Punaura Dham Janaki Mandir (Sita Kund)
Devi (Sita / Janaki) temple · Punaura, near Sitamarhi, Sitamarhi, Bihar, India
Punaura Dham, in Punaura village near Sitamarhi in north Bihar, is a Hindu pilgrimage site that many devotees revere as the birthplace of Sita, also called Janaki. At its centre is the Janaki Mandir, a temple where Sita is worshipped on her own rather than only beside Rama. Behind the temple is the sacred pond known as Sita Kund or Janaki Kund.
The Bihar government and the Centre treat Punaura Dham as Sita's birthplace for the Ramayana Circuit. In 2025 the state approved a major redevelopment that includes a new, larger Sita temple. Rival traditions place Sita's birth elsewhere, including Janaki Sthan in Sitamarhi town and Janakpur in Nepal.
Faith & Tradition
Religious Significance of Punaura Dham Janaki Mandir (Sita Kund)
According to tradition, King Janaka of Mithila was ploughing the land here during a drought when he found the infant Sita in an earthen pot buried in the field. He adopted her as his daughter. The name Sita means 'furrow', and Janaki means 'daughter of Janaka'. The Sitamarhi district administration describes the place where the child was found as Sita Kund.
Local tradition also links the village to the sage Pundarika (Pundrik), whose ashram is said to have stood here. The name Punaura is believed to come from his name. Devotees believe that bathing in Janaki Kund brings the blessing of children. These are matters of faith, not archaeological findings.
Few major temples in India are dedicated to Sita alone. The Bihar government's plan to build a large temple here, modelled on the redevelopment at Ayodhya, has drawn new attention to Punaura Dham across Mithila.
Heritage
History of Punaura Dham Janaki Mandir (Sita Kund)
Historical records of the site are sparse. In 1877 the colonial statistician W. W. Hunter, in A Statistical Account of Bengal, noted that Punaura, about three miles south-west of Sitamarhi, 'also puts in a claim' to be Sita's birthplace. This shows that the tradition was already established in the 19th century. In 2023, Acharya Kishore Kunal, former chairman of the Bihar State Board of Religious Trusts, told The Indian Express that the present Punaura temple is about 100 years old. He also said that the Janaki Sthan in Sitamarhi town was built about 200 years ago, after a sage dreamt that it was the birthplace.
According to Kunal, a report he and other researchers prepared for the Bihar government led to Punaura Dham being named as Sita's birthplace for the Centre's Ramayana Circuit. In December 2023 the state launched an initial development plan for the site.
On 1 July 2025 the Bihar Cabinet approved a plan of about Rs 882.87 crore to develop Punaura Dham. The plan included about Rs 137 crore to renovate the old Janaki Mandir and about Rs 728 crore for pilgrim facilities, including Sita Vatika, Luv-Kush Vatika and a parikrama path. Design Associates Inc, the firm that worked on master planning for the Ram Janmabhoomi temple in Ayodhya, was appointed design consultant. On 8 August 2025, Union Home Minister Amit Shah and Chief Minister Nitish Kumar performed the bhoomi pujan for the new temple. All India Radio reported that a trust, the Shri Janaki Janmabhoomi Punaura Dham Mandir Nyas Samiti, had been set up to manage it.
Architecture and sacred features
According to the district administration, the existing complex includes the Janaki temple with an image of Sita, a place of worship and a havan mandap, with Janaki Kund behind the temple. All India Radio reported that the planned new temple will be more than 159 feet tall, on a site of about 50 acres. The project also includes a mela ground, a cultural centre and a parikrama path. Expect construction work at the site while the project is under way.
Plan Your Visit
Darshan and Visitor Information
Bihar Tourism suggests September to April as the best time to visit and asks visitors to remove footwear and pray respectfully (Bihar Tourism, checked October 2026). Redevelopment work may affect access to parts of the complex, so confirm current arrangements with the Sitamarhi district administration or the temple trust before you travel.
Timings and arrangements change with seasons and festivals. Confirm current details with Shri Janaki Janmabhoomi Punaura Dham Mandir Nyas Samiti (constituted 2025, per All India Radio) before travelling. Last reviewed 5 October 2026.
Sacred Calendar
Festivals at Punaura Dham Janaki Mandir (Sita Kund)
Janaki Navami (Sita Navami)
The festival of Sita's appearance is the most important day at a site revered as her birthplace. The district administration notes that thousands of devotees come for it.
Ram Navami
Listed by the Sitamarhi district administration as one of the occasions when crowds of devotees visit Punaura Dham.
Vivah Panchami
Marks the wedding of Rama and Sita, an event closely tied to Mithila and observed by devotees at Sita's birthplace shrines.
Location
How to Reach Punaura Dham Janaki Mandir (Sita Kund)
Punaura Dham lies just outside Sitamarhi town, and the district administration describes it as about 5 km from Sitamarhi Railway Station. The same official page names Darbhanga Airport as the nearest airport, about 90 km away (Sitamarhi district administration, checked October 2026). Patna's airport and railway stations are farther away, but road and rail links to Sitamarhi are good. Auto-rickshaws and buses run from Sitamarhi town to the site.
Location: Punaura, near Sitamarhi, Sitamarhi, Bihar, India
Nearest airport: Darbhanga Airport
Nearest railway station: Sitamarhi Railway Station
More in Hindu temples in Bihar · Devi (Sita / Janaki) temples
Questions
Punaura Dham Janaki Mandir (Sita Kund): Frequently Asked Questions
Is Punaura Dham the birthplace of Sita?
Many devotees, the Bihar government and the Centre's Ramayana Circuit regard Punaura Dham as Sita's birthplace. Other traditions point to Janaki Sthan in Sitamarhi town or to Janakpur in Nepal. The identification rests on tradition and later research, not on archaeological proof.
What is Sita Kund at Punaura?
Sita Kund, also called Janaki Kund, is the sacred pond behind the Janaki temple. Tradition links it to the spot where King Janaka found the infant Sita while ploughing.
Is this the same as the Sita Kund hot spring in Munger?
No. The Sita Kund hot spring linked with Sita's fire ordeal is in Munger district. Punaura Dham's Sita Kund is a separate pond near Sitamarhi.
What is being built at Punaura Dham?
In July 2025 the Bihar government approved about Rs 882.87 crore to renovate the old Janaki temple, build a new temple and add pilgrim facilities. Amit Shah and Nitish Kumar performed the bhoomi pujan on 8 August 2025.
How far is Punaura Dham from Sitamarhi railway station?
The Sitamarhi district administration lists it as about 5 km from Sitamarhi Railway Station. The nearest airport it names is Darbhanga, about 90 km away.
Who manages the temple?
All India Radio reported in August 2025 that the Shri Janaki Janmabhoomi Punaura Dham Mandir Nyas Samiti had been set up to manage the temple.
Sources and attribution
- © OpenStreetMap contributors — location data © OpenStreetMap contributors (ODbL)
- Wikidata Q7531579 — structured data (CC0)
- Wikipedia — Sita Kund — text facts from Wikipedia, licensed CC BY-SA 4.0
- District Administration Sitamarhi, Government of Bihar — Punaura Dham, Sitamarhi
- Department of Tourism, Government of Bihar — Punaura Dham
- The Indian Express (20 Dec 2023) — Bihar to develop Sita's birthplace: An expert explains the history and mythology of Mithila
- All India Radio / Akashvani News (8 Aug 2025) — Union Minister Amit Shah & Bihar CM Nitish Kumar to lay foundation stone of temple dedicated to Goddess Sita at Punaura Dham, Bihar
- PTI via Rediff (1 Jul 2025) — Bihar Cabinet okays Rs 882.87cr for developing Sita's birthplace
- India TV News (1 Jul 2025) — Bihar govt approves Rs 882 crore for 'Punaura Dham Janki Mandir' revamp
- Aaj Tak (8 Aug 2025) — Amit Shah bhoomi pujan at Punaura Dham (Hindi)
Further reading: Punaura Dham Janaki Mandir (Sita Kund) on Wikipedia (CC BY-SA 4.0).
Spotted an error? Write to info@hindutone.com — see our editorial policy.
Pilgrim Circuit