Trips Places Foods Stories Newsletters
Loading...
Loading...
Loading...
Loading...

No search results found for
“”

Make sure words are spelled correctly.

Try searching for a travel destination.

Places near me Random place

Popular Destinations

  • Paris
  • London
  • New York
  • Berlin
  • Rome
  • Los Angeles
Trips Places Foods Stories Newsletters
Sign In Join
Places near me Random place
All Nepal Janakpur Women's Development Center
AO Edited

Janakpur Women's Development Center

This organization has been at the forefront of empowering Nepali women through art.

Janakpur, Nepal

Added By
Edward Denny
Email
Been Here
Want to go
Added to list
CAPTION
Janakpur Women’s Development Center   Edward Denny / Atlas Obscura User
Janakpur Women’s Development Center   Edward Denny / Atlas Obscura User
Example of Mithila artwork.   Edward Denny / Atlas Obscura User
Janakpur Women’s Development Center   Edward Denny / Atlas Obscura User
Mithila Painting Artist   askmeaks
Been Here
Want to go
Added to list

About

Just south of the Kuwa district of Janakpur is an unassuming compound that houses an exceptional group of women with a noteworthy goal. The Women’s Development Center is dedicated to advancing women’s empowerment through the promotion of the 2,800-year-old Mithila artistic tradition.

Sometime after the 9th-century in the Videhas Kingdom of Nepal, the distinctive two-dimensional Mithila style of art began to emerge. Originally, the artwork was painted on the mud walls of homes in the Terai region—as it still is in some sections of the Kuwa district—particularly during the Diwali festival. Unlike other traditional painting styles like mandalas and thangkas that primarily use religious symbols and themes, Mithila art incorporates images from daily life, particularly focused on the lives of women.

In the 1970s, wall art made its way to the paper and canvas, and in 1989, the Women’s Development Center opened as a first of its kind endeavor to employ women from surrounding villages to produce original artwork. Today, approximately 40 women work at the center to learn various art techniques and business practices, while producing paintings, ceramics, screen-prints, and other handicrafts for the international art market.

Although democratic reforms in the past 25 years have sought to improve the lives of Nepali women, many laws designed to promote equal rights go unenforced in a nation that has been deeply patriarchal for centuries. The Women’s Development Center is now one of many organizations throughout Nepal that seeks to help women take control of their lives through better education and economic empowerment.

Related Tags

History & Culture Women Art

Know Before You Go

Although the center publicizes regular hours, it is always a good idea to call ahead to make sure they are open for visitors.

Community Contributors

Added By

Edward Denny

Published

February 3, 2022

Edit this listing

Make an Edit
Add Photos
Janakpur Women's Development Center
Kuwa 12
Janakpur, 45600
Nepal
26.708987, 85.935407
Visit Website
Get Directions

Nearby Places

Janaki Mandir

Janakpur, Nepal

miles away

Mulkot Mirror Wall

Purano Jhangajholi, Nepal

miles away

Koshi Barrage

Bhardaha, Nepal

miles away

Explore the Destination Guide

Photo of Nepal

Nepal

Asia

Places 47
Stories 12

Nearby Places

Janaki Mandir

Janakpur, Nepal

miles away

Mulkot Mirror Wall

Purano Jhangajholi, Nepal

miles away

Koshi Barrage

Bhardaha, Nepal

miles away

Explore the Destination Guide

Photo of Nepal

Nepal

Asia

Places 47
Stories 12

Related Stories and Lists

14 Places Created By and For Women

List

By Michelle Cassidy

Related Places

  • Tampa, Florida

    Goya Paintings at Hotel Haya

    Rescued, handpainted reproductions of iconic Francisco Goya paintings, now in a hotel.

    Sponsored by VISIT TAMPA BAY
  • Verfmolen de Kat

    Zaandam, Netherlands

    Verfmolen De Kat

    This windmill has been grinding pigments for traditional paints for more than 200 years.

  • The Countess Pillar.

    Brougham, England

    Countess Pillar

    A memorial overlooking a busy roadway is linked with the story of a 17th-century noblewoman’s legal battle for her inheritance.

  • Tokyo, Japan

    Shin-Ōhashi Bridge

    The predecessor to this bridge was depicted in a famous Japanese woodcut print that influenced Van Gogh.

  • Santiago Padrós Locomotion Mosaic

    Tarragona, Spain

    Santiago Padrós Locomotion Mosaic

    This work of art was conceived as a mosaic originally designed to decorate a car dealership.

  • Waiting for Poe

    Westford, Massachusetts

    'Waiting for Poe'

    This sculpture memorializes the town's connection to the famous horror author Edgar Allan Poe.

  • Museum of Cartoon Art

    Pune, India

    Museum of Cartoon Art

    On the university grounds, this unique museum is dedicated to cartoons and their importance in society.

  • Maridon Museum

    Butler, Pennsylvania

    Maridon Museum

    The only museum in the Western Pennsylvania region that focuses on Asian art and Meissen porcelain.

Aerial image of Vietnam, displaying the picturesque rice terraces, characterized by their layered, verdant fields.
Atlas Obscura Membership

Become an Atlas Obscura Member


Join our community of curious explorers.

Become a Member

Get Our Email Newsletter

Follow Us

Facebook YouTube TikTok Instagram Pinterest RSS Feed

Get the app

Download the App
Download on the Apple App Store Get it on Google Play
  • All Places
  • Latest Places
  • Most Popular
  • Places to Eat
  • Random
  • Nearby
  • Add a Place
  • Stories
  • Food & Drink
  • Itineraries
  • Lists
  • Video
  • Podcast
  • Newsletters
  • All Trips
  • Family Trip
  • Food & Drink
  • History & Culture
  • Wildlife & Nature
  • FAQ
  • Membership
  • Feedback & Ideas
  • Community Guidelines
  • Product Blog
  • Unique Gifts
  • Work With Us
  • About
  • FAQ
  • Advertise With Us
  • Advertising Guidelines
  • Privacy Policy
  • Cookie Policy
  • Terms of Use
Atlas Obscura

© 2025 Atlas Obscura. All Rights Reserved.