Temples

Sitabari (Sita Mata Temple & Kunds)

A sacred grove linked to Sita, Luv and Kush, with holy water tanks

🗺 Hadoti Region 📍 90 km from Kota ⭐ Ramayana pilgrimage site with sacred kunds and a tribal fair

Sitabari, in the Baran district, is one of the most venerated pilgrimage spots in the Hadoti region. Set in a peaceful wooded area, it is traditionally associated with Sita, wife of Rama, who is believed to have lived here in exile at the ashram of the sage Valmiki, and where her twin sons Luv and Kush are said to have been born.

The site is dotted with temples and a series of sacred kunds, or water tanks, each linked to a figure from the Ramayana, such as the Sita Kund, Luv-Kush Kund and Valmiki Kund. Pilgrims come to bathe in these holy waters, and a large annual fair around the festival of Vaishakh draws huge crowds, particularly from the Sahariya tribal community.

Green, sacred and steeped in myth, Sitabari is a moving stop for pilgrims and a fascinating one for other travellers, making it a rewarding addition to any Hadoti tourism day trip from Kota.

History of Sitabari (Sita Mata Temple & Kunds)

Sitabari's sanctity rests on its deep association with the Ramayana and the belief that it was here, at Valmiki's ashram, that Sita found refuge and gave birth to Luv and Kush. The temples and kunds have been objects of pilgrimage for many generations.

The site is especially important to the Sahariya tribe of the region, and its annual fair is one of the largest tribal gatherings in the area, blending faith, trade and community.

Story & Legend

Tradition tells that when Sita was banished, the earth itself gave her shelter here in Valmiki's forest ashram, and that the sacred kunds sprang up to serve her and her sons; to this day pilgrims believe their waters carry the blessing of the exiled queen.