Janakpur: The Ancient Kingdom of Mithila

Janakpur sits in Nepal's eastern Terai plain, 320km southeast of Kathmandu near the Indian border. It is a city of extraordinary religious importance and a living centre of Mithila culture.

The Mythological City

According to the Ramayana, Janakpur was the capital of the ancient Mithila kingdom ruled by King Janak. It was here that Janak found the infant Sita while ploughing a field as a fertility ritual. Years later, Prince Rama of Ayodhya won Sita's hand by stringing the divine bow of Shiva — a contest that drew princes from across the subcontinent. The marriage of Rama and Sita in Janakpur is celebrated annually as Vivah Panchami, one of Nepal's largest religious festivals, drawing hundreds of thousands of pilgrims from Nepal and northern India.

The Janaki Mandir

The Janaki Mandir — temple of Janaki (Sita) — is Janakpur's centrepiece, a white marble and tile structure built in 1911 in the style of a Rajput palace by Queen Vrisha Bhanu of Tikamgarh. Its 60 rooms surround the inner shrine where Sita's image is worshipped. The temple is one of Nepal's most visited pilgrimage sites, particularly during Vivah Panchami and the Ramanavami festival.

Mithila Culture and Painting

The Maithili-speaking community of the Janakpur region has maintained a distinctive cultural tradition separate from both hill Nepal and mainstream India. Mithila painting (also called Madhubani painting) is the region's most internationally recognised art form — geometric designs and narrative scenes from the Ramayana and local tradition, created by women on house walls and later on paper and canvas. Janakpur Women's Development Centre has since the 1970s turned this domestic tradition into a commercially successful art industry, providing income for rural Maithili women.

Janakpur Railway

One of Nepal's few functioning railways, the Janakpur Railway, connected the city to the Indian border at Jaynagar until recent years. Originally built in 1937 to transport timber, it was converted to passenger service and became a cherished if dilapidated institution. The narrow-gauge line is being assessed for reconstruction or conversion as part of Nepal's infrastructure modernisation.

FAQ

How do I travel to Janakpur from Kathmandu? Buddha Air and Yeti Airlines operate daily flights from Kathmandu to Janakpur (45 minutes). Buses also run but take 7-9 hours on the highway. Sajilo can arrange your Kathmandu transfers and onward connections.

When is Vivah Panchami? Vivah Panchami falls on the fifth day of the bright fortnight of the Margashirsha month — typically late November or December in the Western calendar.

What is the best time to visit Janakpur? October-March when temperatures are comfortable (25-30°C). Avoid April-June when temperatures exceed 40°C, and July-September for flooding risk in the Terai.