Chitrakuta (చిత్రకూటం)

Today: Chitrakoot, on the Uttar Pradesh–Madhya Pradesh border

Chitrakuta was Rama's first home in exile - a gentle green mountain where Lakshmana built a cottage of leaves and branches. Something very moving happened here: Rama's brother Bharata came all the way from Ayodhya to beg him to come back and be king. When Rama gently refused, Bharata took Rama's sandals instead, placed them on the throne, and ruled only as their caretaker for fourteen years.