How to get there?
Janakpur is about ten hours by bus from Kathmandu for around $6, about 30
minutes by plane for around $80. You can also reach Janakpur from other cities
like Birgunj or
Biratnagar.Major spot to visit in Janakpur:
Janaki Temple
Janakpur has the Janaki Temple (Mandir in Nepali) which is dedicated to Goddess
Sita, and also has a Ram and Sita Marriage Mandir (or also known as Ram and
Sita Bibaha Mandir in Nepali) which is said to have been built in the spot
where they got married. Marriage anniversary of Ram and Sita is observed every
year here through a festival which is also observed throughout Nepal. In the
Janakpur region, one of such festival is the enactment of the wedding ceremony,
decorating temples and monuments, burning of oil-lamps surrounding the temple
and other historical sites in the region. Throughout the festival there are
dramas in theaters and in open streets remaking the marriage ceremony of Ram and
Sita. According to Hindu, Ram and Sita took birth to free the earth from the
cruelty and sins of the demon King Ravana (Ravan). To learn more about the Hindu
Goddess, see web link at the end of this page.
Some more information related to Janakpur:
Mithila Culture and Janakpur
Mithila culture is found in the Terai region of Nepal such as the Janakpur
region and also found all the way up to the Northern Bihar state of India.
Legend has it that Janakpur was the capital of Goddess Sita's father the King
Janak. And often Sita is known by many names such as Maithili, Janaki or Mythili.
Mithila culture is rich with its own language known as Maithili, and with its
own traditions, customs, arts and music. Many Mithila arts and paintings have
historical and religious meanings, such arts are produced by many villagers
specifically women's draw paintings having colorful and through provoking
objects such as animals, Gods and Goddess on the walls of their homes.
About Ramayana
One of the greatest epic of all time is Ramayana, which is a a Hindu tale of
God Ram and his wife Goddess Sita, their marriage, their struggle, sacrifice,
and many facets of life. Ram marries Sita, then has to live for years in
isolation from her before returning back to his royal palace. Sita is captured
by Demon named Rawana. In the end, Sita disappears under the ground, and she is
regarded as the Goddess of the Earth. |