ºÚÁÏÍø

Janakpurdham, the cultural heart of Madhesh Province, is renowned for the Janaki Temple and Maithili traditions—Mithila art, music, storytelling, and cuisine—that could offer visitors immersive experiences beyond pilgrimage. Yet tourism remains largely religious and event-based, with weak integration of community cultural experiences, local crafts, or youth-led creative enterprises. Cultural assets are fragmented and under-commercialized, limiting links to sustainable livelihoods. Marginalized youth—particularly women, Dalits, and gender and sexual minorities—face restricted mobility, stigma, limited skills, finance, networks, and safe creative spaces, compounded by low recognition of cultural and creative industries as viable careers. The challenge is not heritage scarcity but the absence of an inclusive ecosystem that connects indigenous culture with responsible tourism and dignified work. 

This matters now because tourism is growing, and without an inclusive model, benefits will bypass marginalized youth while traditions risk dilution. Rising youth unemployment, out‑migration, and stigma around creative careers further erode potential. FCA is launching a project in its inception phase, creating a rare chance to co-design inclusive cultural tourism pathways before they harden. A forthcoming Needs and Market Assessment will identify opportunities—Mithila/Tharu homestays, community studios, craft experiences, music and film trails—while collaboration with the WiT programme can shape pilots to be locally owned, market-relevant, and socially inclusive. Existing partnerships with UNESCO, the British Council, Janakpurdham Sub‑Metropolitan City, the Madhesh Provincial Government, the Nepal Tourism Board, and cultural associations position this moment to align community priorities with policy and markets rather than pursue stand‑alone interventions. 

At the core lies a practical question: how can Janakpurdham design a sustainable cultural tourism and creative ecosystem that safeguards indigenous heritage while creating dignified, inclusive livelihoods for marginalized youth? 

Case provider