Sitamarhi: The Bihar government has decided to build a grand Janaki temple at Punaura Dham in Sitamarhi, the birthplace of Goddess Sita. This major step was approved in a cabinet meeting held on Tuesday under the leadership of Chief Minister Nitish Kumar. The project will cost Rs 882.87 crore, and Prime Minister Narendra Modi may lay its foundation stone in August. Preparations have already started, and officials have been given instructions to complete arrangements soon.
Chief Minister Nitish Kumar shared this news on social media. He said the temple would be built on the lines of Ayodhya’s Ram temple and will give new importance to Bihar’s religious heritage. “We are determined to complete the construction of a grand temple at Punaura Dham Sitamarhi soon,” he wrote.
To manage the project, the government has restructured the Punaura Dham Temple Trust. The Chief Secretary of Bihar will be the Chairman, and the trust will have nine members, including senior officials and the Mahant of Punaura Dham Math. This trust will look after the construction work and overall development of the area.
The project will not only build the temple but will also develop the whole area as a religious tourism centre. Plans include structures based on Ramayana themes, Sita-Sarovar, meditation centres, and an exhibition hall. Earlier, in November 2024, the government approved Rs 120 crore to buy more than 50 acres of land. With this new plan, Punaura Dham is expected to become one of India’s major pilgrimage sites.
