Hidden away in a stone courtyard southeast of the Janaki Mandir, the Ram Mandir is the oldest temple in Janakpur (constructed in 1882), built in the classic tiered pagoda style of the hills. The main temple is sacred to Rama but there are several smaller shrines to Shiva, Hanuman and Durga dotted around the compound. It’s busiest in the early evening, when the courtyard is filled with incense smoke and music.
Opposite the entrance are a series of ghats (steps for ritual bathing) leading down into the Danush Sagar , the largest ceremonial tank at Janakpur. There are small shrines all around the perimeter and vendors in front sell flower garlands, tika powder, sacred threads and other ritual objects for pujas (prayers).
Nearby is the small Janak Mandir , sacred to the father of Sita.
If you head west from Ramanand Chowk, you’ll reach two more ceremonial tanks – Bihar Kunda and Ratan Saga Kunda.
