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Visiting Places

Madhesh

Janakpur

The Maithili Terai's pilgrimage city — Sita's birthplace and home of Mithila art.

MadheshMadhesh Province
Hindu temple architecture of the Maithili Terai, like Janakpur (illustrative)
Unsplash / Nabin K Sapkota

Janakpur is the cultural capital of the Maithili-speaking Terai and the legendary birthplace of Sita. The marble Janaki Mandir and the Vivah Panchami festival, which re-enacts the wedding of Ram and Sita, draw pilgrims from across South Asia. The city is also a center of vivid Mithila folk painting.

Known for

  • Janaki Temple
  • Mithila art
  • Ram-Sita pilgrimage city

At a glance

Region
Madhesh
Province
Madhesh
Getting there
In the eastern Terai; reached by flight to Janakpur or by road, plus a rail link to India.
Best time
October–March to avoid Terai heat; Vivah Panchami (Nov/Dec) for the great pilgrimage.

Things to see & do

  • The marble Janaki Mandir, the grandest temple in Nepal
  • Vivah Panchami, re-enacting the wedding of Ram and Sita
  • Vivid Mithila folk painting and the sacred ponds (sagar) around the city