Ramayan, the epic from Sanatan Hindu dharma, started in Ayodhya but spread across locations in India and Sri Lanka. Here is a list of Ramayan places mentioned in the epic from Prayag, Chitrakoot, Panchavati, Tungbhadra, Rameshwaram, that not only still exist today but also revered and visited by devotees.
( १). ) Tamsandi
Tamsa river is 5 km away from Ayodhya. Here they crossed the river by boat.
( २). ) ShringverpurTirtha
He reached Sringverpur, which was the state of Nishadraj Guh, 1-3 km away from Prayagraj. Right here on the banks of Ganga, they asked Kewat to cross the Ganga. Shringverpur is currently called Singarore.
( ३). ) Kuri village
Shriram had stopped in Kurai after crossing the Ganga in Singraur.
( ४). ) Prayag
Walking ahead of Kurai, Shriram had reached Prayag along with his brother Laxman and wife. Till a few months ago, Prayag was called Allahabad.
( ५). ) Chitrakoot
Lord Shriram crossed the Yamuna river near Prayag Sangam and then reached Chitrakoot. Chitrakoot is the place where Bharat arrives with his army to celebrate Ram. Then when Dashrath dies. India takes Ram’s feet from here and rules by keeping his feet.
( ६). ) Satna
Atri Rishi’s Ashram located near Chitrakoot (Madhya Pradesh). Although Anuiya husband Maharshi Atri lived in Tapovan of Chitrakoot, Shriram also stayed at a place named ‘Ramavan’ in Satna, where there was another ashram of Rishi Atri.
( ७). ) Penalty
Shriram left Chitrakoot and reached the dense forest. Actually this was their exile. This forest was called punishment back then. Madhya Pradesh, Chhattisgarh and some areas of Maharashtra were punishable. The punishment includes most parts of the states of Chhattisgarh, Odisha and Andhra Pradesh. Actually, the area of punishment was spread from this near the Mahanadi of Orissa to Godavari. Bhadrachalam, a city of Andhra Pradesh is part of this punishment.
This city located on the banks of the Godavari river is famous for its Sita-Ramchandra temple. This temple is at Bhadragiri mountain. It is said that Shriram spent a few days on this Bhadragiri mountain during his exile. According to local belief, Ravana and Jatayu had a war in the sky of punishment and some parts of Jatayu fell in punishment. It is believed that here is the only temple of Jatayu in the whole world.
( ८). ) Panchvatinasik
Shriram Agastya went to Muni’s Ashram after staying in Dandakaranya’s Ashram. This ashram is in the Panchavati area of Nashik which is located on the banks of Godavari river. This is where Lakshman had cut Shurpankha’s nose. Ram-Lakshman had fought a war with weed and pollution. Shriram’s friendship with Giddharaj Jatayu was also here. Valmiki Ramayana, Aranyakand gets a beautiful description of Panchavati.
( ९). ) Sarvatirtha
After the slaughter of Shurpankha, marich and khar and pollution in the Nashik region, Ravana killed Sita and also killed Jatayu whose memory is still preserved at a place named ‘Sarvateerth’ in Taked village 56 km away from Nashik. Jatayu died at the place named Sarvatirtha, which is present in Taked village of Igatpuri Tehsil of Nasik district. This place was called Sarvateerth because here the Maranasanna Jatayu told about Sita Mata. Ramji had performed the funeral of father and Jatayu here by performing the funeral of Jatayu. This was the Laxman Rekha on the pilgrimage.
( १०). ) The Ministry
Parnshala is located in Bhadrachalam of Khammam district in Andhra Pradesh. The Parnshala which is located about 1 hour distance from Ramalaya is also known as ‘Pansala’ or ‘Pansala’. Parshala is located on the banks of Godavari river. It is believed that this is the place from where Sitaji was deered. Although some believe that Ravana landed his plane at this place. From this place, Ravana made Sita sit in Pushpak plane, that means Sitaji had left the earth here. This is what the real deer site is called. Here is the ancient temple of Ram-Sita.
( ११). ) Tungbhadra
After Sarvateerth and Parnshala, Shriram-Lakshman reached the area of Tungbhadra and Kaveri rivers in search of Sita. They went in search of Sita at many places in Tungbhadra and Kaveri river areas.
( १२). ) The Ashram of Shabri
Ram and Lakshman go across Tungbhadra and Kaveri river in search of Sita. After meeting Jatayu and Kandh they reached Rishyamukh Mountain. On the way they also went to Shabri Ashram near Pampa river, which is now located in Kerala. Shabri was to fight with caste and her name was Shramana. ‘Pampa’ is the old name of Tungbhadra river. Hampi is located on the bank of the river. Hampi is mentioned as the capital of Monkey State Kishkindha in the mythological book ‘Ramayana’. Kerala’s famous ‘Sabarimalay Temple’ pilgrimage is located on the banks of this river.
( १३). ) Rushyamuk Mountain
Crossing Malay Mountain and Sandalwood forests they headed towards Rishyamuk Mountain. Here they met Hanuman and Sugriva, saw Sita’s jewellery and Shriram slayed Bali. Rishyamukh Parvat was located near Kishkindha, the capital of monkeys described in Valmiki Ramayana. Located at Rishyamukh Mountain and Kishkindha Nagar, Hampi, District Bellary, Karnataka. The nearby hill is considered ‘Matang Mountain’. Matang Rishi’s ashram was on this mountain, who was the teacher of Hanumanji.
( १४). ) Kodikarai
After meeting Hanuman and Sugriva, Shriram formed the monkey army and started towards Lanka. Tamil Nadu has a long coastline, spanning to about 1,000 km. Kodikarai beach is located south of Velankani, surrounded by Bay of Bengal in the east and Palk Straight in the south. Here Shriram’s army made a stop and Shriram collected his army in Kodikarai and discussed. But after survey of Ram’s army found out that sea cannot be crossed from here and this place is not even appropriate to build bridge, then Shriram’s army marched towards Rameshwaram.
( १५). ) Rameshwaram
Rameshwaram beach is a quiet beach and the spill water is ideal for swimming and sun bedding. Rameshwaram is a famous Hindu pilgrimage center. According to the epic Ramayana, Lord Shri Ram had worshipped Lord Shiva here before climbing Lanka. Shivling of Rameshwaram is Shivling established by Shriram.
( १६). ) Dhanushkodi
According to Valmiki, after three days of exploration, Shriram found the place in the sea ahead of Rameshwaram, from which Sri Lanka could be easily reached. They decided to reconstruct the place to Lanka with the help of tap and Neil. Dhanushkodi is a village located on the southern shore of Rameshwaram Island on the eastern coast of the Tamil Nadu state of India. Dhanushkodi is located south-east of Pamban.
Dhanushkodi is about 18 miles west of Talaimannar in Sri Lanka.
Its name is Dhanushkodi because the bridge (Ramsetu) built by Tap and Neil through Monkey Army from here to Sri Lanka has the same shape as the road bow. These entire areas are considered under the Mannar sea area. Dhanushkodi is the only location border between India and Sri Lanka, where the depth of the sea river is seen somewhere.
( १७). ) Nuwara Elia’ Mountain Range
According to Valmikiya-Ramayana, there was a palace of Ravana in the middle of Sri Lanka. About 90 kilometers away from the ‘Nuwara Elia’ hills, between the high hills of central Lanka, the whirlpools and caves are found. Here are many archaeological residues whose carbon dating has been extracted.
Archaeological investigation of Ravana Falls, Ravana Caves, Ashok Vatika, ruined Vibhishan’s palace etc located around Nuara Eliya hills in Sri Lanka confirms their Ramayana period. Even nowadays, the geographical features of these places, organisms, herbs and monuments are exactly the same as described in Ramayana.
Sources: Gita Press Facebook page
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