Set in Janakpur, Nepal, Janaki Mandir honours Goddess Sita (Janaki) with Lord Rama. It is also known as Nau Lakha Mandir, Ram Janaki Mandir.
Janaki Mandir is one of the largest and most visited temples in Nepal and a major pilgrimage site in the Terai region, revered as the traditional birthplace and marriage site of Sita as described in the Ramayana. It draws large crowds of pilgrims from Nepal and India, especially during the Vivaha Panchami festival marking the wedding of Rama and Sita. It is listed as a UNESCO World Heritage Site on the tentative list. The temple was built by Queen Vrisha Bhanu of Tikamgarh (Orchha State) in 1910, funded at a reported cost of around nine lakh rupees, which gave rise to its nickname Nau Lakha Mandir.
Nepal carries a distinct temple identity of its own: Home to Pashupatinath, one of the holiest Shiva temples in the world and a UNESCO World Heritage Site.
Darshan hours and daily worship
| Session | Timing (as published) |
|---|---|
| Morning | 5:00 AM to 12:00 PM |
| Evening | 4:00 PM to 9:00 PM |
Timings reported vary slightly by source; morning and evening aarti typically occur around 6:00 AM and 6:00 PM respectively.
Festivals and special-day timings
Regular darshan hours are usually extended, or set aside entirely, on these dates.
| Festival | Period | What happens |
|---|---|---|
| Vivaha Panchami | December (fifth day of Shukla Paksha in Margashirsha month) | Commemorates the marriage of Lord Rama and Sita; the temple's Vivah Mandap marks the traditional wedding site, drawing large numbers of pilgrims. |
| Ram Navami | Celebrates the birth of Lord Rama. | |
| Mithila Jhulnotsav | A swing festival celebrated in the Mithila tradition. |
History and architecture
Architecture
Three-storied stone and marble structure in a Koiri Hindu / Mughal-Rajput influenced style, painted white, with 60 decorated rooms, Madhubani paintings, colored glass, lattice windows and turrets; roughly 1,480 square meters in area and about 78 meters wide
History
The temple was built by Queen Vrisha Bhanu of Tikamgarh (Orchha State) in 1910, funded at a reported cost of around nine lakh rupees, which gave rise to its nickname Nau Lakha Mandir. Legend holds that a golden statue of Sita was discovered at this site in the 17th century, and the location is associated with the saint Shurkishordas, credited with founding modern Janakpur.
Planning your visit
How to reach
Located in Janakpur, Dhanusha District, in the Madhesh Province of Nepal; reachable by domestic flight or road/rail from Kathmandu and from the India-Nepal border.
Where this information comes from
Confidence: Medium. Construction date and funding figures vary slightly between sources; exact daily timings not confirmed from an official source