Nepal - Nov-2023 -2- Janakpur

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Nepal Tour - Nov-2023




Day-1: Janakpur




Mumbai-Patna-Janakpur:




Flight for Patna from Mumbai was at 5 am. Reporting was at 2 am. Snacks hampers by Kesari for the next 10 days were handed over to us. Reached Patna at around 11 am (via Delhi). This was actually a small mis-planning by Kesari. Direct flight is also available from Mumbai that reaches Patna around 9 am and that would have made a big difference because Patna-Janakpur is at least 7 hrs by road.




Patna to Janakpur by bus (Indian side). Packed lunch on-way. Road condition - not good. No road-side restaurant worth a cup of tea. We were in Bihar. Road-side dhaba culture is not developed in Bihar - we were told.




One of the many border crossings for entry to Nepal is at ‘Bitthamore’ in Bihar (165 Km from Patna). India-Nepal border is an ‘open border’. Check-posts are just a formality. At some inter-state borders in India, the checking is more vigorous. Indian vehicles, if used in Nepal, have to pay hefty tax on a daily basis. So, at the border, our bus was changed to a Nepal registered bus with Nepali guide in addition to our Indian guide/manager.




30 Km before Bitthamore, and with a diversion of 2-3 Km, there is ‘Sitamarhi’ (in Bihar). This place is believed to be the actual ‘birth’ place of Sita - where she was found in an earthen pot in a farm. This place could have been included in the itinerary with early arrival in Patna. From Bitthamore, Janakpur is 20-25 Km (45 min).




In Janakpur, there are three temples/places of importance - all are in the same complex. First we visited Ram-Sita Vivah Mandap (symbolic value only - constructed less than 100 yrs ago) - which closes at 7 pm. Then the Sita Mahal or Sita Mandir - another symbolic structure - about 110 yrs old. It is in the shape of a Palace / Mahal and not in the shape of a temple. It is supposed to be the place where Sita spent her childhood (after being found from earth (in Sitamarhi) - till her marriage with Ram. Third is Laxman temple.




18 Km from Janakpur dham is a place called Dhanushdham - where Ram is said to have broken the bow of Lord Shiva. Time did not permit a visit to this place also.




All these places - Sitamarhi, Janakpur, Dhanushdham and Mithila have mythological significance. The names Janakpur and Mithila directly represent the places mentioned in the epic, Ramayana. Location of Mithila - whether in Bihar or in Nepal - is controversial. There is a ‘Mithila’ in both Bihar and Nepal. It is likely that the whole area was once a single entity (Mithilanchal) and got divided between two countries (by fate or humans?). However, at no place, any ancient, archeological sites or evidence are found. The temples are all relatively of recent construction (~100 yrs) and people visit them out of faith (just like us!).




A question arises in my mind: when so much importance is being given to Ayodhya, the Ram Janmabhoomi, why is the birthplace of Sita - Sitamarhi - forgotten? Or not given the same importance? We didn’t go to Sitamarhi, but went to Janakpur. Why? No mischief intended!




Our stay was at a hotel in Dhalkewar (near Mithila?) 30 Km (1 hr) beyond Janakpur.



Next: Day-2: Chitwan

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