Sitamarhi is a district town in the Mithila region of north Bihar, close to the Nepal border. It is a pilgrimage town first and a tourist town barely at all. Tradition says King Janaka, ploughing a field to end a drought, found the infant Sita in a furrow here, and the town's name is usually read as Sita's marhi, her place. Two temples claim the exact spot: Janaki Sthan in the town centre, with Urvija Kund beside it, and Punaura Dham about 5 km to the west, with Janaki Kund behind the shrine.
The pilgrimage does not end there. Haleshwar Sthan, a Shiva temple linked to Janaka, lies north-west of town, and Panth Pakar, a grove of banyan-type trees where Sita is said to have rested on her wedding journey to Ayodhya, lies to the north-east. Bagahi Dham, a Shiva math, Charaut Math, an 18th-century Vishnu temple, and a Jain teerth at Dumra widen the picture beyond a single story.
This is not a place for a packed sightseeing list. Facilities are basic, signage is limited and published timings are scarce, so the sensible approach is to arrive by train, hire a car or auto-rickshaw for each morning, and check details locally. Punaura Dham is the subject of a large state redevelopment, and Panth Pakar has been announced for development, so conditions may change.
Two or three days is enough. Go between November and February, avoid the monsoon, and treat Janakpur in Nepal as an optional day across the border only after checking current entry rules.
Before you plan
Sitamarhi at a glance
- Best months
- November to February is the most…November to February is the most comfortable; October and March are acceptable. April to June is hot and July to September is wet.
- Ideal trip length
- 2 days covers the main shrines2 days covers the main shrines; 3 days adds Bagahi Dham, Charaut Math and the Jain teerth at an easy pace
- Airport
- DarbhangaDarbhanga (DBR), about 70 to 80 km away depending on the source; Patna (PAT) is much further, roughly 140 km
- Railway station
- Sitamarhi JunctionSitamarhi Junction (SMI) on the Darbhanga-Raxaul line, with direct trains to Delhi, Kolkata, Varanasi and other cities
- Getting around
- Auto-rickshaws and shared transport…Auto-rickshaws and shared transport in town; hire a car with driver for Punaura Dham, Haleshwar Sthan and Panth Pakar
- Daily budget
- Modest by Indian standardsModest by Indian standards; budget guesthouses and simple meals dominate. Check current prices locally.
- Senior comfort
- Fair: the temples are mostly flatFair: the temples are mostly flat, but crowds, heat and basic facilities need planning. Go early and keep days short.
- Language
- Hindi and Maithili are widely spokenHindi and Maithili are widely spoken; English is limited outside the larger hotels
Prices, opening hours and weather change. Recheck live details before booking.
Best time to visit Sitamarhi: January, February, November, December. Month-by-month weather →
How many days do you have?
Sitamarhi itinerary
One good day
1 day in Sitamarhi
Start at Janaki Sthan in the town centre in the early morning and spend a few minutes beside Urvija Kund. Hire a car or auto-rickshaw to Punaura Dham, about 5 km west, and spend about two hours at the temple and Janaki Kund. Have an early lunch and rest, then drive to Haleshwar Sthan in the late afternoon. Ask your driver to confirm the route, since published distances differ.
Day-by-day plan →Two days
2 days in Sitamarhi
Janaki Sthan first thing, then Punaura Dham mid-morning when the courtyard is quieter on weekdays. Rest in the afternoon and, if you wish, return to Janaki Sthan for evening aarti.
Day-by-day plan →Three unhurried days
3 days in Sitamarhi
Take the two Sita temples at an easy pace, with a long midday break.
