SITAMARHI

Sitamarhi is a town and the district headquarters of the Sitamarhi district in the Mithila region of northern Bihar, India and is a part of the Tirhut Division. In 1875, the Sitamarhi sub-division was created within the Muzaffarpur district and further in 1972, it was carved out from Muzaffarpur district to form a separate district.

Sitamarhi is a birthplace of Sita, the main character of the epic Ramayana; there are three temples of visitors' importance located here - Sita Temple, Janki Temple, and Haleshwar Sthan.

Rama Navami, a spring festival in Dumra, is widely celebrated with a large fair held to mark the occasion. Sama Chakeva is a prominent winter festival dedicated to celebrate brother-sister relationships. This is a major cultural event with marriage ceremonies and many cultural rituals that take much preparation.

Sights

Janki Temple, Punaura

Punaura Dham Mandir is one of the holiest Hindu temples dedicated to Goddess Sita, located in Sitamarhi, Bihar, India. Lakhs of pilgrims visit the temple every year.

Punaura Dham is about 5 km west of Sitamarhi. Saint Pundrik's Ashram was situated here. Sita-Kund place is the honour of being the birthplace of Hindu Goddess, Sita.

Deokuli (or Dhekuli)

It is 19 Kms. west of Sitamarhi town. An ancient Shiva Temple is situated here. A big fair takes place every year on the eve Shivaratri. Legends have it that Draupadi, the wife of five Pandavas was born here. Now it lies in the Sheohar district, carved out of Sitamarhi in 1994.

Panth-Pakar

It is 8 Kms. north-east of Sitamarhi. It is said that after her marriage, sita was carried in a palanquin to Ayodhya by this route. An old Banyan tree is still standing here under which she is said to have rested for a while.

Bagahi Math

Some 7 Kms. north-west of Sitamarhi, in Bagahi village, there is a big Hindu monastery which contain 108 rooms. This is a famous place for worship and performing Yajna.

Pupri

There is a famous Baba Nageshwarnath (Lord Shiva) temple here. It is said that Lord Shiva has himself had appeared as Nageshwar nath Mahadeo.

Goraul Sharif

It is situated some 26 Kms. from Sitamarhi town. This is a very sacred place for Muslims, after Biharsharif and Phulwarisharif in Bihar.

Shukeshwar Sthan

It is situated 26 Kms. north-west of Sitamarhi. This was the worship place of Sukhadev Muni, the great saint. A big and ancient temple, dedicated to Shukeshwarnath (Lord Shiva) still exists here.

Bodhayan-Sar

This is the sacred place where Maharishi Bodhaya had written number of epics. The great sanskrit Grammarian Panini was one of his disciples. The renowned saint Deoraha Baba has laid the foundation of a Bodhayan temple here some 37 years ago.

Haleshwar Sthan

This is 3 Kms. noth-west of Sitamarhi. As the myth goes, the king Videha had founded a temple of Lord shiva on the occasion of Putra Yeshti Yajna. His temple was named as Haleshwarnath temple.