Janakpur-at a glance
  

Janakpur, also known as Janakpurdham, is one of the historical and religious cities of Nepal. Janakpur is the administrative headquarters of Dhanusha District of the Janakpur Zone and has a population of approximately 80,000. The city is located about 123 km south-east of Kathmandu, 20 km from the Indian border at 26° 42' 44" N, 085° 55' 18" E Janakpur has a substantial tourism industry due to its significance in the Hindu religion and is home to the only operational railway in Nepal, the Janakpur Railway.

History

Janakpur, historically called Mithilaunchal, is the centre of the ancient Maithil culture, which has its own language and script.

The first millennium BChava Videghaahamana text Shatapatha Br tells that the king Mat, led by his priest Gaoutama Rahugana, first crossed the Sadānirā (Gandaka) river and founded the kingdom of Videha, whose capital city was Mithila. As Gotama Rahugana composed many hymns in the Rgveda, these events must date to the Rgvedic Period.

The most important historical reference to Mithila/Janakpur is in the Hinn epic Ramayana, where Lord Rama's wife Sita Devi (also called Janaki) is said to have been the princess of Videha. Her father, King Janak, found baby Sita in a furrow of a field and raised her as his daughter. When she grew up, the king announced that she should be wed by whoever was able to string the divine bow of Shiva. Though many royal suitors tried, Lord Rama, prince of Ayodhya, alone could even lift the bow. As Rama and Sita are major figures in Hinduism, Janakpur is an important Pilgrimage site for Hindus.

In addition, both the great saints Gautama Budhha, founder of Buddhism, and Vardamana Mahavir, the 24th and final Tirthanakara of the Jain religion, are said to have lived in Mithila/Janakpur. The region was an important centre of Indian history during the first millennium.

Geography and climate

Gate Of Janakpur

Janakpur is located in the Terai, alluvial, forested and marshy terrain at the base of the Himalaya mountain range. The major rivers surrounding Janakpur are Dudhmati, Jalad, Rato, Balan and Kamala. Janakpur is famous for its temples and the numerous ponds which carry significant religious importance.

One can see all the six seasons in Janakpur. Basant ritu (Spring - February/March), Grisma ritu (Summer - April/May/June), Barsha ritu (Rainy - July/August), Sharad ritu (Autumn - September/October), Hemanta ritu (Autumn-winter - November/December), Shishir ritu (Winter - December/January).

The best time to visit Janakpur is from September to March as the weather is pleasant and several festivals fall during this period

Economy

Farming Behind

Janakpur is one of the fast developing cities of Nepal and is on the way to meet the criteria for being the 3rd Sub-Metropolitan city of Nepal. The city has good health care facilities and lots of park in city, as well as good private schools and colleges and Internet service providers. The economy is mostly based on agriculture and local industries.

Janakpur attracts migrants from the surrounding area, who move to the city for medical care, education and jobs. The largest employer is the Janakpur Cigarette Factory Limited and janakpur railway There are also two poles factory and one hume pipe factory

Transport

Train Service Within JANAKPUR

Janakpur has a domestic airport (IATA: JKR, ICAO: VNJP) with most flights connecting to Kathmandu. The narrow-gauge Janakpur Railway is the only operational railway in Nepal. It connects Janakpur to the Indian town of Jayanagar. Bicycle is common mode of transportation. Frequent bus services operate between Janakpur and other cities of Nepal. Within the city, travelers may hire manually pulled cycle riskshaw or City bus and taxi.

Demographics

Maithli Celebration.

Maithili Language is widely spoken in the area as the first language. Nepali and Hindi are well-understood. Other similar languages like Bhojpuri and Awadhi are also understood but relatively less frequently used.

Temples and festivals

Center Paradise of Janaki Temple

The centre of Janakpur is dominated by the impressive Janaki Mandir to the north and west of the bazaar. This temple, one of the biggest in Nepal, was built in 1898 (1955 in the Nepali Calender) by Queen Brisabhanu Kunwar of Tikamgardh It is also called "Nau Lakha Mandir" after the cost of construction, said to be nine (nau) lakh. The oldest temple in Janakpur is Ram Mandir, built by the Gorkhali soldier Amarshingh Singh Thapa Pilgrims also visit the more than 200 sacred ponds in the city for ritual baths. The two most important, Dhanush Sagar and Ganga Sagar, are located close to the city centre. The Vivah Mandap temple where Lord Rama and Sita are said to have been married. It is situated next to the Janki Mandir.

Chhath in Janakpur

The Great Chhath Parva

Major religious celebrations include the major Hindu festivals such as Dipawali, and Vijayadashmi followed by spectacular Chhath (sun worship) six days after Deepawali. Both the festivals Deepawali and Chhath are heavily celebrated with a carnival-like atmosphere. The locals take pride in the way these festivals are celebrated.

The Holi-Festival Of Colors

On the full moon day of February/March before the festival of Holi, a one-day Parikrama of the city is celebrated. Many people offer prostrated obeisances along the entire eight km route. Two other festivals honor Rama and Sita: Rama Nawami, the birthday of Lord Rama, in March–April, draws thousands of pilgrims.And the Vivaha Panchami or Vivah festival re-enacts the wedding of Rama and Sita at the famous Vivah Mandap temple on the fifth day of the waxing moon in November or early December(after Kartik Purnima),where Rama broke the bow of Shiva.

Pilgrims stay in one of the city's five good hotels or small guest houses. There are also five fully equipped Dharmashala(cheap lodgings for pilgrims).

  The Mithila  Aart 

Exotic Mithila Painting

Vivah Portray

Maithili women are known for their traditional art, especially their paintings on pottery, walls and courtyards. These Mithila Paintings are famous internationally.

  Entertainment

 Janakpur has five movie theaters. They show new and old movies in Maithili, Bhojpuri,Nepali and    Hindi. Hollywood movies are not that much popular among the locals. Apart from this, several stage shows, concerts and plays are occasionally organized by the local clubs and organizations. Prominent among these is Mithila Natyakala Parishad(MINAP), which is a not-for-profit organization, claiming to be dedicated towards promoting Mithila culture.

Hotels

 Janakpur has several hotels including Hotel Manaki, Hotel Rama, Sita Palace, Hotel Welcome. There are also several cheaper lodges and Dharmsala(cheap accommodations) for pilgrims. 

Education

Janakpur has good educational facilities and several elites of the country were schooled here, including the first president of the Federal Republic Of Nepal,Dr.Rambaran Yadav. There are many private and government schools and colleges located in Janakpurdham. The oldest government sch 

 Janaki Medical college

ool for higher studies is Ra.Ra. Bahumukhi Campus(RR Multiple Campus), which is affiliated to Tribhuvan University. It offers undergraduate and post-graduate courses in several disciplines. Janakpur also boasts of having a medical college, Janaki Medical College,which is also affiliated to Tribhuvan University.

Janakpur, which was historically called Mithila, is said to be the birth place of Sita, wife of legendary hero Ram. Janakpur is usually thronged by worhippers and devotees during the Bibah Panchami festival. This festival is held to commemorate their wedding, and the main event is the re-enactment of the exhange of wedding vows of Sita and Ram. Janakpur is located south-east of Kathmandu near the Indian border. This is where the sole operational train of Nepal can be seen.

Temples and numerous ponds with religious significance can be seen here as well. The Janaki Temple dedicated to the goddess, Sita, is the main attraction in Janakpur. Legend has it that the spot where the temple is standing is the same exact spot where Sita and Ram exhanged vows. During the Bibah Panchami festival, the temple is lit by hundreds of oil-lamps. Janakpur is the center of Hindu pilgrimages and many colorful festivals are celebrated here such as the Rama Navami, which is the birthday of Lord Rama.

The Mithila culture is also alive and thiving in Janakpur. In fact, it is estimated that two million people still speak in native Maithili. People residing here are renowned for their wildly artistic and colorful paintings. Many of the pilgrims who travel to Janakpur are from India and some of their important festivals are also held here, such as the Diwali and Dhashara.

Janakpur is one of the sacred places for many Hindus. If you would like to bear witness to the devotion of people to their deities as well as join their vibrant, colorful festivals, then travel to Janakpur.