Janakpur

Janakpur जनकपुर
City
Janaki Mandir
Nickname(s): Mithila Nagari
Motto: City of religious and cultural significance
Janakpur Location in Nepal
Coordinates: 26°43′43″N 85°55′30″E / 26.72861°N 85.92500°E / 26.72861; 85.92500Coordinates: 26°43′43″N 85°55′30″E / 26.72861°N 85.92500°E / 26.72861; 85.92500
Country	Nepal
Zone	Janakpur Zone
Federal State	Province No. 2
District	Dhanusa District
Government
• Type	Provincial Executive Provincial Assembly
• Governer	Chief Minister
Area
• Total	100.20 km2 (38.69 sq mi)
Elevation	74 m (243 ft)
Population (2015)
• Total	169,287
• Density	1,700/km2 (4,400/sq mi)
Time zone	NST (UTC+5:45)
Postal code	45600
Area code(s)	041
Website	http://janakpurmun.gov.np

Janakpur (IPA: [dʒəŋɑkpʊr] Nepali: जनकपुर) is the capital of Dhanusa District in Nepal. The city is also known as Janakpurdham, which was founded in the early 18th century and was the capital of Ancient Mithila (Nepali: प्राचीन मिथिला) ruled by the Videha dynasty. Today, Janakpur is a famous religious and cultural destination.

The city is located about 123 km (76 mi) south-east of Kathmandu. As of 2015 the city had a population of 169,287.

The Nepal Railways operates between Janakpur and India.

Accounts of ascetics, pandits and bards indicate that Janakpurdham was founded in the early 18th century. The earliest description of Janakpurdham as a pilgrimage site dates to 1805. Earlier archaeological evidence of the presence of an ancient city has not been found. According to the Hindu epic Ramayana, King Janak of Videha's palace was located in ancient Janakpur. He is said to have found a baby girl in a furrow, called her Sita and raised her as his daughter. When she was older, he offered her in marriage to anyone who was able to lift the bow of Shiva, left near Janakpur a thousand years earlier. Many royal suitors tried, but only Rama, prince of Ayodhya, alone could even lift the bow. According to an old song, this bow was found northeast of Janakpur.

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