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The white domes, towers and arched facade of the Janaki Mandir in Janakpur, with pilgrims crossing the open square in front

Ram–Sita Janakpur YatraLord Ram, Mother Sita and the Heart of Mithila

The Ram–Sita Janakpur Yatra is a 2-day private pilgrimage from Kathmandu to Janakpur, by a flight of about 25 minutes or a drive of about 6 hours. You take darshan at the Janaki Mandir in the evening and again at dawn, visit the Ram Mandir and the Vivaha Mandap, and travel out to Dhanushadham, with a pilgrimage guide beside you and time for prayer and bhajan.

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Journey at a Glance

Duration
2 Days1 night in Janakpur
Altitude
Flat Terai plainNo altitude concern
Difficulty
EasyShort walks, heat in summer
Best Season
Mid-Sep to mid-Dec, mid-Feb to mid-Apr
Group Size
2 to 25Larger groups on request
Transport
Flight or roadKathmandu to Janakpur, ends in Janakpur

Package Cost

USD180

per person

(Group of 21 or more)

2 to 11 travellers
$250
12 to 20 travellers
$200
21 and above
$180

Last updated

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Mithila Spirituality

What is the Ram–Sita Janakpur Yatra?

The Ram–Sita Janakpur Yatra is a 2-day pilgrimage to Janakpur, officially Janakpurdham, in Dhanusha district of Madhesh Province near the Indian border. Janakpur is revered as ancient Mithila, the kingdom of King Janaka, and as the city of Sita and of her wedding to Ram, and it is one of Nepal’s most important pilgrimage destinations for devotees of Ram and Sita.

The centre of the yatra is the Janaki Mandir, the white marble temple of Janaki, or Sita. Queen Vrisha Bhanu of Tikamgarh built it between about 1895 and 1910, according to the signboard at the temple. Aarti is at about 7 am, and from 6:00 to 7:30 pm in the evening, and the sanctum closes from about noon to 4 pm. A short walk south-east is the Ram Mandir, the oldest temple in the city, with Dhanush Sagar, the pond linked to the breaking of Shiva’s bow, opposite it. The Vivaha Mandap is traditionally associated with the wedding of Ram and Sita.

Dhanushadham lies 16 to 18 km from the city and is linked by tradition to a fragment of the bow that Ram broke to win Sita’s hand. As time allows, the yatra also visits the Laxmi Narayan temple, the Dulha-Dulhan Mandir, Hanumant Durbar and other temples associated with Ram and Sita. The largest festival of the year is Vivah Panchami, the celebration of the divine wedding, which falls on 14 December 2026, and Ram Navami, the birthday of Ram, falls on 15 April 2027.

The Janaki Mandir in Janakpur from the air, its domed corner towers framing the inner courtyard and central shrine

“Aarti at the Janaki Mandir from 6:00 to 7:30 in the evening, and again at about 7 the next morning.”

Before You Book

Who the Ram–Sita Janakpur Yatra Is For

The Ram–Sita Janakpur Yatra is for Ram–Sita devotees, Vaishnav communities, temple groups, families, spiritual organisations and international pilgrims who want to experience the spiritual heritage of Janaki, Lord Ram and Mithila. It is a short, easy pilgrimage: Janakpur lies on the flat Terai plain, so altitude is not a concern, and the walking is between temples a few minutes apart.

You reach Janakpur from Kathmandu by a flight of about 25 minutes, landing about 2.5 km from the Janaki Mandir, or by a private road transfer of about 6 hours over about 210 km on the BP Highway through Sindhuli and Bardibas. The price depends on the option your group chooses. The yatra ends in Janakpur after lunch on day two, with a transfer to Janakpur Airport or to your onward road journey. The return to Kathmandu is not included and can be added on request, as can lunch on day one.

The best months are mid-September to mid-December and mid-February to mid-April. April to June is very hot, and Janakpur recorded 38 °C on 21 April 2026. December and January bring cold waves and dense fog that cancel some flights, and the monsoon can flood the access roads. Vivah Panchami week brings crowds in the lakhs and fills the city’s hotels, so Sama Yatra arranges special departures for Vivah Panchami and Ram Navami on request and with advance booking. Sama Yatra reported normal conditions in the Janakpur area in September 2026 and confirms current travel conditions when you book.

Indian citizens need no visa for Nepal and can also reach Janakpur by road from the border crossings at Jatahi and Bhittamod. Other SAARC citizens receive a free tourist visa of up to 30 days on a first visit in a visa year, and everyone else pays USD 30 for 15 days, USD 50 for 30 days or USD 125 for 90 days, as of September 2026. No rule barring non-Hindus from the Janaki Mandir premises has been found. Shoes come off at the temples, and walkers on the parikrama often go barefoot.

A single pilgrim is quoted on request. A 30% deposit confirms the booking and the balance is due before arrival. Bookings cannot be cancelled, but the journey can be postponed for up to two years at the same cost. Children are quoted at a reduced rate by age, and Indian pilgrims can be quoted in rupees. For groups, Sama Yatra can arrange a Ram–Sita puja, a Janaki puja, abhishek, sankalpa, priest assistance, bhajan, kirtan, satsang and a Hindi-speaking guide, each quoted separately.

The Janaki Mandir in Janakpur under a grey monsoon sky, its facade reflected in the rain-wet courtyard

Journey Highlights

  • Janaki Mandir aarti at dusk and dawn
  • Dhanush Sagar and the Ram Mandir
  • Dhanushadham and the Ramayana sites
  • Bhajan, kirtan and satsang
  • Vivah Panchami and Ram Navami departures

Detailed Itinerary

2 DaysThe Ram–Sita pilgrimage of Janakpur

The 2 days at a glance
DayRouteOvernightTravel
Day 01Kathmandu to Janakpur: Janaki Mandir, Ram Mandir and Vivaha MandapJanakpur, on the TeraiFlight of about 25 minutes, or about 6 hours by road
Day 02Dhanushadham and the Ramayana sites, then departureTour ends in JanakpurPrivate vehicle, 16 to 18 km to Dhanushadham
  1. Day 01Kathmandu to Janakpur: Janaki Mandir, Ram Mandir and Vivaha Mandap

    The pilgrimage begins with a flight of about 25 minutes or a private road transfer of about 6 hours from Kathmandu to Janakpur, where our representative and private vehicle meet you and take you to your 3-star hotel. After check-in and refreshment, the Janaki Mandir for darshan of Janaki, or Sita, prayer, an orientation to the temple and personal devotional time. The sanctum is closed from about noon to 4 pm, so the afternoon visit is timed around it. Then the Ram Mandir, a short walk south-east, for darshan and prayer, and the Vivaha Mandap, traditionally associated with the divine wedding of Lord Ram and Mata Sita. In the evening, the aarti at the Janaki Mandir from 6:00 to 7:30 pm and a quiet walk around the temple area, with optional group bhajan, kirtan, prayer or satsang, before a vegetarian dinner at the hotel. Overnight in Janakpur, on the flat Terai plain. Dinner included. Lunch can be added on request.

  2. Day 02Dhanushadham and the Ramayana sites, then departure

    The morning begins with early darshan at the Janaki Mandir, where aarti is at about 7 am, then breakfast at the hotel. After breakfast, the drive of 16 to 18 km to Dhanushadham, an important pilgrimage destination associated with the Ramayana, for darshan, prayer, a spiritual orientation, personal worship and time for reflection. Back towards Janakpur, and as time allows, more sacred sites such as the Laxmi Narayan Temple, the Dulha-Dulhan Mandir, Hanumant Durbar and other temples associated with Ram and Sita. After a vegetarian lunch, the transfer to Janakpur Airport or your onward road journey. The return to Kathmandu is not included and can be added on request. Breakfast and lunch included.

What's Included

  • Transport from Kathmandu to Janakpur by domestic flight or private road transfer, as your group chooses, and the transfer to Janakpur Airport or your onward road journey at the end
  • Private tourist vehicle in Janakpur with a professional driver, including fuel, parking and road costs
  • 1 night in a comfortable 3-star Janakpur hotel, twin or double sharing, with an upgrade available on request. Hotel names are confirmed before arrival
  • English-speaking pilgrimage guide, with Janaki Mandir orientation, Ram–Sita pilgrimage assistance, temple darshan assistance, local pilgrimage coordination and group assistance throughout. A Hindi-speaking guide on request
  • Breakfast, vegetarian lunch and vegetarian dinner as listed in the itinerary, and drinking water during the road journey
  • Airport reception, departure assistance, tour coordination, basic local assistance and applicable government and service taxes

What's Not Included

  • Return from Janakpur to Kathmandu, added on request
  • Lunch on day one, added on request
  • International airfare
  • Nepal tourist visa
  • Travel insurance
  • Temple donations
  • Special puja, abhishek, sankalpa and homa charges, and priest fees, quoted separately
  • Single-room supplement and hotel upgrades, quoted on request
  • Laundry, alcoholic drinks, personal shopping and other personal expenses
  • Tips and gratuities
  • Camera and video fees where charged
  • Medical and emergency expenses
  • Any service not specifically listed as included

Before you book

Questions Travellers Ask

Which temples does the Ram–Sita Janakpur Yatra visit?

The Ram–Sita Janakpur Yatra visits the Janaki Mandir, the Ram Mandir and the Vivaha Mandap on day one, and Dhanushadham on day two. The Laxmi Narayan Temple, the Dulha-Dulhan Mandir and Hanumant Durbar are added on day two as time allows.

How much does the Ram–Sita Janakpur Yatra cost?

The Ram–Sita Janakpur Yatra costs USD 250 per person for 2 to 11 pilgrims, USD 200 for 12 to 20 and USD 180 for 21 or more, with twin sharing in a 3-star hotel. A single pilgrim is quoted on request, and the price depends on whether you fly or drive from Kathmandu.

How do you get from Kathmandu to Janakpur?

Kathmandu to Janakpur is a flight of about 25 minutes or a private road transfer of about 6 hours over about 210 km on the BP Highway. On the Ram–Sita Janakpur Yatra your group chooses when it books.

Is the return to Kathmandu included in the Ram–Sita Janakpur Yatra?

No. The Ram–Sita Janakpur Yatra ends in Janakpur with a transfer to Janakpur Airport or your onward road journey, and the return to Kathmandu can be added on request.

What time does the Janaki Mandir open for darshan?

Aarti at the Janaki Mandir is at about 7 am and from 6:00 to 7:30 pm, and the sanctum closes from about noon to 4 pm. The yatra takes darshan on the evening of arrival and again early on day two.

How far is Dhanushadham from Janakpur?

Dhanushadham is 16 to 18 km from Janakpur, and the yatra drives there on the morning of day two.

What is the best time to visit Janakpur?

The best time to visit Janakpur is mid-September to mid-December or mid-February to mid-April. April to June is very hot, and fog cancels some flights in December and January.

When is Vivah Panchami in 2026?

Vivah Panchami falls on 14 December 2026. Sama Yatra arranges special departures for it and for Ram Navami, on 15 April 2027, on request and with advance booking, because hotels fill up in festival week.

Is Janakpur safe to visit?

Sama Yatra reported normal conditions in the Janakpur area in September 2026 and confirms current travel conditions when you book.

Can non-Hindus visit the Janaki Mandir?

No rule barring non-Hindus from the Janaki Mandir premises has been found. Shoes come off at the temples, and your guide will tell you the rules at each one.

Is the Ram–Sita Janakpur Yatra suitable for older pilgrims?

Yes. Janakpur is on the flat Terai plain with no altitude concern, and the temples are close together. The main strain is heat from April to June.

Do Indians need a visa for Janakpur?

Indian citizens need no visa for Nepal. Other SAARC citizens receive a free visa of up to 30 days on a first visit in a visa year, and everyone else pays USD 30 for 15 days, USD 50 for 30 days or USD 125 for 90 days, as of September 2026.

Traveller Reflections

The first reflections are still being written.

We publish what travellers tell us in their own words, once they have travelled. Nothing here is borrowed or invented.

Janakpur from the air at sunset, the white Janaki Mandir among the city rooftops and a pagoda-roofed pavilion in the garden beside it

2 Days with Ram and Sita in Janakpur.Plan your Ram–Sita Janakpur Yatra.

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