Janaki Mandir
जानकी मन्दिर, जनकपुर
Janakpurdham Sub-Metropolitan City, Dhanusha, Madhesh Province
Overview
The Janaki Mandir in Janakpurdham, Dhanusha, is a striking three-storey marble temple dedicated to the goddess Sita. Painted in white with intricate Rajput-Mughal detailing, it is the largest temple of its style in Nepal and the heart of the Maithili cultural region.
Historical background
The present temple was completed in 1911, funded by Queen Vrisha Bhanu of Tikamgarh, India, on the spot where a golden image of Sita is said to have been found. Janakpur is identified with the ancient kingdom of Mithila and is traditionally revered as Sita's birthplace and the site of her marriage to Rama.
Cultural significance
Janaki Mandir is the focus of the Vivaha Panchami festival, which re-enacts the marriage of Rama and Sita and draws huge crowds from Nepal and India. It anchors the living Maithili art and ritual traditions of the region.
Architectural details
Built of stone and marble in the Hindu-Rajput (and Mughal-influenced) idiom, the temple has 60 rooms, domes, arched windows, decorative turrets and a large courtyard — quite distinct from the pagoda architecture of the hills.
Condition & conservation
Current condition: Active and well maintained
Maintained by the temple trust and the municipality; a candidate for stronger heritage protection given its scale and significance.
3D model coming soon
A 3D Gaussian Splat capture of Janaki Mandir is planned. Our reference capture of the Chandeswori Temple is available in the viewer today.
See the reference 3D modelGallery
References
- Nepal Tourism Board — Janakpur· Tourism
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