Capital of Madhesh Province
Sub-Metropolitan City in Madhesh Province, Nepal
Janakpurdham
or
Janakpur
(
Maithili
:
??????
,
Nepali pronunciation:
[d?z?n?kpur]
) is a sub-metropolitan city in
Dhanusha
district,
Madhesh Province
,
Nepal
. The city is a hub for religious and cultural tourism. A headquarter of Dhanusha district,
Janakpur
is also the capital for
Madhesh Province
.
[2]
The city was founded in the early 12th century. According to tradition and archeological evidence found at the site,
[3]
ancient civilization indicates Janakpurdham as the capital of the
Videha
dynasty that ruled the
Mithila region
in ancient times.
[4]
Janakpur is located about 225 km (140 mi) southeast of
Kathmandu
.
[5]
As of 2021
[update]
, the city had a population of 195,438 with a 2,125/km
2
density.
[1]
[6]
Janakpur is currently the fourth most densely populated city of Nepal. Janakpur is located about 23 km away from the
Bhitthamore
border with India.
[7]
Nepal Railways
operates between Janakpur and
Jainagar
in India.
Etymology
[
edit
]
Janakpurdham, popularly known as Janakpur is Named after the late King of Videha in
Mithila region
-
Janaka
.The rulers of the Videha kingdom were accorded the title Janaka, meaning 'father' in
Sanskrit
, and this character is the best-known bearer of the same.
History
[
edit
]
Accounts from
ascetics
,
pandits
, and
bards
indicate that Janakpur was founded in the early 18th century. The earliest description of Janakpur as a
pilgrimage
site dates to 1805. Earlier
archaeological
evidence of the presence of an ancient city has not been found. King
Janaka
's palace is thought to have been located in ancient Janakpur as it is believed to be the capital of the
Kingdom of the Videhas
. According to
Ramayana
, he found a baby girl in a furrow, named her
Sita
, and raised her as his daughter. When she was older, he offered her in marriage to anyone who was able to lift the bow of
Shiva
, left near Janakpur a thousand years earlier. Many royal suitors tried but only
Rama
, the prince of
Ayodhya
, could lift the bow. According to an old song, this bow was found northeast of Janakpur.
[4]
Until the 1950s, Janakpur was a cluster of rural hamlets inhabited by farmers, artisans, priests, and clerks who worked for the monasteries that controlled the land. After
the Independence Act in India
, Janakpur expanded into a commercial center and became the capital of the Dhanusa District in the 1960s.
[8]
As Rama and Sita are major figures in Hinduism, Janakpur is an important pilgrimage site for Hindus. According to the
first millennium BC
text,
Shatapatha Brahmana
, the Maithil king
Videgha M?thava
crossed the Sad?nir? (
Gandaki River
), led by his priest Gotama Rahugana, and founded the Kingdom of Videha with Janakpur as the capital city. As Gotama Rahugana composed many hymns of the
Rigveda
, these events must date to the
Regvedic period
.
[9]
[
improper synthesis?
]
Gautama Buddha
and Vardhamana
Mahavira
, the 24th and final
Tirthankara
of the
Jain
religion are said to have lived in Janakpur. The region was an important center for the history of Mithila during the
first millennium
.
[10]
Following the Sugauli Treaty in 1816 between the Nepali rulers and the British East India Company, the northern part of ancient Mithila state, including Janakpur, became part of Nepal, while the southern part went into India.
Demographics
[
edit
]
Historical population
Year
| Pop.
| ±%
|
---|
1991
| 54,710
| ?
|
---|
2001
| 74,192
| +35.6%
|
---|
2011
| 97,776
| +31.8%
|
---|
2021
| 195,438
| +99.9%
|
---|
Data is based on
Census in Nepal
.
Source: Census in Nepal
|
As of June 2011
[update]
, the Janakpur municipality had 19,195 households and a population of 98,446 people with a density of 4,000 people per square kilometer.
[11]
In 2015, it was declared a sub-metropolitan city that incorporates 11 surrounding villages. The current population is 173,924 people, making it the sixth largest city in Nepal.
[12]
Maithili
is widely spoken in the area as the first language and is also used as the
lingua franca
. Nepali, Hindi, Marwari, and English are well understood. Languages like
Bhojpuri
and
Awadhi
are understood but less frequently used.
More than 90 percent of the total population is
Hindu
, with the rest being
Muslims
and
Buddhists
.
Economy
[
edit
]
Janakpur is one of the fastest developing cities of Nepal and is the largest sub-metropolitan city in the country.
[13]
The city has good health care facilities, a number of parks, private schools, colleges, and internet service providers. There are medical, engineering, and management colleges that are affiliated to
Tribhuvan University
. The economy is mostly based on tourism, agriculture, and local industries.
The paintings on pottery, walls, and courtyards made by Maithili women are known as
Mithila art
.
Janakpur attracts migrants from the surrounding area, moving to the city for medical care, education, and jobs. The largest employers were the Janakpur Cigarette Factory Limited and Janakpur Railway until they closed in 2013 due to political corruption and heavy loans. By the end of 2018 service was resumed.
[14]
Zonal Hospital, Zonal Police, and the Banking Sector help the locals live a relatively easy lifestyle.
The city has many commercial banks, such as
Nepal Rastra Bank
, the State Bank of India, Nepal, Everest Bank LTD. Machhapuchhare, NIC Bank, Nepal Bank LTD, and Agriculture Development Bank.
Geography and climate
[
edit
]
Janakpur is located in the
Terai
, where the climate is
humid subtropical
: the months of March and April are hot, dry, and windy. The
wet season
lasts from May to September, followed by mild dry autumn from October to November. It is a cold winter from December to February.
[8]
The major rivers surrounding Janakpur are Dudhmati, Jalad, Rato, Balan, and
Kamala
.
Climate data for Janakpur (1991?2020 normals)
|
Month
|
Jan
|
Feb
|
Mar
|
Apr
|
May
|
Jun
|
Jul
|
Aug
|
Sep
|
Oct
|
Nov
|
Dec
|
Year
|
Mean daily maximum °C (°F)
|
21.6
(70.9)
|
26.2
(79.2)
|
31.4
(88.5)
|
34.9
(94.8)
|
34.8
(94.6)
|
34.1
(93.4)
|
32.8
(91.0)
|
33.0
(91.4)
|
32.7
(90.9)
|
31.9
(89.4)
|
29.5
(85.1)
|
24.6
(76.3)
|
30.6
(87.1)
|
Daily mean °C (°F)
|
15.4
(59.7)
|
19.0
(66.2)
|
23.6
(74.5)
|
27.9
(82.2)
|
29.5
(85.1)
|
30.1
(86.2)
|
29.7
(85.5)
|
29.9
(85.8)
|
29.2
(84.6)
|
27.1
(80.8)
|
22.6
(72.7)
|
17.8
(64.0)
|
25.1
(77.2)
|
Mean daily minimum °C (°F)
|
9.2
(48.6)
|
11.7
(53.1)
|
15.8
(60.4)
|
20.9
(69.6)
|
24.2
(75.6)
|
26.1
(79.0)
|
26.5
(79.7)
|
26.7
(80.1)
|
25.7
(78.3)
|
22.2
(72.0)
|
15.7
(60.3)
|
11.0
(51.8)
|
19.6
(67.3)
|
Average
precipitation
mm (inches)
|
12.1
(0.48)
|
8.3
(0.33)
|
13.2
(0.52)
|
54.6
(2.15)
|
123.7
(4.87)
|
259.4
(10.21)
|
437.9
(17.24)
|
319.1
(12.56)
|
179.6
(7.07)
|
54.3
(2.14)
|
1.4
(0.06)
|
2.8
(0.11)
|
1,466.4
(57.73)
|
Source: Department of Hydrology and Meteorology
[15]
|
Transport
[
edit
]
Roadways
[
edit
]
Frequent bus services operate between Janakpur and Nepalese cities. Within the city,
cycle rickshaws
,
electric rickshaws
, tempos (three-wheeled vehicle), and buses are available. A few Bus services operate for Indian cities of
Sitamarhi
,
Patna
,
Delhi
and
Ayodhya
as part of the Ramayan Circuit to promote religious tourism in Nepal and India.
[16]
[17]
Railways
[
edit
]
Nepal Railways
is the only operational railway in
Nepal
. It connects Janakpur to
Siraha
at the Nepal-India border and goes further to the Indian city of
Jaynagar
,
Bihar
. There is a customs checkpoint in Siraha for goods.
[14]
Airways
[
edit
]
Janakpur has a
domestic airport
(
IATA
:
JKR
,
ICAO
:
VNJP
) with most flights connecting to
Kathmandu
, There are plans of expanding it as a regional airport.
[18]
Culture
[
edit
]
Religious sites
[
edit
]
The
Janaki Mandir
temple is in the centre of Janakpur, northwest of the market. It is one of the biggest temples in Nepal and was built in 1898 (1955 in the
Nepali calendar
) by Queen Brisabhanu Kunwari of
Tikamgarh
. It is also called
Nau Lakha Mandir
after the cost of construction, said to be nine
lakh
gold coins.
[22]
The temple is architecturally unique in Nepal: its inner sanctum contains a flower-covered statue of Sita that was found in the
Sarayu
near Ayodhya. Statues of Rama and his brothers Lakshman, Bharat, and Satrughna stand by Sita.
Adjacent to the Janaki Mandir is the Rama Sita Vivaha Mandir, a building that marks the event in which Rama and Sita were married.
The oldest temple in Janakpur is Sri Ram Temple, built by the
Gorkhali
General
Amar Singh Thapa
.
[22]
Pilgrims also visit the over 200
sacred ponds
in the city for ritual baths. The two most important ponds ? Dhanush Sagar and Ganga Sagar, are located close to the city center.
-
Deities of Sri Sita Devi (far right) and Sri Rama (centre) (with Sri Lakshmana (far left) and Sri Hanuman (below seated))
-
Pond in front of Mani mandap, Rani Bazar. The place where the marriage of Ram and Sita actually happened.
-
Ram Janaki Biwaha Mandap
-
Hanuman Mandir, Kadam Chowk
-
Janaki Mandir
-
Ram Mandir, Janakpur, Mithila
Other religious sites
[
edit
]
- Vivah Mandap temple is situated next to the Janaki Mandir
- Ram Tower is also next to Janaki Mandir. It was inaugurated by former Prime Minister Sushil Koirala, located to the south of Ram Temple.
- Kapileshwar Temple
Festivals
[
edit
]
Major religious celebrations include the Hindu festivals
Vivaha Panchami
,
Dipawali
, and
Vijayadashami
,
[22]
followed by
Chhath Puja
, which is celebrated six days after
Diwali
and
Makar Sankranti
.
On the night of the full moon in February and March, before the festival of
Holi
, a one-day
Parikrama
(circumambulation) of the city is celebrated. Many people offer prostrated obeisances along the entire 8 km (5.0 mi) route. Two other festivals honour Rama and Sita:
Rama Navami
, the birthday of Lord Rama,
[23]
and the Vivah Panchami that re-enacts the wedding of Rama and Sita at the Vivah Mandap temple on the fifth day of the waxing moon in November or early December.
Education
[
edit
]
Janakpur has educational facilities where several of the country's elites went to school, including the first president of the Federal Republic of Nepal,
Ram Baran Yadav
and former
DPM
,
Bimalendra Nidhi
. There are many private and government schools and colleges located in Janakpur. One of the oldest government colleges of Nepal,
Ramsworup Ramsagar Bahumukhi Campus
, which is a constituent campus of
Tribhuvan University
is homed in Janakpur. Janakpur also has
Rajarshi Janak University
for higher studies.
[24]
Janakpur also has a medical college,
Janaki Medical College
which is also affiliated with Tribhuvan University.
[25]
Similarly for engineering studies, the city has
Central Engineering College
affiliated to
Purbanchal University
.
[26]
Janakpur also have one autonomous institute named
Madesh Institute of Health and Sciences
(MIHS)
Janakpur is the educational hub for high school. There are hundreds of high school like Shree Saraswati Ma Vi, Sankat Mochan school, Monastic School, and many more.
And many colleges like Model Multiple College, MIT, Dhanusha Science Campus, Rajshree Janak Campus are also there for higher studies in different streams.
Libraries
[
edit
]
Gangasagar Public Library was established in 1955 and is situated between two historical ponds of Janakpur?Dhanuschatra Pond and Ganga Sagar. The library was reopened to the public in 2012. In recent times, a team of active and committed local youth workers has contributed to the revival of this library by organizing public book collections for the library. It is open daily for three hours, mainly for newspaper-reading but has few daily visitors.
[27]
Ramswaroop Ramsagar Multiple Campus
library is also accessible to the general public.
Media
[
edit
]
The local media of Janakpur primarily consists of several community radio stations, some TV channels, and a few print newspapers, such as
Janakpur Today
. Local Janakpur media primarily consists of radio shows, such as
Mithila Jagaran
.
Sister cities
[
edit
]
- Ayodhya
, India
- Ayodhya and Janakpur became sister cities in November 2014.
[28]
Ayodhya is the birthplace of
Rama
and Janakpur is the birthplace of his consort,
Sita
.
[29]
Gallery
[
edit
]
-
Night view of Janaki Temple
-
Inside view of Janaki Temple
-
Way to Vivah Mandap
-
Vivah Manadap
-
Former Deputy Prime minister and NC Vice president
Bimalendra Nidhi
at
Janaki Mandir
-
Indian PM Modi in Janakpur wearing famous Maithili cap,
Paag
-
Sunset over railway track near Janakpur
-
Vedi, mani mandap, Janakpur
-
Abandoned Old Train at Janakpur station
-
Mithila art
-
Puctue depuctin King Janak ploughing to discover
Sita
Mata
-
Janakpur in 2000's
-
First president of Republic Nepal,
Ram Baran Yadav
visiting Janakpur
-
Janakpur-Ayodhya bus
-
Old picture of Janaki High School
-
Murali Chowk in 2000's
-
Construction of New Airport buildings
See also
[
edit
]
References
[
edit
]
- ^
a
b
"Janakpurdham Sub-Metropolitan City | "Religious, Cultural, Touristry Place Janakpurdham"
"
. Archived from
the original
on 2 September 2017.
- ^
"Breaking ! ?????? ? ?? ?????? ??????? '?????????' ??????? ????? !"
.
enewsbureau.com/
. Retrieved
17 January
2022
.
- ^
"Ancient Houses and their Cultural remains of Mithila found at 12 Biggha of Janakpur"
.
- ^
a
b
Burghart, R. (1978). The disappearance and reappearance of Janakpur. Kailash: A Journal of Himalayan Studies 6 (4): 257?284.
- ^
"Distance from Kathmandu to Janakpur"
.
www.distancefromto.net
.
Archived
from the original on 25 March 2016
. Retrieved
8 September
2018
.
- ^
"Archived copy"
(PDF)
. Archived from
the original
(PDF)
on 31 July 2013
. Retrieved
16 April
2015
.
{{
cite web
}}
: CS1 maint: archived copy as title (
link
)
- ^
"ICP Bhithamore | Land Ports Authority of India"
.
lpai.gov.in
. Retrieved
10 May
2022
.
- ^
a
b
Burghart, R. (1988.) Cultural knowledge of hygiene and sanitation as a basis for health development in Nepal. Contributions to Nepalese Studies 15 (2): 185?211.
- ^
"Nepal-India relations: Ramayan circuit"
.
The Himalayan Times
. 22 November 2017.
Archived
from the original on 7 December 2018
. Retrieved
7 December
2018
.
- ^
Rastriya Samachar Samiti (2004).
"More Indian tourists visit Janakpurdham"
Archived
2 August 2017 at the
Wayback Machine
. Himalayan Times, 17 January 2004.
- ^
Central Bureau of Statistics (2012).
National Population and Housing Census 2011
(PDF)
. Kathmandu: Government of Nepal.
Archived
(PDF)
from the original on 26 July 2018
. Retrieved
18 June
2017
.
- ^
"National Population and Housing Census 2011 - (Village Development Committee/Municipality) - Dhanusha"
(PDF)
. Government of Nepal, National Planning Commission Secretariat, Central Bureau of Statistics. March 2014.
Archived
(PDF)
from the original on 2 September 2018
. Retrieved
7 December
2018
.
- ^
"??????? ??"
.
103.69.124.141
. Archived from
the original
on 31 August 2018
. Retrieved
7 December
2018
.
- ^
a
b
"Janakpur railway nears completion"
.
kathmandupost.ekantipur.com
.
Archived
from the original on 7 December 2018
. Retrieved
7 December
2018
.
- ^
"PRECIPITATION NORMAL (MM) (1991-2020)"
(PDF)
. Department of Hydrology and Meteorology. Archived from
the original
(PDF)
on 14 October 2023
. Retrieved
14 October
2023
.
- ^
"Modi, Oli launch Janakpur-Ayodhya bus service | India News - Times of India"
.
The Times of India
. PTI. 11 May 2018.
Archived
from the original on 5 August 2021
. Retrieved
5 August
2021
.
- ^
Piyush Tripathi (4 September 2018).
"Patna buses: Soon, 4 AC buses to ply from Patna to Janakpur | Patna News - Times of India"
.
The Times of India
.
Archived
from the original on 5 August 2021
. Retrieved
5 August
2021
.
- ^
Magar, Arpana Ale.
"India permits new air entry routes over Biratnagar, Janakpur"
.
My Republica
.
Archived
from the original on 7 December 2018
. Retrieved
7 December
2018
.
- ^
"Flight schedule"
. Buddha Air. Archived from
the original
on 18 September 2010
. Retrieved
6 June
2010
.
- ^
"Scheduled flights"
. Yeti Airlines. Archived from
the original
on 10 June 2010
. Retrieved
6 June
2010
.
- ^
"Flight schedule"
. Shree Airlines. Archived from
the original
on 10 June 2010
. Retrieved
6 June
2010
.
- ^
a
b
c
Mishra, K. C. (1996). Pilgrimage centres and tradition in Nepal. In: D. P. Dubey (ed) Rays and Ways of Indian Culture. M.D. Publications Pvt. Ltd., New Delhi.
- ^
"Janakpur | Travel | NepalVista.com"
.
Archived
from the original on 6 September 2011
. Retrieved
25 July
2011
.
- ^
"Rajarshi Janak University"
.
Edusanjal
. Retrieved
30 April
2023
.
- ^
"Janaki Medical College"
.
Archived
from the original on 18 March 2018
. Retrieved
8 September
2018
.
- ^
"Central Engineering College, Janakpur Nepal | Colleges Nepal"
.
www.collegesnepal.com
. Retrieved
30 April
2023
.
- ^
Mishra, P.
"Book Collection and Donation Program"
.
Facebook
.
Archived
from the original on 23 August 2020
. Retrieved
27 March
2016
.
- ^
"PM Narendra Modi signs 10 agreements with Nepal, inaugurates bus service"
.
The Times of India
. 26 November 2014
. Retrieved
23 February
2021
.
- ^
"MoU on Twinning arrangements between Kathmandu-Varanasi, Janakpur-Ayodhya and Lumbini-Bodh Gaya as sister cities"
.
pib.gov.in
.
Archived
from the original on 23 August 2020
. Retrieved
8 March
2020
.
External links
[
edit
]
Wikivoyage has a travel guide for
Janakpur
.
Wikimedia Commons has media related to
Janakpur
.
Places adjacent to Janakpur
|
---|
|
|
---|
Metropolitan Municipality
| |
---|
Sub-metropolitan Municipality
| |
---|