Patna
Patna the imperial city. Patna once called Pataliputra
the capital of Bihar,is among the world's oldest capital cities
with unbroken history of many centuries as imperial metropolis.
A very fertile arched stretch of land along the bank of the Ganga.
The history and heritage of modern day Patna go back well over
two millennia. Like Delhi, Patna too had been the regal seat of
governance for successive kingdoms since ancient times. And to
this day, it is the capital city of the state. As each ruler ascended
in power and established dynastic glory, he gave his capital a
new name.
Thus, the ancient Kusumpura metamorphosed through
Pushpapura, Pataliputra, Azeemabad and now into Patna, a continuous
history ranging from 6th century BC to present times - a record
claimed by few cities in the world. It was Ajatshatru the Magadha
king who first built a small fort in Pataligram on the bank of
the Ganga in 6th century BC, which later blossomed into the ancient
glory still to be seen in the neighboring archaeological sites
at Kumrahar. Bhiknapahari, Agamkuan, Bulandi Bagh and Kankar Bagh.
Pataliputra dominated the political fortunes of the whole of north
India between 6th century BC and 5th century AD, a fact established
by archaeological excavations. After a temporary eclipse, in 16th
century, Sher Shah Suri returned the city to its former glory
and established the present Patna. After the decline of the Mughals,
the British too found Patna a convenient regional capital and
built a modern extension to this ancient city and called it Bankipore.
It was in Gandhi Maidan in this area, that Mahatma Gandhi held
his prayer meetings.
Excursion
Golghar
Alarmed by
the famine of 1770, captain John Garstin built
this huge granary for the British army in 1786. The massive structure
is 29 m high and the walls are 3.6 m wide at the base. The winding
stairway around this monument offers a brilliant panoramic view
of the city and the Ganga flowing by.
Martyr's Memorial
A memorial to seven freedom fighters who sacrificed their lives
in the Quit India Movement of August 1942, the Martyr's Memorial
is a modern sculpture facing the Secretariat, where they were shot
in their attempt to host the national flag.
Har Mandir Takht
Guru Gobind Singh, the tenth Guru of the Sikhs, was born in 1660
in Patna. The Har Mandir Takht, one of the four sacred shrines
of the Sikhs, stands at this holy site. The original temple was
built by Maharaja Ranjit Singh, and contains belongings of the
Guru and Sikh holy texts.
Patna Museum
The Patna Museum houses a First World War cannon, metal and stone
sculptures of the Mauryan and Gupta periods, Buddhist sculptures
and quaint terracotta figures. A 16 m long fossilised tree is
one of its special features.
Pathar ki Masjid
Adjacentto Har Mandir Sahib, on the bank of the Ganga, is this
beautiful mosque built by Parwez Shah, son of Jehangir, when he
was the governor of Bihar. It is also called Saif Khan's mosque,
Chimmi Ghat mosque and Sangi Masjid.
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Khuda Baksh Oriental Library
Founded in 1900, a magnificent one man collection of rare Arabic
and Persian manuscripts, Rajput and Mughal paintings, oddities
like the Koran inscribed in a book only 25mm wide and an assortment
of old and new books from the University of Cordoba, Spain. It
is one of the national libraries in India. The library also contains
the only books to survive the s
acking of the Moorish University of Cordoba in
Spain.
Jalan Museum
Built on the foundations of Sher Shah's fort, Qila House contains
an impressive private collection of antiques, including a dinner
service that once belonged to George III, Marie Antoinette's Sevres
porcelain, Napoleon's four-poster bed, Chinese jade and Mughal
silver filigree,.It is a private collection, and prior permission
is required for a visit.
Sadaqat Ashram
The Ashram is the headquarters of Bihar Vidyapeeth, a national
university. India's first president, Dr. Rajendra Prasad lived
here after his retirement and there is a small museum here showcasing
his personal belongings.
Agam Kuan
Agam Kuan (Unfathomable well) is one of the most important early
historic archeological remains in Patna. It is situated just close
to Gulzarbagh railway Station, which is proposed to be associated
with the Mauryan Emperor Ashok.
Kumhrar
Kumhrar, site of the ancient city of Patliputra, lies 5 kms from
Patna railway station. Archaeological findings in this area establish
Patna's claim to over a thousand years of political glory - 600
BC to 600 AD. Very little of this grandeur remains though, except
for the remains of a huge Mauryan hall supported by 80 sandstone
pillars dating back to 300 BC.
Maner
30 km. Sacred to the memory of the 13th century Sufi Saint Maneri.
Bari dargah, his cenotaph and the tomb of his disciple Shah Daulat
are visited by streams of Muslim pilgrims. Area around the shrine
is a picnic spot.
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Traditional Crafts
Madhubani paintings are indigenous to the state. The renditions
by rural women, these village paintings have a large market in
the urban areas as well as on the export front. Created strictly
by the women of Mithila. they are etched in primary colours of
natural origin on paper and cloth. Their subjects are mythology
and religious events.
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Getting There
By Air
Sahar
a India and Indian Airlines flights connect Patna
with Bombay, Calcutta, Delhi, Lucknow, Ranchi and many other major
cities.
By Rail
Patna is connected by rail to Bombay, Calcutta, Guwahati, Ranchi,
Varanasi.
By Road
All - weather motorable roads connect Patna with the rest of Bihar.
There are also regular inter - state bus services.By road Patna
to Nalanda-95 km, Rajgir-110 km, Pawapuri-90 km, Gaya-120 km,
Bodhgaya-135 km, Raxaul-210 km, Ranchi-335 km, Muzzafarpur-78
km, Sasaram- 152 km, Vaishali-56 km, Calcutta-653 km, Delhi-997
km. Bus : Regular direct bus services connect Patna to Calcutta,
Rajgir, Nalanda, Pawapuri, Vaishali, Gaya-Bodhgaya, Ranchi, Raxaul,
Muzzafarpur, Sasaram.
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Weather
Temperature (Max./Min.) Deg C: Summer - 40/21 Winter - Max. 20/6.
Rainfall:120 cms
Best Season: October to March
Clothing: Summer – Cottons Winter - Heavy Woollens.
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General Information & Accomdation info
on Patna city of Bihar - India
