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Ancient Mithila kingdom Janakpur: One of the must-visit places of Nepal
Ancient Mithila kingdom Janakpur Dham is not the only city Of great historical importance. Janakpur Dham is located in the eastern Terai region of Nepal.
It is also a popular pilgrimage site for Hindus from around the world and a major tourist attraction located in the Terai region of Nepal.
Janakpur is famous for being full of sacred ponds and saint huts of religious importance
Janakpur is the capital of the ancient Mithila kingdom. According to legend, Janakpur is the kingdom of the wise and pious King Janak. It is also the mythological birthplace or Maternal home of Mother Goddess Sita.
Janakpur Municipality is also the district headquarters of Dhanusha and is a busy historical religious town with an estimated population of 90,000.
Historical Significance
There is a 200-year-old, very attractive Janaki temple in Janakpur; the queen of Tikamgarh built this temple at that time and is famous as the Janaki temple in Nepal and India.
Dhanusha (especially Janakpur) is considered to be the capital or center of Mithila culture.
Famous as the city of ponds and huts, apart from having many ancient temples, this city has 72 ponds of historical and religious importance scattered at various places.
Among these, Gangasagar, Dhanusagar, Argaja, Maharaj Sagar, or Dashrathsagar, Agnikund, Viharkunda, Suryakund etc. are notable. This is the reason why Janakpur is also known as the city of historical ponds.
A unique model of Mithila handicrafts can be seen here at the Janakpur Women Development Center.
Janakpur is also a major attraction for Indian Hindu pilgrims and international tourists.
Janakpur is also the holy place where Hindu religion’s Lord Ram and Goddess Sita were married at this place according to religious tradition.
According to the statement of the Hindu religion, Lord Ram, who had come from the city of Ayodhya (India), announced to King Janak that after fulfilling the condition or by picking up the bow displayed at his door and proving his strength, he had taken him to Ayodhya by marrying Sita, daughter of King Janak.
Nepal’s only rail service can be seen in Janakpur, which is considered a historical heritage.
Janakpur is also an attractive tourist destination for international locomotive enthusiasts. Ram Navami, Vivah Panchami, Chhath Puja, Holi festival, Diwali, and many other festivals are celebrated enthusiastically in this region.
According to a research-based belief, this city was established at the beginning of the 12th century.
However, according to various archaeological evidence, the Mithila region is the capital of the Videha dynasty in ancient times.
Ancient Mithila Kingdom Janakpur As an open museum
Mithila region is also famous for Mithila art. Mithila art means paintings made by women on earthen pots, walls of courtyards, etc.
Next to the Janaki Temple in Janakpur, the Marriage Mandap is built in the middle of a beautiful, delightful, lush green garden in the north direction to symbolize the marriage venue of Lord Rama and Sita.
This pagoda-style temple depicts the marriage of Rama and Sita in the presence of all the major Hindu deities. And there is a very delightful example of ancient visual art of blessing this divine couple.
Similarly, Sankatmochan temple is situated in the north-west corner of Varah Bigha grounds. The temple is dedicated to Lord Hanuman and is considered one of the most important places of worship in the region.
Ram Temple is said to be the oldest temple of Janakpur, which is said to have been built and dedicated to Lord Ram by the powerful Gorkha warrior Amar Singh Thapa in the 17th century. It is situated to the south of Janaki temple and can be reached in a few minutes.
The Janakpur Cigarette Factory: Begining Nepali Industrialization
The Janakpur Cigarette Factory was one of the oldest multinational industries in Nepal. The Russian government established it to help Nepal, which utilized locally produced agricultural raw materials to employ the local people and was once Nepal’s largest cigarette factory.
It was considered a big industry, but recently, it has been closed for various reasons.
Any type of hotel, lodge, and Dharamshala is available in Janakpur, so there is no need to worry about food, accommodation, or sleeping.
For tourists who want to experience the Mithila art culture of Nepal, a one or two-day trip to Janakpur can be an interesting and worthwhile trip.
How to reach Janakpur
Janakpur is located about 225 kilometers southeast of Kathmandu. Janakpur can be reached by road, which is half an hour from Dhalkewar Chowk on the Mahendra Highway. Also, daily flights from Kathmandu to Janakpur are available.
