Amarkantak
About the city
In its course Narmada passes through Madhya Pradesh, Maharashtra and Gujarat and meets the Arabian Sea at Bharuch in Gujarat. The 1312 km course of Narmada is breathtaking as she meanders her way through large forests, breathtaking waterfalls. Narmada has also been named "Rewa" (rev means leap) due to its turbulent course over the gorges, waterfalls and rapids. The Puranas, ancient Hindu texts, consider it necessary for one to bathe once in the Ganga, thrice in the Saraswati and for 7 days in the Yamuna to attain salvation, but just the sight of the Narmada is enough to ensure eternal bliss. People living along the banks of Narmada consider her holier than the river Ganga and respect her as a source of life, thus referring to her as Narmada Mai (Mother Narmada)Spreading over a flattish green valley in the Vindhya ranges, The Legendary source of the mighty Narmada.at a pleasantly cool elevation of 1065 meters, it is still more a hamlet than a town. This, in spite of the fact that two sacred rivers are born here: the Sone and the Narmada.
Curiously, Amarkantak has none of the teeming grottiness often associated with popular pilgrim towns. It really is more like a green sub- mountain resort with wide-open, well watered, meadows and sunlit sal forests alive with springs and brooks.
The stream of Sone is fed few hundred meters from its birth, by a number of tributary rills. The Sone becomes the main southern tributary of the Ganges, joining that great river near Patna. Amarkantak, in the green bowl in the old Vindhyas, is the serene epitome of that titanic power.
The Magnificent Falls of The Narmada, Situated at an altitude of 1065 mt. at the meeting point of the Vindhya and the Satpura mountain ranges amongst sylvan surroundings, Amarkantak is a great pilgrim centre for the Hindus, and is the source of the rivers Narmada and Sone. While the Narmada flows Westwards from Amarkantak, the Sone flows towards the East.
Amarkantak is indeed blessed by Nature. Holy ponds, lofty hills, forested surroundings, breathtakingly beautiful waterfalls and an ever-pervading air of serenity make Amarkantak a much sought-after destination for the religious-minded as well as for the nature-lover.
Among all the sacred rivers of India, the Narmada occupies a unique place. Legend has it that Lord Shiva blessed Narmada with unique purifying powers.
Whereas to purify himself, a devotee requires to take one dip in the Holy Ganga, seven days' prayers on the banks of Yamuna and three days prayers on the banks of Saraswati, the mere sight of Narmada is enough.
A charming folk tale describes the superiority of Narmada over Ganga. Once every year, after she herself is polluted beyond tolerance, Ganga visits Narmada dressed like a dark woman and takes a cleansing purifying dip in its waters
There are other rivers too, popular, romantic and life sustaining, each glamourized in the folk lore and history but none can match the mystique of Narmada.
This Hindu pilgrim centre is perched at a height of 1065 metres amidst vindhya and satpura ranges. It is the sacred source of the rivers Narmada and sone. According to the puranas, it is necessary to bathe once in Ganga, thrice in saraswati and seven times in the Yamuna River to attain salvation. But, just the sight of Narmada relives one of all his sins.
Narmada Udgam Mandir, a temple built at the source of the river Narmada is one of the holiest places in India. The temple enshrines an idol of goddess NArmada. Annual ‘Shivratri' and ‘Nag Panchmi' here attracts thousands of pilgrims. Other attractions are Dhuni Pani hot springs, Brighukamandal, Dugdhdhra and Kapildhara falls and the lovely garden temple at Mai ki Bagiya.