After a very long interval, today I am taking an initiative towards the promotion of tourism in Mithila or (Madhubani & its nearby areas) by writing about them. I will write a series of articles about the various visiting places of various districts coming under the so-called “Mithila”.
Today I am writing about Madhubani. The district of Madhubani was carved out of the old Darbhanga district in the year 1972 as a result of the reorganization of the districts in the state. It is bounded on the north by a hill region of Nepal and extending to the border of its parent district Darbhanga in the south, Sitamarhi in west and Supaul in the east. Madhubani fairly represents the center of the territory once known as Mithila and the district has maintained a distinct individuality of its own. Its main rivers are Kamla, Kareh, Balan, Bhutahi Balan, Gehuan, Supen, Trishula, Jeevachh, and Koshi.
The important towns are Jhanjharpur and Jaynagar. This is the center of Mithila, a region where the main language is Maithili. The people of this district are peace-loving. Bhauara Garh was once the capital of Mithila. The Madhubani style of painting derives its name from the reason as the style originated here in the early 17th century. These paintings are made using vegetable dyes, lamp black and the canvas is usually cloth or paper. Madhubani is also famous for Makhana and sweet water fish. Madhubani Lokgeet (folk song) is based on Hindustani classical ragas.
Darbhanga, Madhubani and Samastipur have their importance from the era of Lord Buddha. Madhubani paintings have made their own identity on international platform. There are approx twenty Tourist places in Madhubani where people are coming to visit during their tour to Janakpur. But a lot of things have to be done to make those places as tourist places like making arrangements for the accommodation and hospitality and providing the basic facilities there. The tourist places are:-
(a) Balirajgarh – Established by the king named Bali. It is in 200 acres. People also call it the “Hadappa of Mithila”.
(b) Bheeth Bhagwanpur – Once known as the capital of Malladev, the second son of the founder of Karnat Dynasty.
(c) Rajnagar Fort – The 300 year old fort made by King Rameshwar Singh.
(d) Bhauara Gadh – It is 400 years old made before making Darbhanga as the kingdom.
(e) Kapileswar Sthan – Established by Kapil Muni. The proof of the arrival of king Janak and Sita for worship can be taken from Puranas.
(f) Goddess Uchhaith -The great poet Kalidasa worshipped there.
(g) Raj-Rajeswari of Dokhar
(h) Mangrauni Ekadash Rudra and Bhuvneswari Shakti Sthal
(i) Ugranath Shiva
(j) Goddess Vishweswari
(k) Yagyavalkya Ashram
(l) Girija Sthan
(m) Gandiveshwar Shiv Dham
(n) Kalyaneswar Shiv Dham
(o) Videshwar Sthan
(p) Parsa Suryadham – Ministry of Tourism, Bihar has taken step towards the development of this place.
(q) Parasmani Shiv-Kali Temple
(r) Tapneswar Shiv-Kali Temple
(s) Lakshminath Gosai Kuti
(t) Goddess Koilakh
In the next blog post I will try to write about the above written tourist places/visiting places.
Sources:- Dainik Jagaran,Dhanakar Thakur,Wikipedia,madhubani.bih.nic.in
