Janakpur Dham

Janakpur
जनकपुर
Janak Nagari
City

Nickname(s): Mithila Nagari
Motto: Religious,Cultural, Touristry Place
Janakpur

Location in Nepal

Coordinates: 26°43′43″N 85°55′30″E / 26.72861°N 85.92500°E / 26.72861; 85.92500Coordinates: 26°43′43″N 85°55′30″E / 26.72861°N 85.92500°E / 26.72861; 85.92500
Country Nepal
Zone Janakpur Zone
Federal State Mithila
District Dhanusa District
Government
 • Type Provincial Executive
Provincial Assembly
 • Governer Chief Minister
Area
 • Total 100.20 km2 (38.69 sq mi)
Elevation 74 m (243 ft)
Population (2015)
 • Total 1,69,287
 • Density 1,700/km2 (4,400/sq mi)
Postal code 45600
Area code(s) 041
Website janakpurmun.gov.np

Janakpur (IPA: [dʒəŋɑkpʊr]) also known as Janakpurdham is the administrative and capital city of the Mithila federal state of Nepal and is one of the historical and religious cities of Nepal being the birthplace of Hindu goddesses Sita . Janakpur is also the administrative headquarters of Dhanusa District of the Janakpur Zone and as of 2015 had a population of 1,69287.[1] The city is located about 123 kilometres (76 mi)[2] south-east of Kathmandu, the capital city of Nepal.[1] Janakpur has a substantial tourism industry due to its significance in the Hindu religion[3] and is home to the only operational railway in Nepal, the Nepal Railways.

History

Deities of Sri Sita Devi (far right) and Sri Rama (center) (with Sri Lakshmana (far left) and Sri Hanuman (below seated))

The Janakpur zone (Janakpur anchal), historically called Mithilanchal, is the place where ancient Maithili culture originated. It has the birthplace of the Chhath festival and the Maithili language and script.

The first millennium BC text Shatapatha Brahmana tells that the Nepalese Maithil king Māthava Videgha, led by his priest Gotama Rahugana, first crossed the Sadānirā (Gandaki) river and founded the South Asian kingdom of Videha, whose capital city was Janakpur. As Gotama Rahugana composed many hymns in the Rigveda, these events must date to the Regvedic period.

The most important historical reference to Janakpur is in the Hindu epic Ramayana, where Rama's wife Sita Devi (also called Janaki in Nepal) is said to have been the Nepali princess of Videha. Her father, King Janak of Videha, found baby Sita in a furrow of a field on a visit to Siraha 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, Rama, prince of Ayodhya, alone could even lift the bow. As Rama and Sita are major figures in Hinduism, Janakpur is an important Nepalese pilgrimage site for Hindus all over the world.

In addition, Gautama Buddha, the founder of Buddhism, and Vardhamana Mahavira, the 24th and final Tirthankara of the Jain religion, are said to have lived in Janakpur. The region was an important centre for Nepalese history of Mithila during the first millennium.

Geography and climate

Ratna Sagar, 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.

Climate data for Janakpur Airport (1981-2010)
Month Jan Feb Mar Apr May Jun Jul Aug Sep Oct Nov Dec Year
Average high °C (°F) 22.2
(72)		 26.0
(78.8)		 31.2
(88.2)		 34.8
(94.6)		 34.6
(94.3)		 34.1
(93.4)		 32.5
(90.5)		 32.7
(90.9)		 32.3
(90.1)		 31.7
(89.1)		 29.3
(84.7)		 25.1
(77.2)		 30.5
(86.9)
Daily mean °C (°F) 15.6
(60.1)		 18.6
(65.5)		 23.4
(74.1)		 27.7
(81.9)		 29.3
(84.7)		 30.0
(86)		 29.3
(84.7)		 29.6
(85.3)		 28.8
(83.8)		 26.8
(80.2)		 22.5
(72.5)		 18.0
(64.4)		 25.0
(77)
Average low °C (°F) 9.1
(48.4)		 11.3
(52.3)		 15.5
(59.9)		 20.6
(69.1)		 24.0
(75.2)		 25.9
(78.6)		 26.1
(79)		 26.4
(79.5)		 25.3
(77.5)		 22.0
(71.6)		 15.7
(60.3)		 10.9
(51.6)		 19.4
(66.9)
Average precipitation mm (inches) 11.7
(0.461)		 11.4
(0.449)		 11.5
(0.453)		 52.2
(2.055)		 128.3
(5.051)		 238.7
(9.398)		 487.6
(19.197)		 339.4
(13.362)		 197.5
(7.776)		 63.9
(2.516)		 1.9
(0.075)		 8.4
(0.331)		 1,552.5
(61.122)
Source: Department Of Hydrology and Meteorology[4]

Economy

Janakpur is one of the fast developing cities of Nepal and is the fifth sub-metropolitan city of Nepal. The city has good health care facilities and a number of parks as well as good private schools and colleges and Internet service providers. There are medical and engineering colleges which are affiliated to the T.U. (Tribhuvan University). The economy is mostly based on Tourism, 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 was the Janakpur Cigarette Factory Limited and Janakpur Railway till 2013, now both are closed due to political corruption.

Shiv Chowk, Janakpur

Transport

A train at Janakpur railway station.
Janakpur Airport Terminal

The narrow-gauge Janakpur Railway is the only operational railway in Nepal. It connects Janakpur to the Indian border at Siraha on the Nepal side with a customs checkpoint for goods and Jaynagar, Bihar.

Janakpur has a domestic airport (IATA: JKR, ICAO: VNJP) with most flights connecting to Kathmandu. Frequent bus services operate between Janakpur and other cities of Nepal. Within the city, travelers may hire cycle rickshaws/ E-rickas, Tempo / Taxi or take city buses and autos. Local people also use bicycles. .

Airlines and destinations

AirlinesDestinations
Buddha Air Kathmandu [5]
Gorkha Airlines Kathmandu [6]
Sita Air Kathmandu [7]
Yeti Airlines Kathmandu [8]

Demographics

As per the 2011 census, Janakpur was home to around 97,776 people. Nevertheless, after it was declared a sub-metropolitan city incorporating 11 surrounding villages, this has soared to 169,287 people, making it the sixth largest city in Nepal. Maithili language is widely spoken in the area as the first language. Nepali, Hindi and English, etc. are well-understood. Other similar languages like Bhojpuri and Awadhi are also understood but relatively less frequently used.

Culture

Temples and festivals

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 calendar) by Queen Brisabhanu Kunwar of Tikamgarh.[9] It is also called "Nau Lakha Mandir" after the cost of construction, said to be nine (nau) lakh. The oldest temple in Janakpur is Sri Ram Temple, built by the Gurkhali soldier Amar Singh Thapa.[9] 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. Ram Tower is located to the south of Ram Temple. It was inaugurated by former Prime Minister Mr Sushil Koirala.

Ram Janaki Biwaha Mandap

Chhath in Janakpur

Major religious celebrations include the major Hindu festivals such as Dipawali, and Vijayadashami.[9] followed by spectacular Chhath (sun worship) six days after Dipawali. Both the festivals Dipawali and Chhath are heavily celebrated with a carnival-like atmosphere. The locals take pride in the way these festivals are celebrated.

On the full moon day of February/March before the festival of Holi, a one-day Parikrama (circumambulation) of the city is celebrated. Many people offer prostrated obeisances along the entire eight km route. Two other festivals honor Rama and Sita: Rama Navami, the birthday of Lord Rama, in March–April, draws thousands of pilgrims.[10] And the Vivah 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 dharmashalas (cheap lodgings for pilgrims).

Janakpur Railway Station Platform
Janaki Mandir

Art

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: 1. Aasha Cinema Hall 2. Girija Hall 3. Shri Hanuman Talkies 4. Neelam Theater 5. Ram Janaki Picture Palace

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.[11]

Industries/Factory

1. Aqua Mom (Drinking Water Manufacturer & Supplier)

Aqua Mom is Nepali Brand. It operates its business from Janakpur. Supplies Packed drinking water in 1Ltr & 20Ltr Jar within 50 km of Janakpur valley. ""Special service:- Serve Door-to-Door Jar water inside Janakpur""

2. Internet Market Today Pvt. Ltd. (IMT)

Internet Market Today Pvt. Ltd. is serving its SEO, Adwords Management, E-mail Marketing, Social Media Marketing and Web Designing service since 2013 worldwide from Janakpur. Internet Market Today Pvt. Ltd. is only Google Partner Adverting Agency from Nepal till the date.

Website: http://www.internetmarkettoday.com/

3. Shri Janki Poles industries/Shri Janki Hume Pipe Industries

Janki poles / Hume pipe is a Nepali product. It operates its business from Janakpur. It is legally organization which approved by the Government of Nepal. Its main office is located at Mills Area, Janakpur. It is operated by Surendra Nayak of Shri Janki foundation

Hospitals and Nursing Homes

Government

Janakpur Zonal Hospital

Private Hospitals

Hotels

Janakpur has several hotels and restaurants which offer food and accommodation. These include

There are also several cheaper lodges and Dharamsala (cheap accommodations) for pilgrims. PagalaBaba Dharmashala is one of the famous dharmasala located in Janakpur

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. Ram Baran Yadav. There are many private and government schools and colleges located in Janakpur. The oldest government school for higher studies is Ra.Ra. Bahumukhi Campus(RR Multiple Campus), which is affiliated to Tribhuwan University. It offers undergraduate and post-graduate courses in several disciplines. Janakpur also boasts of having a medical college, Janaki Medical College,[12] which is also affiliated to Tribhuwan University.

Schools

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Colleges

Library

This library was established in 1955 (2012 BS) and is situated between two historical ponds of Janakpur—Dasarath pond and Ganga Sagar. The library was reopened for public in 2012 (2069 BS). In recent times, a team of active and committed local youth workers have contributed to the revival of this library by organizing public book collection efforts for the library.[13]

The Ramswaroop Ramsagar Multiple (RRM) Campus library is also accessible to general public.

Media

The local media of Janakpur primarily consists of several community radio stations,some TV channels and a few print newspapers.

Radio stations

Janakpurdham has 7 Community radio Stations.

Newspapers

Television stations

Online news website

2015 Nepal earthquake

According to Colin Stark at Columbia University, during the earthquake on 25 April 2015, “A part of India slid about one [foot] to 10 feet northwards and underneath Nepal in a matter of seconds. The part below Bihar slid under Nepal along a zone from Bharatpur, through Hetauda, to Janakpur.”[14]

References

  1. 1 2 http://cbs.gov.np/wp-content/uploads/2012/11/VDC_Municipality.pdf
  2. ↑ http://www.distancefromto.net/between/Kathmandu/Janakpur
  3. ↑ Samiti, Rastriya Samachar. "More Indian tourists visit Janakpurdham". Himalayan Times. 18 JANUARY 2004.
  4. ↑ . Department Of Hydrology and Meteorology Retrieved 26 September 2014.
  5. ↑ "Flight schedule". Buddha Air. Retrieved 6 June 2010.
  6. ↑ "Destinations". Gorkha Airlines. Archived from the original on 28 March 2010. Retrieved 8 June 2010.
  7. ↑ "Destinations". Sita Air. Retrieved 6 June 2010.
  8. ↑ "Scheduled flights". Yeti Airlines. Retrieved 6 June 2010.
  9. 1 2 3 "Tourism in Janakpur stays undeveloped" by Rastriya Samachar Samiti. The Himalyan Times, 13 April. Accessed September 2008
  10. ↑ http://www.nepalvista.com/travel/janakpur.html
  11. ↑ http://minapjanakpur.org/
  12. ↑ Janaki Medical College
  13. ↑ Mishra, Promisha. "Book Collection and Donation Program". Retrieved March 27, 2016.
  14. ↑ "'Part of India slid underneath Nepal'". The Hindu. 29 April 2015. Retrieved 1 May 2015. |archive-url= is malformed: save command (help)

External links

Wikimedia Commons has media related to Janakpur.
Wikivoyage has a travel guide for Janakpur.
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