Bihar's Chief Minister, Nitish Kumar, unveiled the final design of the proposed Janaki Temple at Punaura Dham in Sitamarhi district on Sunday. This location holds immense religious and cultural significance as it is believed to be the birthplace of Goddess Sita.
Sitamarhi: A grand temple dedicated to Goddess Janaki (Goddess Sita) is soon to be constructed at Punaura Dham in Sitamarhi district, Bihar. The design was unveiled by Chief Minister Nitish Kumar on Sunday. This historical and spiritual project aims not only to enhance facilities for devotees but also to elevate Bihar's cultural and spiritual identity on a global scale.
Nitish Kumar Shares Design, Calls it a 'Moment of Pride'
Sharing images of the temple design on the social media platform X (formerly Twitter), Chief Minister Nitish Kumar wrote: "The design for a grand temple and other structures to comprehensively develop Punaura Dham, the birthplace of Mother Janaki in Sitamarhi, is now ready, which I am sharing with you. This is a matter of pride and good fortune for all of us Biharis."
He mentioned that a special trust has been formed to oversee all construction and development activities, ensuring rapid progress of the project.
Ram Temple Consultant Assigned Design Responsibility
The Bihar government has appointed a Noida-based private company for the architectural design and master planning of the project. This is the same institution that played a key role in the master planning and designing of the Shri Ram Janmabhoomi Temple in Ayodhya. This indicates that the Janaki Temple at Punaura Dham will be architecturally grand and a significant attraction for religious tourism.
The state government has approved a budget of ₹120 crore for this project. The plan includes not only the construction of the temple but also the development of Punaura Dham into a comprehensive pilgrimage complex.
Key Attractions of the Project
- Grand Janaki Temple – Architecture based on traditional Hindu craftsmanship
- Sita-Vatika – A garden area depicting the life and values of Goddess Sita
- Luv-Kush Vatika – A themed garden in memory of Sita's sons
- Parikrama Path – A circumambulatory path for devotees around the temple complex
- Display Kiosks and Digital Gallery – For information related to history and mythology
- Cafeteria and Children's Play Area – For the convenience of pilgrims
- Themed Entrance Gates and Parking Facilities
- Development of road networks and lighting infrastructure
- Sitamarhi to gain a new religious and tourism center
Punaura Dham, considered the birthplace of Goddess Sita, already holds immense religious importance. This grand project will further attract devotees and tourists from India and abroad, boosting the local economy and creating new employment opportunities. Notably, Chief Minister Nitish Kumar laid the foundation stone for this project on December 13, 2023.
Since then, the state government has been regularly reviewing the project's progress. The Chief Minister has also clarified that a review report on construction and development work will be completed before July, as per Supreme Court directives.
