Photo: Bhupendra_Shrestha / Pixabay - Region
- Madhesh Province, Dhanusha
- Best time to visit
- October to March, when the plains are cooler
- Getting there
- Flights from Kathmandu to Janakpur Airport; rail link to Jaynagar in Bihar, India; about 225 km southeast of Kathmandu by road.
Janakpur is the capital of Madhesh Province and the heart of Mithila culture in Nepal. Sitting just 74 metres above sea level, it is warm, colourful and full of devotion.
What to see
- Janaki Mandir: a three-storey temple of white stone and marble built in 1910 by Queen Vrisha Bhanu of Orchha, dedicated to Sita.
- The ponds: the city has more than 200 sacred ponds, including Dhanush Sagar and Ganga Sagar, earning it the name City of Ponds.
- Mithila art: bright, bold wall paintings in homes and villages around the city.
When to go
The temple is at its most joyful during Vivaha Panchami, celebrating the wedding of Ram and Sita, and Ram Navami.
Our tip
Visit the ponds at dusk, when families gather on the steps, and buy Mithila paintings directly from the artists who make them.
Advisories for travellers
788 climbers on 31 peaks this autumn; Manaslu the busiest
Beni to Jomsom road: track cleared at Kunauta, full reopening expected soon
Reopening times depend on weather and work progress. We will update this when vehicles are confirmed moving.
Source: Rising Nepal, Ekantipur ·
Tatopani and Rasuwagadhi border points remain closed
No official reopening date has been announced.
Source: Rising Nepal, The Kathmandu Post ·
Langtang, Gosainkunda and Helambu routes closed or restricted after the Rasuwa flood
Section-by-section reopening has not been officially confirmed. Conditions may vary along the trail.
Source: Asia News Network ·