Janakpur and Mithila
About
Janakpur, in the plains of the south-east, is the city of Sita, the heroine of the Ramayana. The white Janaki Mandir, a palace-like temple built in the early twentieth century, stands among holy ponds and smaller temples, and the city is full of pilgrims and colour. Around it are the villages of Mithila, where women paint their walls with bold pictures of gods, animals and daily life. A short journey into a very different Nepal.
A private journey
Your holiday in Nepal, travelled your way
Namaste, and welcome to Nepal. A week or two here can feel like a race when you are one of thirty on a coach. With your own guide it becomes a journey: the same face every morning, a car that stops for tea in a village, a slow day when you need one, and someone who knows the country and wants you to feel at home in it. I would like you to go home feeling that Nepal was kind to you.
- Just you, and the people you came with
- No strangers to wait for, no group to keep up with.
- The same guide from the first day to the last
- You never start again with someone new.
- Rest days when you want them
- We add one, or move the plan, whenever you need it.
- The country between the places
- Villages, rivers and roadside tea, not only the famous sights.
- Someone to look after the details
- Tickets, permits, rooms and roads are arranged for you, so your mind is free.
With warmth, Rujan Neupane
Along the way
What this day is known for.
- The Janaki Mandir, the temple of Sita
- The holy ponds and the evening aarati
- Mithila painting by the women of the villages
- Village walks in the plains of Mithila
- Vivaha Panchami, the wedding of Ram and Sita, in late autumn
Day by day, night by night
Where we go, how long on the road, and where you sleep each night.| Day | The day | On the road | The night | Room + meals |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Day 1 | Kathmandu to JanakpurA short flight over the hills to the plains; the Janaki Mandir and the evening aarati.
|
Flight about 30 minutes | Janakpur | Paid at cost |
| Day 2 | JanakpurThe Ram Mandir, the holy ponds and the old lanes, then the women's art centre where Mithila painting is made.
|
Short drives | Janakpur | Paid at cost |
| Day 3 | Mithila villagesA day in villages nearby, where house walls are painted and life follows the fields.
|
Short drives | Janakpur | Paid at cost |
| Day 4 | Janakpur to KathmanduThe morning flight back.
|
Flight about 30 minutes | — |
Is this tour for you?
Walking, steps, heat and access, honestly.Not sure? Tell me who is coming, and I'll tell you honestly. Write to me
The honest downsides
What I'd want to know before booking.- From April to June it is very hot, often above 40 °C.
- The town is busy, noisy and dusty.
- Hotels are simple.
- Winter mornings can be foggy and delay flights.
More about this tour
Best time to go
October to February only.- GoodJAN
- GoodFEB
- GoodMAR
- HazyAPR
- HazyMAY
- RainJUN
- RainJUL
- RainAUG
- GoodSEP
- BestOCT
- BestNOV
- BestDEC
November and December are lovely, and Vivaha Panchami falls in this time. January can be cold and foggy.
Time of day
Festivals worth planning for
Festival dates follow the lunar calendar and change every year; I confirm the date when you ask.
Before you go
The small practical things.Visiting with respect
These are living places of worship, not museums.- Walk clockwise around stupas and temples.
- Ask before photographing people.
- Take off shoes where you see others do it.
- Dress modestly in villages and holy places.
- Ask the painters before photographing their work and their homes.
Staying away: 3 nights
You pay me only my guide fee. Rooms and meals are paid at what they actually cost, with nothing added by me.Where your money goes
Every amount, and who receives it. I charge only my guide fee; the rest is paid at cost.| What | Who receives it | Amount | Note |
|---|---|---|---|
| Guide (me) | Rujan Neupane | My city day rate × days, and the overnight allowance | One rate for 1 to 5 people |
| Car and driver | A local driver | What the driver charges | Paid at cost |
| Hotels and meals | The hotels and restaurants | What they charge | You pay directly; I never add anything |
| Entrance fees | The sites and parks | See my Entrance fees page | Paid at the gate, at cost |
| Flights Kathmandu to Janakpur and back | The airline | The airline's fare | You pay the airline, at cost |
I don't sell packages. I guide, and I help you arrange the rest (rooms, transport, permits) at what it actually costs. If you would like it all put together as one package, ask me: I make one only on your request, and we confirm it by email.
Photo notes
From a guide who is also a photographer.The places in detail
The history and stories behind what you will see.Janakpur
Janakpur was the capital of the ancient kingdom of Mithila and, in the Ramayana, the city of King Janak and his daughter Sita. The Janaki Mandir, built in 1910 in a Rajput style, stands on the place where Sita is said to have been found. Many ponds and temples surround it.
Mithila painting
In the villages of Mithila, women have painted the walls and floors of their homes for generations, for weddings and festivals. Today the same art is also made on paper and cloth, and a women’s art centre near Janakpur keeps it alive.
My promises
Written down, so you can hold me to them.- No pressureAsk me anything. Asking costs nothing and commits you to nothing, and I will never rush your decision.
- Nothing hiddenEvery cost is written down before you pay anything, and nothing is added later without your agreement.
- Your day, your paceWe stay longer where you want to, and skip what doesn't interest you.
- Reviews as writtenEvery review here is published as the guest wrote it. I don't edit reviews or remove critical ones.
Before you go
What I would read first, from my own guides and tours.Guides to read first
- Nepal Trekking Etiquette: A Local Guide’s Guide to Culture and Respect on the Trail12 min read
- Useful Nepali Phrases for Trekking: Words That Open Every Door4 min read
- Festivals in Nepal and Trekking: Dashain, Tihar and the Trekking Calendar7 min read
- Upper Mustang Trek Guide: Tibet Without Leaving Nepal7 min read
Frequently asked questions
How do we get to Janakpur?
By a short flight from Kathmandu, or about 6 to 7 hours by road.
When is Vivaha Panchami?
In November or December, by the moon. It is beautiful but very crowded.
Can we buy Mithila paintings?
Yes, from the women's art centre, if you want. We go into shops only when you ask.
Is it too hot?
From April to June, yes. Come between October and February.
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- +977 984-3808583
- Phone
- +977 984-3808583
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More than 5 of you? Write to me. I guide up to 5 people at one rate. For a bigger group we can talk it through by email. I reply myself, usually within a day. On the trail there is often no network, so it can take a few days.
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