siddha saints are still absorbed in meditation.
Out of respect for this invisible inner world, it is considered a sin to climb the hill. The only proper way to worship is by walking around it with devotion.
The central ritual at Kamadgiri is performing a parikrama (circumambulation) around the hill. The path is about 5 kilometers long, clean and well-paved.
Most devotees walk barefoot, softly chanting “Sitaram” or “Jai Kamtanath” as they move. At a gentle pace, it takes about 1.5 to 2 hours to complete.
The parikrama begins at Mukharvind, the main temple that houses the “face” of Lord Kamtanath. Devotees often break a coconut here and start their walk.
Further along the path lies Bharat Milap Temple, where Bharat is believed to have met Lord Rama and pleaded with Him to return to Ayodhya. Rocks here carry footprints said to belong to Rama and His brothers.
The parikrama road is shaded by trees and surrounded by greenery. You will see many monkeys and langurs along the way.
They are usually harmless if left undisturbed, but keep food and prasad in bags instead of hands. The mix of forest sounds, temple bells and mantras makes the walk deeply calming.
The best time for parikrama. The air is cool, crowds are less and the chants echo softly in the quiet streets.
New Moon (Amavasya) is the most crowded and powerful day. Lakhs of devotees arrive from nearby villages to walk around Kamadgiri.