Why Janakpurdham
Janakpurdham, commonly referred to as Janakpur, is a sub-metropolitan city serving as the capital of Madhesh Province in Nepal. Situated in the Terai region approximately 225 kilometers southeast of Kathmandu and 23 kilometers from the Indian border at Bhitthamore, it stands as a major hub for religious and cultural tourism as well as the Maithili language. Named after King Janaka of the ancient Videha kingdom, the modern settlement was established in the early 18th century by the ascetic Hindu saint Sannyasi Shurkishordas and subsequently designated as the traditional birthplace of the Hindu deity Sita.
The city rests in a flat landscape surrounded by several notable rivers, including the Dudhmati, Jalad, Rato, Balan, and Kamala. Janakpur features a humid subtropical climate. The weather turns hot, dry, and windy during March and April, followed by a rainy period from May to September. October and November bring a mild, dry autumn, while the winter months from December to February are cold.
At the center of Janakpur stands the Janaki Mandir, a prominent temple constructed in 1898 by Queen Brisabhanu Kunwari of Tikamgarh. Also known as the Nau Lakha Mandir due to its historical construction cost, the temple houses a flower-adorned idol of Sita flanked by statues of Rama, Lakshman, Bharat, and Satrughna. Nearby sights include the Rama Sita Vivaha Mandir, the Vivah Mandap temple, the Ram Tower, the Kapileshwar Temple, and Sri Ram Temple. The city is also dotted with over 200 sacred ponds used for ritual bathing, with Dhanush Sagar and Ganga Sagar situated closest to the center. Visitors can also see local Mithila art, traditionally painted on pottery, courtyard floors, and walls by Maithili women.
Janakpur hosts major religious observances throughout the year. Key celebrations include Vivaha Panchami, which re-enacts the marriage of Rama and Sita, Rama Navami, Dipawali, Vijayadashami, Chhath Puja, and Makar Sankranti. A notable one-day, eight-kilometer circumambulation of the city takes place during the full moon right before the festival of Holi.
Travelers can reach Janakpur via its domestic airport, which primarily operates flights to Kathmandu, or by local and long-distance buses connecting to major Nepalese cities and select destinations in India. The Jaynagar–Bardibas railway line, operated by Nepal Railways, provides train service linking Janakpur across the border to Jaynagar in Bihar, India. Local transport within the city relies on electric and cycle rickshaws, three-wheeled tempos, and buses.
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