About Amarkantak

Country: India | State: Madhya Pradesh

Ideal Trip Duration: 1-2 Days

Nearest City to Amarkantak: Jabalpur (226 Kms)

Best Time to Visit Amarkantak: October to March

Peak Season: November to February

At a distance of 70 km from Annupur, 122 km from Bilaspur, 175 km from Umaria, 190 km from Kanha National Park, 221 km from Raipur, 226 km from Jabalpur, 255 km from Katni, 330 km from Narsinghpur, 374 km from Chhindwara, 387 km from Sambalpur, 435 km from Nagpur, 469 km from Varanasi, 470 km from Rourkela, and 549 km from Bhopal, Amarkantak is a hill station and a pilgrim town located in the Anuppur district of Madhya Pradesh. It is one of the popular places of pilgrimage in India, and among the must-include places in Madhya Pradesh tour packages.

Popularly known as Teerthraj - the king of pilgrimages, Amarkantak is a popular Hindu pilgrimage site that is frequented by a huge number of devotees. It is located at an altitude of 1065 meters amidst the Vindhya and Satpura mountain ranges in Madhya Pradesh. One of India's Holy Rivers, the Narmada river originates from Amarkantak rendering this place special and among the must-visit places as part of Amarkantak tour packages. Besides, Amarkantak also serves as the confluence point for the rivers Narmada, Sone, and Johila. It is believed that the mystic poet, Sant Kabir, meditated here on Kabir Chabutra.

Amarkantak is a combination of two Sanskrit words, Amara (immortal) and Kantaka (obstruction). The poet Kalidas has mentioned it as Amrakuta, which later became Amarkantak. According to the legends, the river Narmada is said to have been blessed by Lord Shiva himself, and devotees strongly believe that a dip in its holy water would absolve them of all sins and provide them with a life blessed with boons. Amarkantak also holds significance in the religious epic Mahabharat and is believed to be the place where the Pandavas spent a significant portion of their exile. Legend says that Amarkantak was once ruled by the Chendi dynasty in the 10th century after the Kalchuris. In the 15th century, the region was ruled by Baghelas and it came under the rule of Bhosle of Nagpur in 1808 and then later passed into foreign hands.

Due to its rich cultural heritage and natural diversity, this offbeat destination serves as a quick hideaway for people looking for respite and seek blessings of Lord Shiva. The forests surrounding Amarkantak have a rich variety of plants with medicinal properties, which make it extremely significant from an ecological point of view. Narmada Udgam Temple, Ancient Temples of Kalachuri, Kapil Dhara Waterfall, Shri Sarvodaya Digamber Jain Temple, Mrityunjay Ashram, Amareshwar Mahadev Temple, Mai ki Bagiya, Jwaleshwar Temple, Bhrigu Kamandal, Sonmuda, etc., are some of the top places to visit in Amarkantak.

Narmada Jayanti is one of the most significant festivals celebrated in Amarkantak. It is celebrated in January around Makar Sankranti, commemorating the birthday or the appearance of the Narmada River (Maa Narmada) on Earth. During this festival, the whole Narmada Complex is decorated with flowers and lights, and also a grand arti takes place in the evening on the bank of the Narmada River. Shiv Chaturdashi is also celebrated in a grand manner where sadhus from all parts of India gather to take part in the festivities. It is a Hindu Holy day which is observed on the 14th Lunar day of the moon fortnight. Maha Shivaratri is another festival celebrated with great pomp and fervor in Amarkantak.

About 217 km from Amarkantak, Jabalpur Airport is the nearest airport that has well-connected flights from Mumbai, Kolkata, New Delhi, and Hyderabad. Pendra Road Railway Station is the nearest railhead which is about 32 km from Amarkantak. It has well-connected trains from Durg, Firozpur, Delhi, Jabalpur, Sarnath, Chirimiri, Bilaspur, Lucknow, Puri, Gondia, Rewa, Raipur, Ajmer, Udaipur, and Katni. Anuppur Junction is the other nearest railhead which is about 70 km from Amarkantak. Amarkantak has well bus connectivity with Shahdol, Umaria, Jabalpur, Rewa, Bilaspur, Anuppur, and Pendra Road. There are many state-run and private buses that commute between Amarkantak and Jabalpur.

Ranging from budget to medium, there are few accommodations available in Amarkantak which helps the tourists to stay and explore the nearby places. There are also several resorts in Amarkantak which are situated amidst beautiful nature and feature lavish outdoor spaces for a peaceful stay.

The best time to visit Amarkantak is from October to March when the weather is pleasant and suitable for sightseeing. Narmada Jayanti, Makar Sankranti, and Shiv Chaturdashi are celebrated during this time with great zeal. Post monsoon, the rain showers also add a certain charm to the flora in the region. Hence, it is the best time for nature lovers and nature photographers. Summers are best avoided due to high temperatures.

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Other Info
Internet Availability: Poor
STD Code: 07629
Languages Spoken: Hindi, Bagheli, Gondi
Major Festivals: Narmada Jayanti & Shiv Chaturdashi
Notes/Tips:
None

How to Reach Amarkantak

By Air

Nearest Airport: Jabalpur - Jabalpur Airport / Dumna Airport (217 Kms)

By Train

Nearest Train Station: Anuppur Junction (70 Kms)

By Bus

Nearest Bus Station: Amarkantak Bus Stand (0 Kms)

Top 10 Places to Visit in Amarkantak

#1 of 13 Places to Visit in Amarkantak

At a distance of 1.5 km from Amarkantak Bus Stand, Narmada Udgam Temple is a sacred place located in the pilgrimage town of Amarkantak in Madhya Pradesh. Situated near the ancient temples of Kalachuri, it is one of the famous places to visit in Madhya Pradesh, and among the must-visit places as part of Amarkantak tour packages.

Narmada Udgam Temple or Narmada Kund is the place of origin of river Narmada. It is surrounded by 16 pristine stone temples and is considered to be a sacred place for Hindus. Narmada Temple, Lord Shiva temple, Karthikeya Temple, Sriram Janaki Temple, Annapurna Temple, Guru Gorakhnath Temple, Sri Suryanarayana Temple, and Bangeshwar Mahadev Temple are the prominent temples in this complex. There is no concrete evidence about the construction of the Narmada Mandir here, historical evidence shows that it was built by the Kalachuri dynasty around the 12th .....

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#2 of 13 Places to Visit in Amarkantak

At a distance of 2 km from Amarkantak Bus Stand, the Ancient Temples of the Kalachuri Period are situated just opposite to the Narmada Udgam Temple in Amarkantak. These temples are one of the prominent places of heritage in Central India, and among the best places to visit in Amarkantak.

The Ancient Temples of the Kalachuri Period were constructed under the supervision of Kalachuri Maharaja Karnadeva during the 11th century CE. They reflect the sheer brilliance of the Kalachuri architecture. Today the Kalachuri Temple complex is a protected monument under the Archaeological Survey of India (ASI) and the complex is very well maintained with manicured lawns and landscape gardening. The complex consists of six temples and a kund named Suraj Kund. Karna Temple, Keshava Narayan Temple, Machendranatha Temple, and Pataleshwar Temple were built by Kalachuris of Tripuris while the Panch Math and Johila Temple .....

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#3 of 13 Places to Visit in Amarkantak


At a distance of 3 km from Amarkantak Bus Stand, Sonmuda is a scenic place located amidst the dense forests in Amarkantak, Madhya Pradesh. Situated near Yantra Mandir, it is one of the magnificent places to visit during your Amarkantak tour.

Situated at the very edge of Maikal Mountain, Sonmuda is the birthplace of Sone River or Sonbhadra River where two ponds named Sona (son of god Brahma), and Bhadra join together to form Sonbhadra and flows from here. A thin stream emerges from this pool and moves forward. Later on, this river takes the form of a waterfall of about 300 feet. According to Megasthanes and other Aryan writers, the river Sone gets its name from gold as the gold dust is found in the water of the Sone River.

Surrounded by tall trees and lush greenery, it is a natural tourist spot where you can spend some quality time with your family and friends. One can also get to see many temples around the Kund. There .....

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#4 of 13 Places to Visit in Amarkantak

At a distance of 2 km from Amarkantak Bus Stand, Shri Sarvodaya Digamber Jain Temple is a newly constructed temple in Amarkantak, Madhya Pradesh. It is one of the prominent religious places to visit in Amarkantak as part of the Amarkantak trip.

The construction of Shri Sarvodaya Digamber Jain Temple started in the year 2006 under the guidance of Acharya Vidyasagar. Bhairon Singh Shekhawat, the former Vice President of India, laid the foundation stone of the temple. The construction of this temple is a mega project with over INR 20 Crore being spent on constructing the temple. The project is still ongoing. The temple is being constructed without cement and iron instead they are using lime and preserved stones.

The temple is dedicated to Bhagawan Adinatha, the first Jain Tirthankara. The architectural style of the temple is familiar to the famous Akshardham temple in Gujarat and the whole area covers a huge 4 acres. The .....

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#5 of 13 Places to Visit in Amarkantak

At a distance of 8 km from Amarkantak Bus Stand, Shri Amareshwar Temple is a Hindu temple located on the border of Chhattisgarh & Madhya Pradesh State near Amarkantak. Situated near Jwaleshwar Temple, it is one of the holy places to visit near Amarkantak.
Situated between Pendra Road and Amarkantak, Amareshwar Temple is dedicated to Lord Shiva. The construction of the temple was started in 2009 and is still going on. The sanctum sanctorum of the temple house 11 feet high and 51-ton weight Shiva Lingam. It is said that the Shivalingam was brought here from Omkareshwar and Jalhari from Katni. The unique attraction of this place is that devotees have to climb stairs inside the temple to do Jalabhishekam for the gigantic Shivalinga. There is a big statue/idol of Nandi outside.

The temple houses replicas of all the 12 Jyotirlingas that are spread all over India. They are also making an individual temple dedicated to Nava Durgas on the first floor. The road from Amarkantak is going .....

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#6 of 13 Places to Visit in Amarkantak

At a distance of 3 km from Amarkantak Bus Stand, Mai ki Bagiya is a natural garden located in Amarkantak, Madhya Pradesh. Also known as Mother's Garden, it is one of the best places to visit in Amarkantak for nature lovers.

Mai ki Bagiya is a natural grove of trees dedicated to the Goddess Narmada and covers the surrounding forests. The garden has mango trees, banana trees, and other fruit trees along with Gulbakavli, roses, and other flowering plants. The garden also has a small temple dedicated to Goddess Narmada and a pond known as Charanodak Kund. There is a belief that this place is the real origin of Narmada. The water stream that came out in Mai's garden has gone ahead and has come out in the present Narmada origin temple.

According to the folk tale prevalent among the villagers, Maa Narmada used to play at this place with her friend, a beautiful girl named Gulbakavali at her tender age. Mother Narmada used to choose flowers from this place for worship. The temple regularly .....

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#7 of 13 Places to Visit in Amarkantak

At a distance of 6 km from Amarkantak Bus Stand, Kapil Dhara is a scenic waterfall located in Amarkantak, Madhya Pradesh. Also called Kapil Waterfall, it is one of the beautiful Amarkantak tourist places.

Kapil Dhara Waterfall is formed by the holy Narmada River and is the first waterfall on the river Narmada. Kapila and Erandi rivers also join Narmada to form Kapildhara waterfall. Cascading down from a height of about 100 feet, the waterfall gets its name from the famous sage Kapil, who is believed to have meditated here for several years. Kapil muni is said to have received the divine light at this very place, according to the ancient scriptures. He had also written 'Sankhya Philosophy' an advanced treatise on mathematics in the Kapil Ashram.

Kapildhara is set amidst majestic mountains, dense forests, and low-lying hills. One needs to walk around 500 m from the parking area to see the falls. .....

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#8 of 13 Places to Visit in Amarkantak

At a distance of 3 km from Amarkantak Bus Stand, Shri Yantra Mandir is a sacred temple located in Amarkantak, Madhya Pradesh. It is one of the popular places to visit during the Amarkantak holiday packages.

The construction of the Shri Yantra Temple started in 1991 and is expected to be completed within seven-eight years. The construction work of this is done only in Guru Pushya Nakshatra. According to astrology, Guru Pushya is most auspicious for the formation of Nakshatra. The temple is being constructed by Mahamandaleshwar Atal Peethadheeshwar Swami Sukhdevanand. The construction has been done as per the architectural guidelines stipulated by the renowned sage Agasthya.

The temple itself is built as a 3D projection of the Sri Yantra / Sri Chakra which forms the core of the Sri Vidya worship in Hinduism. This branch worships the divine power of Goddess Tripura Sundari or the empress beauty of the three worlds. In essence, .....

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#9 of 13 Places to Visit in Amarkantak

At a distance of 6 km from Amarkantak Bus Stand, Dudh Dhara or Doodh Dhara is another scenic waterfall located in Amarkantak, Madhya Pradesh. It is one of the popular places to visit during the Amarkantak Tour.

Doodh Dhara Waterfall is formed by the holy Narmada River and is the 2nd waterfall on the river Narmada after Kapil Dhara Waterfall. It is a 10 ft high stream that is extremely white. This waterfall is descending from Kapil Dhara and is about 200 meters away from it. There are other popular beliefs behind this name. The sage Durvasa, known for his angry nature, did penance here. It is believed that being pleased with the penance of Sage Durvasa, Mother Narmada appeared to him and made him drink milk since then the river of Narmada got its name as Doodh Dhara.

Sage Durvasa also has a cave here, where he must have meditated. There is also a Shivling in this cave, on which water keeps falling continuously. Sage Durvasa used to consecrate Shiva every day with the Narmada .....

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#10 of 13 Places to Visit in Amarkantak

At a distance of 9 km from Amarkantak Bus Stand, Shri Jwaleshwar Temple is a Hindu temple located on Shahdol Road near Amarkantak. It is one of the holy places to visit near Amarkantak.

Sri Jwaleshwar Temple is dedicated to Lord Shiva. According to 'Vindhya Vaibhav' Lord Shiva himself established a Shivling here and also scattered crores of other Shivlings over Maikal Mountain. In the Puranas, this place has been called Maha Rudra Meru. There are only two 'Maha Rudra Meru' places- Varanasi and Amarkantak. Another piece of trivia is that Lord Shiva and Parvati lived here because of the resplendence of the place. Situated in the border area of Madhya Pradesh & Chhattisgarh state, the temple house a shiva lingam that is situated 2- 3 feet below the ground level, and is called Banalinga.

As per the legend, Banasur did penance to Lord Shiva and asked for a boon that his city should be divine and invincible. Except for Lord Shiva, no one else could come to this city. Similarly, .....

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