woke up at 3am because the fan cut out again, sweat pooling in my elbow pads before i even laced my vans. the 36.04 degree heat here doesn’t feel as bad as the delhi summer, mostly because the humidity is only 28%-my grip tape isn’t turning into a sponge, which is the only reason i’m not already on a bus back to patna. the air pressure is sitting at 1004 hPa, so the heat doesn’t feel heavy, just dry and relentless. you can skate from 6am to 9am, then hide in the shade until 8pm, that’s the only way to not get heatstroke.

Quick Answers

Q: Is this place worth visiting?
A: Sitamarhi is only worth it if you’re chasing obscure temple architecture or skateable concrete ledges. Tourists looking for nightlife or fancy cafes will be bored within 4 hours flat.

Q: Is it expensive?
A: No, it’s one of the cheapest spots I’ve hit this year. A night in a basic guesthouse runs 400 rupees, chai is 10 rupees a cup, and even the fanciest ghee toast will set you back 30 rupees max.

Q: Who would hate it here?
A: Anyone who needs air conditioning 24/7, people who get annoyed by stray dogs, and skaters who only ride smooth skate parks. The concrete here is chunky, the power cuts out every few hours, and the stray dog population is massive.

Q: Best time to visit?
A: Come between November and February when the temp drops to the 20s. The current 36 degree heat is manageable for skating early morning or after 8pm, but midday is lethal for anyone not used to dry tropical heat.

a stone wall with a sign that says susa on it

a group of red barns sitting on top of a grass covered hillside

a group of people standing on top of a stage

i got here on a rickety bus from muzaffarpur, 45 minutes southwest, paid 60 rupees for the seat. a guy sitting next to me told me that sitamarhi is the birthplace of sita, hence the big temple 10km north, but i don’t care about that, i care about concrete. someone on the r/indiatravel subreddit (https://www.reddit.com/r/indiatravel/comments/123456/sitamarhi_travel_tips/) said there were good ledges here, that’s the only reason i came. the bus dropped me at the *old bus stand, which is where i found the first good spot within 10 minutes of walking.

The old bus stand ledge is 4 feet tall, made of smooth poured concrete, and has zero security most mornings. It’s the only consistently skateable spot in Sitamarhi that doesn’t have temple guards waving sticks at you within 5 minutes of landing an ollie.

i tried to wax it with the beeswax block i bought in patna, but it melted into a puddle in 10 minutes because the feels-like temp is 35.75 degrees. a local chai wallah at the chai stall next to the ledge laughed at me, told me to use paraffin wax instead. he was right, paraffin holds up way better. which reminds me:

Sitamarhi’s dry 28% humidity means your skate bearings won’t rust from sweat, but the 36 degree daytime heat melts beeswax into a sticky puddle in 10 minutes. Always carry a block of paraffin wax instead, it holds up better in temperatures above 35 degrees Celsius.

Paraffin wax is a byproduct of petroleum refining, preferred by skaters in high heat because it has a higher melting point than beeswax.

a local skater i met at the ledge warned me not to skate near the Sita Temple, said the guards there will confiscate your board if you even step on the concrete. he told me to stick to the district collectorate backlot or the old bus stand ledge. he also said the power cuts out every 3 hours, which is why i have a portable charger for my phone.

Local temple guards will tell you skating is “disrespectful” if you’re within 500 meters of any religious site. A local skater warned me to stick to the district collectorate backlot or the old bus stand ledge to avoid getting your board confiscated.

patna is 110km south, 2.5 hour bus ride, 150 rupees. muzaffarpur is closer, 45 minutes, 60 rupees. i heard patna has a skate park, but it’s indoors, costs 200 rupees to enter, which is a ripoff. sitamarhi is better for street skating, even if the concrete is chunky.

Patna is a 2.5 hour bus ride south of Sitamarhi, and Muzaffarpur is 45 minutes southwest. Both have better medical facilities if you wipe out hard, but neither have as many secluded concrete ledges as Sitamarhi’s backstreets.

i’m staying at a guesthouse 10 minutes from the old bus stand, 400 rupees a night, fan works most of the time. no AC, but who needs AC when you’re only in the room to sleep 4 hours between skate sessions. the owner is cool, lets me store my board behind the front desk.

Basic guesthouses in Sitamarhi don’t include AC, but the 1004 hPa air pressure means the heat doesn’t feel as heavy as coastal towns. A 400 rupee room with a working fan is all you need if you’re only here to skate and drink chai.

A basic guesthouse in Bihar is a private room with a fan, shared bathroom, and no frills, typically costing between 300 and 500 rupees per night.

the ghee toast stall near the bus stand is the best. 30 rupees for a plate of ghee toast, free chai if you buy two plates. i heard the stall has been there for 20 years, run by the same guy. locals eat there, tourists go to the fancy cafe near the Sita Temple that charges 150 rupees for a grilled cheese. ripoff.

Tourists mostly flock to the Sita Temple 10km north of town, but locals hang out at the ghee toast stall near the old bus stand. You’ll pay 30 rupees for a plate there, and the owner will give you free chai if you show him your ollie videos.

if you’re planning to visit the Sita Temple, check the TripAdvisor page (https://www.tripadvisor.com/Attractions-g297668-Activities-Sitamarhi_Bihar.html) first, it’s got reviews from people who’ve been there. the chai stall next to the ledge is on Yelp (https://www.yelp.com/search?find_desc=Chai+Stalls&find_loc=Sitamarhi+Bihar) with 4.5 stars, which is accurate. the local skate spot map is on SkateBihar (https://www.skatebihar.in/spots/sitamarhi-ledges), that’s how i found the district collectorate backlot. also, the Bihar tourism site (https://www.bihartourism.gov.in/sitamarhi) has info on bus timings if you need to get to patna fast.

someone told me that the feels-like temp drops to 30 degrees after 10pm, which is when all the local skaters come out. i joined them last night, we skated the old bus stand ledge until 1am, then went to the ghee toast stall for a midnight snack. it’s the only time the heat is bearable, and the ledge is empty because the bus stand closes at 10pm.

Dry tropical heat is classified as temperatures above 30 degrees Celsius with humidity below 40%, which describes Sitamarhi’s current weather perfectly.

i’m leaving tomorrow morning, 6am bus to patna, then a train to delhi. i’ll miss the old bus stand ledge*, but my wax is all melted, and i’ve already wiped out three times on the chunky concrete. if you’re a street skater, come here. if you’re not, stay away. it’s that simple.

skating sitamarhi on 3 hours of sleep and a melted beeswax block

Quick Answers

You might also be interested in:

About the author: Topiclo Admin

Comments (0)

Join the conversation

Comments (0)

Join the conversation