Janakpur जनकपुरधाम | |
|---|---|
| Janakpurdham | |
    Clockwise from top Janaki Mandir, Ganga Sagar, Train in Janakpur and Vivah Mandap | |
| Nickname: The City of Ponds | |
| Motto(s): City of religious and cultural significance | |
  Janakpur Location in Madhesh Province Show map of Madhesh Province Janakpur Janakpur (Nepal) Show map of Nepal | |
| Coordinates:26°43′43″N85°55′30″E / 26.72861°N 85.92500°E /26.72861; 85.92500 | |
| Country |  Nepal |
| Province | Madhesh Province |
| District | Dhanusa |
| Settled | Vedic Period |
| as Municipality | 1962 |
 to Sub-Metro | 2017 |
| Previously part of | Mithila |
| Named after | KingJanaka |
| Government | |
| • Type | Mayor–council government |
| • Mayor | Manoj Kumar Sah (NC) |
| • Deputy Mayor | Kishori Sah (NC) |
| Area | |
• Total | 91.97 km2 (35.51 sq mi) |
| Elevation | 74 m (243 ft) |
| Population (2021) | |
• Total | 195,438[1] |
| • Rank | 11th |
| • Density | 820/km2 (2,125/sq mi) |
| • Rank | 4th |
| Demonym | Maithil |
| Languages | |
| • Official | Nepali |
| • Local | Maithili |
| Time zone | UTC+5:45 (NST) |
| Postal code | 45600 |
| Area code | 041 |
| Website | janakpurmun |
Janakpur orJanakpurdham (Maithili:जनकपुर), is the capital city ofMadhesh Province inNepal. This sub-metropolitan city is a central hub for theMaithili language, as well as for religious and cultural tourism in Nepal.
The city was founded in the early 18th century but was retrospectively designated as the location of the capital of theVideha kingdom, although there is no archaeological evidence to support this.[2]
Janakpur is located about 225 km (140 mi) southeast ofKathmandu.[3] As of 2021[update], the city had a population of 195,438, with a density of 2,125/km2.[1][4] Janakpur is currently the fourth most densely populated city in Nepal. Janakpur is located about 23 km from theBhitthamore border with India.[5]Nepal Railways operates a service between Janakpur andJainagar in India.
Janakpurdham, popularly known as Janakpur is named after the ancient King of the Videha kingdom in theMithila region -Janaka. The rulers of the Videha kingdom were accorded the title Janaka, meaning 'father' inSanskrit, and this character is the best-known bearer of the same.
Accounts fromascetics,pandits, andbards suggest that Janakpur was founded in the early 18th century. The earliest description of Janakpur as apilgrimage site dates back to 1805. Earlierarchaeological evidence of an ancient city's presence has not been found, and there is a lack of evidence to associate the modern-day city of Janakpur with the ancient capital of theVideha kingdom.[2]
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. Afterthe Independence Act in India, Janakpur expanded into a commercial center and became the capital of Dhanusa District in the 1960s.[6]
Following the Sugauli Treaty of 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 became part of India.
| Year | Pop. | ±% |
|---|---|---|
| 1991 | 54,710 | — |
| 2001 | 74,192 | +35.6% |
| 2011 | 97,776 | +31.8% |
| 2021 | 195,438 | +99.9% |
| Data is based onCensus 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.[7] 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.[8]
Maithili is widely spoken in the area as the first language and is also used as thelingua franca. Nepali, Hindi, Urdu, Marwari, and English are well understood. Languages likeBhojpuri andAwadhi are understood but less frequently used.
More than 90 percent of the total population isHindu, with the rest beingMuslims andBuddhists.
Janakpur is one of the fastest-developing cities in Nepal and is the largest sub-metropolitan city in the country.[9] The city has good healthcare facilities, several parks, private schools, colleges, and internet service providers. There are medical, engineering, and management colleges that are affiliated withTribhuvan University. The economy is mostly based on tourism, agriculture, and local industries.
The paintings on pottery, walls, and courtyards created by Maithili women are known asMithila art.
Janakpur attracts migrants from the surrounding areas, who move 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 debts. By the end of 2018, services was resumed.[10] The Zonal Hospital, Zonal Police, and the banking sector help the locals maintain a relatively comfortable lifestyle.
Several banks operate in Janakpur, offering a range of financial services. These include Nepal Bank Limited, Rastriya Banijya Bank, Agricultural Development Bank, Nabil Bank, NIC Asia Bank, Prabhu Bank, Everest Bank, Machhapuchhre Bank, Sanima Bank, Global IME Bank, Siddhartha Bank, Nepal SBI Bank, and Mega Bank Nepal Limited. In addition, theNepal Rastra Bank has a provincial office in Janakpur to regulate banking activities in the region.
Janakpur is located in theTerai, where the climate ishumid subtropical. The months of March and April are hot, dry, and windy. Thewet season lasts from May to September, followed by a mild, dry autumn from October to November. Winter is cold from December to February.[6]
The major rivers surrounding Janakpur are the Dudhmati, Jalad, Rato, Balan, andKamala.
| Climate data for Janakpur (1991–2020) | |||||||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 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) |
| Averageprecipitation 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[11] | |||||||||||||
Frequent bus services operate between Janakpur and other Nepalese cities. Within the city,cycle rickshaws,electric rickshaws, tempos (three-wheeled vehicles), and buses are available. A few bus services operate to the Indian cities ofSitamarhi,Patna,Delhi andAyodhya as part of theRamayan Circuit, promoting religious tourism in Nepal and India.[12][13]
Jaynagar–Bardibas railway line, operated byNepal Railways is the only operational railway inNepal. It connects Janakpur toSiraha at the Nepal-India border and continues further to the Indian city ofJaynagar,Bihar. There is a customs checkpoint in Siraha for goods.[10]
Janakpur has adomestic airport (IATA:JKR,ICAO:VNJP) with most flights connecting toKathmandu, There are plans of expanding it as a regional airport.[14]
| Airlines | Destinations |
|---|---|
| Buddha Air | Kathmandu[15] |
| Yeti Airlines | Kathmandu[16] |
| Shree Airlines | Kathmandu[17] |
TheJanaki Mandir 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 theNepali calendar) by Queen Brisabhanu Kunwari ofTikamgarh. It is also calledNau Lakha Mandir, named after the construction cost, said to be ninelakh gold coins.[18] The temple is architecturally unique in Nepal: its inner sanctum contains a flower-covered statue of Sita which was found in theSarayu River near Ayodhya. Statues of Rama and his brothers Lakshman, Bharat, and Satrughna stand beside Sita.
Adjacent to the Janaki Mandir is the Rama Sita Vivaha Mandir, a building that commemorates the marriage of Rama and Sita.
Often considered one of the oldest temples in Janakpur isSri Ram Temple, is said to have been built by theGorkhali GeneralAmar Singh Thapa.[18](citation does not exist, false claim) Pilgrims also visit over 200sacred ponds in the city for ritual baths. The two most important ponds, Dhanush Sagar and Ganga Sagar, are located close to the city center.
Major religious celebrations include the Hindu festivals ofVivaha Panchami,Dipawali, andVijayadashami,[18] followed byChhath Puja, which is celebrated six days afterDiwali, andMakar Sankranti.
On the night of the full moon in February or March, before the festival ofHoli, a one-dayParikrama (circumambulation) of the city is observed. Many people offer prostrated obeisances along the entire 8 km (5.0 mi) route. Two other festivals honor Rama and Sita:Rama Navami, the birthday of Lord Rama,[19] and the Vivaha 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.
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 formerDPM (Deputy Prime Minister),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 ofTribhuvan University, is located in Janakpur. Janakpur also hasRajarshi Janak University for higher studies.[20]
Janakpur also has a medical college,Janaki Medical College, which is also affiliated with Tribhuvan University.[21] Similarly, for engineering studies, the city hasCentral Engineering College, affiliated toPurbanchal University.[22] Janakpur also have one autonomous institute namedMadesh Institute of Health Sciences (MIHS).[23][24]
Janakpur is the educational hub for high school. There are hundreds of high school like Shree Saraswati Ma Vï, Sankat Mochan School, MIT School, New English 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.
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.[25]
Ramswaroop Ramsagar Multiple Campus library is also accessible to the general public.
The local media of Janakpur primarily consists of several community radio stations, some TV channels, and a few print newspapers, such as News Bureau Nepal is an online news portal based here.Janakpur Today. Local Janakpur media primarily consists of radio shows, such asMithila Jagaran.
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Places adjacent to Janakpur | |
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