Patna: Union Home Minister Amit Shah is all set to lay the foundation stone for “Mata Janaki temple” at Punaura Dham in Sitamarhi on August 8.
About The Temple
The temple will be developed at Punaura Dham on the lines of Ram temple in Ayodhya. Punaura Dham is believed to be the birthplace of Mata Sita.
Along with Shah, Chief Minister Nitish Kumar and his cabinet colleagues will also attend the function. Amidst the chanting of mantras, the foundation stone will be laid for the grand temple, to be constructed over an area of more than 67 acres of land. The temple complex is likely to be completed within 11 months of stipulated time frame.
The Bihar cabinet had sanctioned Rs 882.87 crore for the integrated development of the temple complex on July 1 last. Out of the total amount, a sum of Rs 137 crore will be spent on the development of the old temple and the premises, while Rs 728 crore on tourism-related development work, besides Rs 16 crore for carrying out comprehensive maintenance for 10 years. Bihar State Tourism Development Corporation (BSTDC) has been tasked with implementing the project.
The state government had created a 9-member Trust, “Shree Janaki Janm Bhumi Punaura Dham Mandir Nyas Samiti” at Punaura village in Sitamarhi district.
Nitish Kumar had unveiled the final design of the development of a grand Mata Janaki temple on June 22, 2025. A total of 17 acres of land was already available at Punaura Dham temple premises, besides 50 acres of additional land is being acquired to develop the place on a massive scale.
The state cabinet had on July 29 sanctioned a revised estimate of Rs 165.57 crore for 50 acres of land acquisition for tourism-related development work and infrastructure facilities at Punaura Dham.
The beautification work for Maa Janaki Kund will also be carried out. There will be a separate “parikrama path” around the temple. There will be a yagya mandap, museum, auditorium, cafeteria, sporting arena for children, dharamshala, Sita Vatika, Lav Kush Vatika, parking, and other facilities will be developed at the temple complex.
