Janakpur, 110000 inhabitants, is a city in the Dhanusa, southern Terai, Nepal, approximately 400 km south-east of Kathmandu, 22 km from the Indian border. Dhanusa district, a part of Janakpur zone, is one of the seventy-five districts of Nepal, a landlocked country of South Asia. ... The Terai, or Tarai (i. ... Kathmandu (Nepali: काठमाडौं, Nepal Bhasa: यें) is the capital city of Nepal and it is also the largest city in Nepal. ...

The city is centre of the ancient Maithili culture with its own language and script. Janakpur also is the birthplace of Sita Devi, a Hindu goddess (also called Janaki), the heroin of the Ramayana epos and it is the site of her wedding with Rama, a Hindu god. King Janak is supposed to have found baby Sita in a furrow of a field; he took the child home and raised it. When she was a young lady the king announced that she should be wed by whoever is able to string the devine bow of Shiva. That was no other than Rama, a prince from Ayodhya. Thus, Janakpur is an important pilgrimage site for Hindus. The centre of Janakpur is dominated by the impressive Janaki Mandir to the north and west of the bazaar. This temple was built in 1911 and is in many aspects reminiscent of islamic architecture.It is also called "Nau Lakha Mandir", it is a biggest temple in nepal.. Another landmark of Janakpur are the numerous sacred ponds for ritual baths (sagar) all over the city. The 2 most important ones are close to the centre: Dhanush Sagar and Ganga Sagar. Maithili is of the family of Indo-Aryan languages, which are part of the Indo-Iranian branch of the Indo-European languages. ... This article is about Sita Devi, the wife of Rama. ... This article discusses the adherents of Hinduism. ... Lord Sri Rama (center) with wife Sita, brother Lakshmana and devotee Hanuman. ... Ayodhya   (Hindi: अयोध्या, Urdu: ایودھیا IAST Ayodhyā) is an ancient city of India, the old capital of Awadh, in the Faizabad district of Uttar Pradesh. ... Image:Janaki Mandir. ...

The Maithili language is still widely spoken in the area as well as in the neighbouring Indian state of Bihar. Maithili women are renown for their traditional art, most of all their paintings on pottery, walls and court yards. Typically, Maithili dwellings are made of clay and straw with an inner court yard.There are more than 200 ponds...Festivals The Bibhaha (Viveh) Panchami festival re-enacts the wedding of Rama and Sita. Over 100,000 pilgrims come for this festival. There is a procession with elephants, horses, and decorated chariots with beating drums. It is on the fifth day of the waxing moon in November or early December. Rama Navami, the birthday of Lord Rama, in March-April, is an important festival that draws over 100,000 people. Dipawali in Oct/Nov is a festive time to visit. Maithili (मैथिली MaithilÄ«) is of the family of Indo-Aryan languages, which are part of the Indo-Iranian branch of the Indo-European languages. ... Bihar (Hindi: बिहार, Urdu: بہار, IPA: ,  ) is a state of the Indian union situated in the eastern part of the country. ...

There is an annual one-day Parikrama (circumambulation) of the city on the full moon day of February/March. Many people offer prostrated obeisances along the entire 8km route. It is at the same time as the Holi festival.

Janakpur Railway

Two narrow-gauge lines end at Janakpur, one going east to Jaynagar, just over the Indian border, and the other northwest to Bijalpura. Both train lines are about 30km long.

Iinformation

Zone: Janakpurdham District: Dhanusha No.of wards: 16 Main language: Maithili

External links

• Wide information with photographs of Janakpur and community site of mithila
• The Janakpur Women's Development Center (JWDC)