Cycling on the footsteps of Shri Rama: Part-1: Ayodhya to Chitrakoot

Lord Rama (the central figure of the ancient Hindu epic Ramayana) is a major deity in Hinduism. Shri Rama has an incredible mark on Indian civilization and culture. According to religious literature, in order to honour his father’s (Dasarath) decision, Rama has spent 14 years in exile in the forest with his wife Sita Mata and brother Laxmana. They have traveled from Ayodhya (his kingdom in the northern part of India) to Rameshwaram (in the south) through forests, mountains, cities, villages and rivers. Many evidences are found at various places to confirm the path (route) they followed in their journey. We call the path as “Shri Rama’s Van Gaman Path (forest travel route)” and the journey as “Shri Ram Vanvas Yatra”.

Delhi based NGO “Shri Ram Cultural Research Institute Trust” (founded by Dr. Ram Avtar Sharma) has done considerable work to discover the sites where Shri Rama has kept his footsteps during his Vanvas Yatra. They have placed Shri Ram’s Charan Icons and printed maps of ‘Shri Rama’s Van Gaman Path’ at each place to earmark Lord’s footsteps. I wish to travel from Ayodhya to Rameshwaram on my cycle on the footsteps of Lord Rama. It is a long distance and so I planned to do it in phases.

Day-1: 20 feb’24: Reaching Ayodhya:  (By train & 16 km cycling)

I boarded Ayodhya Express (14206) from Delhi Junction on 19 feb’24 along with my cycle and reached Ayodhya cantt. Station on 20 feb at 7.30 am. I had some difficulty in collecting my cycle from the platform as they were asking for print out of my ticket (so far, no other station had asked for it). I collected my cycle from the parcel room after getting the print out from the nearby market. I put my pannier bags on the cycle and started cycling, saying “Jai Shri Ram”.

I cycled to Guptar Ghat on the bank of Saryu River. It is believed that Lord Rama had taken his last dip (jal samadhi) here to leave the earth. I roamed around the river bank and did boating on Saryu River with a group of pilgrims from Karnataka. I visited the beautiful Ram Sita temple there. I also conducted a de-addiction session there.

Then I cycled to Kaniganj (near Ayodhya Dham Jn.) and reached to Rajendra Bhawan Ashram where I got accommodation (courtesy Dr. Ram Avtar ji).

My friend (Prabir da) joined me in the afternoon. We went to visit Shri Ram Janmbhoomi Tirth. It is a big campus where construction is still going on. There were lots of pilgrims but the crowd was well managed by the authority. We got good darshan of the Ram Lala (childhood image of Shri Rama). Outside the main gate, there were many stalls where people were serving free foods. Entire area was vibrating with happiness. There were pilgrims from different parts of country and everybody was chanting “Jai shri ram”. It was an excellent experience.

Then we went to visit the Hanuman Garhi temple. It is a mini fortress where Veer Hanuman sits on a throne, befitting his role as Lord Protector. Being Tuesday, it was over crowded but we could get a nice darshan. Then, we came back to our ashram and ate Prasadam (dinner) and slept well.

Day-2: 21 feb’24: Visiting temples in Ayodhya: by walking

There are thousands of temples, hundreds of kunds and many spots in and around Ayodhya associated with Lord Rama. In the morning, we went to visit Maniparvat (by walk) and Jankaura (by hiring an auto taxi). It is believed that Mani (jewellery) parvat (mountain) was formed with the jewelleries of Sita which were given to her by her father king Janaka. Jankaura is the village (15 km away from Ayodhya) which was set up by king Janaka as he was not supposed to live in Ayodhya (daughter’s house). There is a beautiful shiva temple (Shri Mantreshwar Mahadev Temple). After visiting those places, we came back to ashram. 

In the evening, we went to visit the Lata Mangeskar chowk, Naya ghat & Kanak Mahal (the palace gifted to Sita Mata by her step-mother-in-law, kaikeyi) and then we roamed around the festival like Ram temple area.

Day-3: 22 feb’24: Ayodhya to Baidra village:  70 km

In the morning, after doing my pranayam and kriya, I was ready to start my cycling tour on the footsteps of Lord Rama. I placed Shri Ram flag on my cycle and Shri Ram Stole (angovastram) on my shoulder. Prabirda and few ashramaites came down to flag off me saying “Jai Shri Ram”. I put my feet on the paddle.

First I went to Dashrath Samadhi Sthal near Bilthari ghat (15 km from Ayodhya). After visiting the place, I started cycling towards Guara Ghat (Tamsa tat) where Lord Rama along with Sita mata and Laxman spent their first night after they left Ayodhya for their Vanvas yatra. After visiting the hanuman temple there, I went to kamhariya baba ashram at Takdeeh through the village road. It is believed that Rama had visited that place. I met few villagers there who explained the story behind that place. After spending sometime there, I started cycling towards Nandigram.

Nandigram is a very important place in Shriram vanvas yatra. Here, exists the Prachin Ram Janaki temple, Bharat kund (the place from where Bharat, the younger of Rama ruled Ayodhya for 14 years as regent in the absence of Rama), Hanuman Bharat Milan mandir, etc. I visited all these places and had prasadam (lunch) at Bharat kund and rested there for 1 hr.

I moved towards Baidra karvaja mata temple via NH-330. It is located 30 km before Sultanpur and 5 km off route from NH. I reached to the temple in the evening. The pujari (Mr. Hanuman Prasad ji) allowed me to take shelter in his room. I took bath and washed my clothes and then visited the temple. Shri Rama visited this temple before crossing the nearby Vedshruti river.

Pujari ji prepared nice food (khichri). We ate dinner together. As there were no toilet facilities, I had to go to jungle for toilet purposes. Otherwise, my stay was good.

Day-4: 23 feb’24: Baidra to Pratapgarh: 80 km

After finishing my pranayama and kriya, I started cycling at 6.45 am towards Sultanpur. I reached Sita kund on the bank of Gomti River. It is said that Shri Rama spent the 7th night of their exile here. It is also believed that Kush (Shri Rama’s son) was the king of this place. I visited the temples and interacted with the local Ram bhakts (devotees). Mr. Anant Singh of Amethi gave me Rs. 100 and Mr. Ajay Dwivedi gave me Rs. 251 as Madhukari (alms to a traveler).

I continued to cycle and kept on getting blessings from local people. Many people offered me tea and snacks. I reached Pratapgarh in the evening. I was tired by that time and I took a room at Hotel Shashank and slept well.

Day-5: 24 feb’24: Pratapgarh to Shringverpur: 65 Km

From Pratapgarh, I started cycling towards Mohanganj and reached Devghat (2 km off route from highway). There exists the Balukeshwar Mahadev temple which was built by Bharat when he came here in search of Shri Rama. It is a beautiful temple made with sands of Sai River which flows near the temple complex. After visiting the temple, I moved towards Shringwarepur. On the way, one gentleman invited me for tea and snacks. Shopkeeper also gave me Rs. 51.

I was cycling through the villages. I met few more people on the way and they were curious about my yatra. One of them, Mr. Rajesh Tiwari invited me at his home and offered me home made lunch. I rested for 1hr at his home.

I reached to Shringwarepur (30 km before Prayagraj) in the afternoon.  The Statue of Nishad Raj (king of the fishermen, who offered his services to protect Lord Rama) was standing at the entrance of Shrinverpur. There is a ‘Paryatan Suvidha Kendra’, established by UP Govt. for the pilgrims. In spite of non-cooperation of the caretaker, I managed to get a room there.  After keeping my baggage at the room, I went to take a holy dip at Ganga at Sandhya ghat. Then I went to visit the Santa Devi temple (Santa Devi was Shri Rama’s elder sister and wife of Rishyasringa). The place Shringwarepur is named after the sage Rishyasringa.

In the evening, I went to visit the Ram Saiya (where Lord Rama and Sita mata slept one night before crossing Ganga. I met Shri Gopaldas ji Maharaj here. He showed me the entire place including the grass bed (where Rama and Sita slept), Veerasan (where laxmana sat to guard the sleeping couple), etc. There are many temples in and around Shrinwarepur. I visited few more temples and returned to my room.

At the evening, one family came to meet me from Rae Bareli (driving 70 km one way). The family is associated with me through Art of Living courses. They are parent’s of Prakash Mishra and his younger brother shashank. They brought home made dinner for me and many dry eatables for my journey. They also honored me with a shawl. We spent unforgettable 2 hours together before they drove back. I was very happy to see them after almost 10 years. I felt blessed to have such friends in my life and felt grateful to my Gurudev Sri Sri Ravi Shankar ji.

Day-6: 25 Feb ’24: Shringverpur to Rajapur: 80 km

I cycled for 6 km to reach Sita kund Bhairav ghat where Shri Rama had crossed Ganga and donned the grab of a Sanyasi. Kevat (the famous boatman) had washed Lord’s feet and carried them in his boat. I got a boat at 8 am. A boy boat man (may be kevat’s descendant) helped me to put my cycle on his boat and dropped me on the other bank. I had to push my cycle for 2 km on the river bed to reach Kuroi Shiv Mandir (Sita mata worshiped at this temple). Few villagers assembled to show me the temple and offered me tea.

I started cycling again and reached Charwa (16 km). Lord Rama had rested under a banyan tree here which is still alive. I meditated under the tree and visited the Ram Janki temple. Pujari ji offered me prasadam (lunch). I rested for sometime there.

From here, Lord went to Prayagraj. But I didn’t go to Prayagraj as I have visited that place earlier. Instead I started cycling towards Kaushambi. But somehow I missed the road and instead reached to the highway towards Rajapur. I reached Rajapur in the evening. I was looking for some accommodation and then someone suggested me the ‘Nagar panchayat office’. I reached there and got a room to stay at free of cost. Panchayat chairman also came to meet me at the evening. He advised his staffs to provide me food also. But as no one was there, I ate dinner at a dhaba outside.

Day-7: 26 Feb ’24: Rajapur to Chitrakoot dham: 43 km

I started cycling in the morning towards Chitrakoot. On the way, I met a local person, Mr. Ashok Jaiswal who has lost his wife recently leaving a 4 year old son behind. He invited me at his tailoring shop and offered me breakfast (puri + sabji) what he has brought from his mother’s house. Few News reporters also gathered there to take my interview about this Yatra. After an emotional farewell from Ashok, I started cycling towards Chitrakoot. Ashok also suggested me to visit Dharkundi ashram after Chitrakoot.

I reached Chitrakoot at 12 noon. I took a room at a Lodge (Anand dham lodge) at Kamadgiri road near Ramghat. Keeping my luggage there, I went to take a holy dip at Mandakini Ganga at Ramghat.

At 4 pm, I went for kamadgiri Parikrama (circumambulation of Kamadgiri mountain). It is believed that whoever performs the parikrama of this holy hill would have their desires fulfilled with the blessing of Lord Rama. It is a 5 Km long road (mostly paved) where exits lots of temples/museums related to Lord Rama. I could see some portion of the original manuscript of Tulsidas’s Ramcharit Manas in one of the temples here.  

After completing the parikrama, I went to Ramghat to witness the evening Aarti and then some boating on the holy river. I spent the evening with positive vibes in the serene ambience of Ram Ghat. I went back to my room and slept well.

This way I completed my first part of my cycling journey from Ayodhya Dham to Chitrakoot Dham. I have cycled for total 354 km in seven days and visited the important places like Ayodhya,Nandigram, Sultanpur, Shringwarepur, Kuroi, Charwa, Rajapur & Chitrakoot Dham.  My further journey from Chitrakoot to Maihar shall be covered in second part of my blog (cyclistanukul.blogspot.com)

Jai Shri Ram

Anukul Mandal (9818738602), Delhi, India

Anukul1962@gmail.com

9818738602