Sita Kund, located in Sitamarhi, Bihar, close to the Bagmati River, is a holy place dedicated to Goddess Sita, who is revered here as Janaki Mai. The ancient pond, along with a small shrine, is located at Punaura Dham, around 5 km to the west of Sitamarhi town. Local tradition says this is the very spot where Sita emerged from the earth. Devotees come here with heartfelt faith, believing that praying at this pond brings peace to their families and fulfills their wishes. Right next to the pond is Janaki Mandir, a temple tied to the Ramayana tale where King Janaka discovered baby Sita while ploughing his land.
History of Sita Kund
The Sita Kund is believed to trace back to the Treta Yuga, tied closely to the Ramayana’s account of Sita’s birth. Sitamarhi which was a part of the ancient Mithila kingdom of King Janaka, has long been regarded as a sacred town. According to local tradition, King Janaka discovered infant Sita in a ploughed field, cared for her beneath a tree, and later dug the kund to sanctify the site. Devotees see this pond as a living reminder of that divine event. While the present temple structure is thought to be about a century old, the legends themselves go back to epic times. Sitamarhi district, where the kund lies, was formally separated from Muzaffarpur in 1972.
The kund is situated on flat ground near the edge of Sitamarhi town, easily accessible by a short auto ride. In earlier times, it attracted quite a large gatherings for ritual baths and pujas, and even British records from the 19th century mention its crowds during local fairs. After independence in 1947, the site was managed by a local trust, with the Mahavir Mandir Trust introducing the Sita Rasoi in 2019 to serve free meals. Renovations in the 1990s helped preserve its modest appearance.
Architecture of Sita Kund
The site carries the modest look of traditional North Indian shrines, simple yet holding an old-world grace. At the center is the kund, and beside it the small Janaki Mandir built from local stone and brick, giving it a natural and rough feel. Inside the sanctum, the idol of Sita sits along with Rama and Lakshman. Devotees decorate them with flowers, bright clothes, and bits of silver every day. The roof is simple, just a dome with a kalash on top, like many temples in Bihar. On the walls, there are scenes from the Ramayana painted long ago, though the colors have washed out, the figures can still be made out.
Around the pond, the courtyard stays open, with stone steps going down into the water where pilgrims take holy baths. Some pillars nearby show lotus marks and small designs linked to Sita, leading to a wide gateway at the entrance. Inside, you also find carved figures of Hanuman and a few other deities, which give the temple a more sacred feel. The pond, called Janki Kund, is believed to be the place where King Janaka once bathed baby Sita, and people still perform rituals there.
Legends of Sita Kund
The place is tied with many old Ramayana stories. The most told one says that in the Treta Yuga, King Janaka was ploughing his field while praying for rain, and from the earth itself a baby girl appeared in a clay pot. That child was Sita, seen as a gift of the gods. Close by he dug out this kund, where she was first bathed, and since then people believe whoever prays here with a clean heart will get blessings, children, family peace, or safe travels. The name “Sita Kund” itself means the pond of Sita, and many say just dipping in the water can wash away faults and make wishes come true.
There is also another tale that after her swayamvar, Sita rested for a while under a tree near this place, and so the ground became sacred as a memory of her marriage with Rama. Villagers speak of many miracles linked to it, childless women later blessed with sons or daughters, families finding peace after long quarrels.
Rituals and Festivals
The temple truly comes alive when festival days arrive, turning the whole place into a scene of color, sound, and devotion. Among them, Ram Navami and Sita Navami, falling around March or April, draw the biggest numbers. People gather to watch simple plays retelling the story of Sita’s birth, sing bhajans through the day, and many take ritual dips in the kund, believing it adds purity to their prayers. As winter sets in, usually around November or December, the festival of Vivah Panchami is held. To the people, she is Janaki Mai, the mother who listens to her children, and it is said she never turns away a sincere prayer. Many come asking for good marriage, health, or family happiness, and when their wishes come true, they return to offer sindoor, coconuts, sweets, or fresh flowers.
There is also an old custom of presenting silver anklets or lotuses to Sita, thought to bring her blessings quickly, though locals say even plain tulsi leaves or a pot of water makes her just as pleased. During Chhath Puja, the kund sees rituals much like those at the Ganga, with women standing in the water to pray. On Navami, the courtyard resounds with bhajans and chanting. The nearby Bagmati ghat, believed to cleanse sins, attracts crowds for holy dips. Devotees bring curd, fruits, lotuses, and prasad wrapped in leaves, often with kumkum sprinkled on top.
Information for Travelers
How to Get There:
Air: Jay Prakash Narayan Airport in Patna is about 140 km away, with flights connecting to Delhi (around 1 hour) and Kolkata (around 1 hour).
Train: Sitamarhi Railway Station is 5 km from the site, with trains to Patna (about 5 hours) and Muzaffarpur (about 2 hours).
Road: Sitamarhi lies 140 km from Patna via NH-77.
