Janakpur - Dhanush Sagar / Ganga Sagar

Near the Ram Mandir are the two most sacred of Janakpur's several ancient water tanks, Dhanush Sagar and Ganga Sagar, where, in the early morning, ritual ablutions are performed. During festivals the tanks become the focus of a fascinating ceremony. The unusual number of such cisterns in Janakpur is explained by a legend: they were built by King Janak in anticipation of the gods' arrival for Sita's and Rama's wedding. They (the gods) would naturally wish to wash away the dust of their long journey from the Himalayan peaks, and equally naturally could not be expected to share a bath.