Janakpur's focal point is the magnificent Janaki Mandir; a temple devoted to Sita; the divine heroine of the Hindu epic Ramayana. The Indian sage Valmiki supposedly wrote the Ramayana - The Story of Rama - sometime between 500 and 100 BC. This major epic; some 48;000 lines long; is also well known in Sri Lanka; Burma; Thailand; Malaysia and Indonesia.

The temple was built in 1911 by the Rani of Tikamagarh (Central India); at a cost of 900;000 Rupees - in those days a dizzying amount of money. In local parlance; the temple is also called Nau Lakh Mandir or 'Temple of 900;000 Rupees'. In 1657; a golden statue of the Goddess Sita was found at the very spot; and Sita is also said to have lived there - indeed; another name for Sita is Janaki. Pictures From Asia Rainer Krack