Vivah Mandap

Ram Janaki Vivah Mandap is a sacred Hindu temple site in Janakpur commemorating the legendary wedding of Lord Rama and Goddess Sita (Janaki). Located in the southwest corner of Janaki Mandir, this gorgeous marble structure marks the exact spot where the most celebrated marriage in Hindu mythology is believed to have occurred.

The ancient city of Janakpur was once the capital of the Mithila Kingdom, and according to Hindu scriptures, this is where Lord Rama succeeded in breaking Lord Shiva's divine bow—a challenge set by King Janaka to find a worthy bridegroom for his daughter. After Rama's extraordinary feat, witnessed by gods and sages, the celestial wedding took place at this very location.

The current structure was built in the early 20th century and resembles part of a palace with sturdy pillars, elegant arches, and stunning domes. At the center of the mandap, the legendary wedding ceremony is depicted through idols of Goddess Sita and Lord Rama sitting on a raised pedestal, with sages and their parents seated on parallel pedestals facing each other—recreating the divine moment.

The mandap becomes the focal point during Vivah Panchami, the weeklong festival celebrating Ram and Sita's marriage anniversary. Usually falling in November/December on the fifth day of the Shukla Paksha (waxing moon), the festival features a reenactment of the wedding ceremony, colorful processions, and dance performances. Thousands of pilgrims from across Nepal, India, and other countries flock here, including visitors from Ayodhya (Rama's birthplace) in India.

The site symbolizes divine love, devotion, and the ideal marriage according to Hindu tradition. For devotees, visiting Vivah Mandap represents witnessing the sacred union of Vishnu (as Rama) and Lakshmi (as Sita), making it one of the most spiritually significant pilgrimage destinations in the Ramayana circuit.