Janakpurdham or Janakpur (Maithili: जनकपुर), is the capital city of Madhesh Province. This sub-metropolitan city is a central hub for the Maithili language, as well as for religious and cultural tourism in Nepal.
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 Janakpur Janakpur (Nepal) | |
| Coordinates: 26°43′43″N 85°55′30″E / 26.72861°N 85.92500°E | |
| Country | |
| Province | Madhesh Province |
| District | Dhanusa |
| Settled | Vedic Period |
| as Municipality | 1962 |
| 2017 | |
| Previously part of | Mithila |
| Named for | King Janaka |
| 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 |
The city was founded in the early 18th century but was retrospectively designated as the location of the capital of the Videha kingdom, although there is no archaeological evidence to support this.[2]
Janakpur is located about 225 km (140 mi) southeast of Kathmandu.[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 the Bhitthamore border with India.[5] Nepal Railways operates a service between Janakpur and Jainagar in India.
Etymology
editJanakpurdham, popularly known as Janakpur is named after the ancient King of the Videha kingdom in the 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
editAccounts from ascetics, pandits, and bards suggest that Janakpur was founded in the early 18th century. The earliest description of Janakpur as a pilgrimage site dates back to 1805. Earlier archaeological 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 the Videha 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. After the Independence Act in India, Janakpur expanded into a commercial center and became the capital of Dhanusa District in the 1960s.[6]
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 in the history of Mithila during the first millennium.[7] 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.
Demographics
edit| 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.[8] 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.[9]
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
editJanakpur is one of the fastest-developing cities in Nepal and is the largest sub-metropolitan city in the country.[10] 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 with Tribhuvan 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 as Mithila 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.[11] 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, the Nepal Rastra Bank has a provincial office in Janakpur to regulate banking activities in the region.
Geography and climate
editJanakpur 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 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, and Kamala.
| 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) |
| 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[12] | |||||||||||||
Transport
editRoadways
editFrequent 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 of Sitamarhi, Patna, Delhi and Ayodhya as part of the Ramayan Circuit, promoting religious tourism in Nepal and India.[13][14]
Railways
editJaynagar–Bardibas railway line, operated by Nepal Railways is the only operational railway in Nepal. It connects Janakpur to Siraha at the Nepal-India border and continues further to the Indian city of Jaynagar, Bihar. There is a customs checkpoint in Siraha for goods.[11]
Airways
editJanakpur has a domestic airport (IATA: JKR, ICAO: VNJP) with most flights connecting to Kathmandu, There are plans of expanding it as a regional airport.[15]
| Airlines | Destinations |
|---|---|
| Buddha Air | Kathmandu[16] |
| Yeti Airlines | Kathmandu[17] |
| Shree Airlines | Kathmandu[18] |
Culture
editReligious sites
editThe Janaki 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 the Nepali calendar) by Queen Brisabhanu Kunwari of Tikamgarh. It is also called Nau Lakha Mandir, named after the construction cost, said to be nine lakh gold coins.[19] The temple is architecturally unique in Nepal: its inner sanctum contains a flower-covered statue of Sita which was found in the Sarayu 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 is Sri Ram Temple, is said to have been built by the Gorkhali General Amar Singh Thapa.[19](citation does not exist, false claim) Pilgrims also visit 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
-
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
editMajor religious celebrations include the Hindu festivals of Vivaha Panchami, Dipawali, and Vijayadashami,[19] followed by Chhath Puja, which is celebrated six days after Diwali, and Makar Sankranti.
On the night of the full moon in February or March, before the festival of Holi, a one-day Parikrama (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,[20] 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.
Education
editJanakpur 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 (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 of Tribhuvan University, is located in Janakpur. Janakpur also has Rajarshi Janak University for higher studies.[21]
Janakpur also has a medical college, Janaki Medical College, which is also affiliated with Tribhuvan University.[22] Similarly, for engineering studies, the city has Central Engineering College, affiliated to Purbanchal University.[23] Janakpur also have one autonomous institute named Madesh Institute of Health Sciences (MIHS).[24][25]
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.
Libraries
editGangasagar 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.[26]
Ramswaroop Ramsagar Multiple Campus library is also accessible to the general public.
Media
editThe 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
editGallery
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
editReferences
edit- ^ a b "Janakpurdham Sub-Metropolitan City | "Religious, Cultural, Touristry Place Janakpurdham"". Archived from the original on 2 September 2017.
- ^ a b Burghart, Richard (1978). "The Disappearance and Reappearance of Janakpur" (PDF). Kailash: A Journal of Himalayan Studies: 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.
- ^ 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.
{{cite journal}}: Cite journal requires|journal=(help) - ^ "स्थानिय तह". 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.
- ^ Collegenp. "Madhesh Institute of Health Sciences (MIHS) | Collegenp". www.collegenp.com. Retrieved 21 July 2024.
- ^ "Madhesh Institute of Health Sciences". Edusanjal. Retrieved 21 July 2024.
- ^ 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.