Janakpur is an ancient Mithila city that lies in the Terai region of Nepal, and is the current headquarters of the Dhanusa District. More commonly known as an important Hindu pilgrimage site, Janakpur features some of the most impressive Hindu temples in the region. The Mithila Kingdom that Janakpur was once, is now simply a region divided between India and Nepal; however, the Maithili culture is still very much alive in the streets of Janakpur even today.

Located about 200 km from Kathmandu, Janakpur is easily accessible through a variety of routes and is an integral part of Nepali tourism. Here is a detailed guide on the easiest ways to reach Janakpur.

People traveling from India and other international cities have to enter Nepal through Tribhuvan International Airport in Kathmandu. Janakpur has its own domestic airport and is connected to the domestic terminal of Kathmandu’s airport through daily flights operating between the two cities. The duration of the travel is around 25 minutes and multiple airlines like Buddha Air, Yeti Airlines and Sita Airlines fly daily with small and medium sized aircrafts from Kathmandu to Janakpur.

There are talks of expanding the domestic airport of Janakpur to include direct flights to other major cities in Nepal and even India.

The city of Janakpur is the only region in Nepal that has a connecting railway line to India. The line connecting Jayanagar and Sitamarhi in India to Janakpur was closed in 2014 for renovation and to change it from a narrow gauge line to a broad gauge one. 

Jayanagar and Sitamarhi are two of the closest border cities and are connected to a number of major cities in India. People can catch a train to these cities from anywhere in India and cover the rest of the journey to Janakpur via road.

From Kathmandu, there are regular buses that travel to Janakpur from New Bus Station or Kalanki Bus Stand. The buses are of basic standard; for ‘Deluxe’ bus options, one can choose to purchase tickets separately from travel agencies in Thamel, Kathmandu. The local buses are a cheaper option and are available from the Long Distance Bus Station in Gongobu. The total journey takes about eight hours with stops for meals. The same journey can also be covered by hiring a private cab for a relatively more comfortable travel experience. The closest highways from Janakpur are Mahendra Highway and BP Koirala Highway.

From India, the cities of Jayanagar and Sitamarhi are located only 30 and 45 km respectively from Janakpur in Nepal. There are buses that operate from these cities to Janakpur; alternately, you can also choose to drive through the distance yourself.

Cycle rickshaws are common all around the city and are a convenient way to travel to markets along the narrow streets. In-city cabs are not yet available, although local buses do run along the periphery of the city on wider lanes. In recent times, E-rickshaws, autos and tempos have become more common and are a better alternative to the cycle rickshaw.