Raipur, May 21 (). Sita’s kitchen is in Chhattisgarh. This is the place, which is located on the banks of Mawai river and is the starting point of Dandakaranya, from where Lord Shriram arrived on the land of Chhattisgarh during the exile period. It is situated in Sitamarhi Harchauka, Manendragarh-Chirmiri-Bharatpur district.
According to available evidence, the feet of Lord Shri Ram and Sita fell in Chhattisgarh during exile and this land became a holy land. The Mawai river washed Sita’s feet. Shriram spent his initial time here during exile and wife Sita and brother Laxman supported him. Sita made a kitchen here and Lord Shri Ram’s household settled in this forest region.
The state government has taken the initiative to make Ramvangaman tourism circuit, so that the local devotees coming here can also get the necessary facilities and the devotees of Ram settled in the country and abroad can reach here. There are 17 chambers in the caves associated with Rama and Sita. This place is called Harchauka and is also known by the name of Sita’s Kitchen.
Most of the time of Rama’s 14 years of exile was spent in Dandakaranya. Wherever Lord Shri Ram, Sita and Laxman stayed with during the exile period, where their feet fell, 75 such places have been identified. Out of these, the Government of Chhattisgarh has started developing the first nine places as world-class tourist destinations. Ram Vanagaman tourism circuit project starts from Sitamarhi Harchauka of Manendragarh-Chirmiri-Bharatpur district. Sitamarhi Harchauka, situated on the banks of Mawai river, is the starting point of Dandakaranya, from where Lord Shri Ram arrived on the land of Chhattisgarh during his exile. In order to preserve the archaeological importance of Sitamarhi-Harchauka, major places of this circuit are being developed as tourist pilgrimage.
A huge boulder is located in Sitamarhi Harchauka, which people consider to be the footprint of Lord Rama. Due to public faith and belief, people worship Shilakhand. Due to the archaeological importance of Lord Ram’s footprint, research work is also going on.
Work is being done to develop Sitamarhi-Harchauka as a center of public faith. Beautification of river ghat is going on. An ashram is also under construction here for the tourists to stay and a cafeteria is also being built for food and drink arrangements. A 25 feet tall statue of Lord Rama can also be seen from here.
The distance from capital Raipur to Manendragarh-Chirmiri-Bharatpur district headquarter Manendragarh is about 400 kms and one can directly reach Harchauka by road. Trains are available from the capital Raipur to reach here, which go up to Baikunthpur Road station. Sitamarhi-Harchauka is situated at a distance of about 170 kilometers from here.
SNP/SGK
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