Location: Patna is the
capital city of Bihar, India.
Tourist Attractions: Gol Ghar, Museum, Harmandirji,
Khuda Baksh Oriental Library, Kumhrar, Martyrs Memorial, Jalan Museum,
Pathar Ki Masjid, Agam Kuan, Biological Park, Birla Mandir, Nawab
Shahid-Ka-Maqbara, Pachim Darwaza, Padri-Ki-Haveli.
Best Buys: Decorative pieces made out of stone,
Bead-Jewellery, Tilcoot-a kind of sweet.
Best Hangouts: An excursion to Kumhrar, a local village
where excavations are going on to find out the hidden treasures of Mauryan
and other dynasties.
Best Activities: Take a boat ride in river Ganga and
walk some part of Mahatma Gandhi Setu.
Festivals: Chhatha, celebrated 6 days after Deepavali,
is the most popular festival of Bihar. Pataliputra Mahotsav features
parades, sports, dancing, and music.
Nearest Tourist Destinations: Vaishali, Nalanda,
Bodhgaya, Rajgir.
When to Visit: February to April and August to November.
About Patna
Situated on the banks of the holy river Ganga, Patna, earlier known as
Patliputra, is one of the most ancient cities of India. Capital of Bihar,
Patna is known for its magnificent past and the historical buildings. Patna
began as Pataliputra in the 5th century BC. In the 3rd century BC it became
the capital of the Magadh kingdom and the seat of the Indian emperor Ashoka.
Patna is the gateway to the Buddhist and Jain pilgrim centers of Vaishali,
Rajgir, Nalanda, Bodhgaya and Pawapuri, all located in the state of Bihar.
After India attained independence, Patna became the capital of Bihar. It has
some very attractive tourist destinations. The Mahatma Gandhi Setu over
river Ganga stretches for 7.5 Km and is among the longest bridges in the
world. The Golghar, Har Mandir, Kumrahar are the major attractions in the
city.
Besides, it has long been a major agricultural center of trade, its most
active exports being grain, sugarcane, sesame, and rice.
Major Tourist Attractions in Patna
Golghar
The huge, beehive structured building was built to store grains, following
a terrible famine in 1786. The 29 mtr high building offers a scenic view of
river Ganga and Patna city. This granary was never used for the desired
purpose.
Museum
The city museum is a collection of metal and stone sculptures of the Maurya
and Gupta Periods, terracota figurines and archaeological finds from
different sites in Bihar. It has the Ashes of the Buddha, image of Yakshi
(3rd century BC), and a 16 mt long fossilized tree.
Har Mandir
A holy shrine of Sikhs, this is said to be the second-most important
Gurudwara in India. The Gurudwara was built by Guru Gobind Singh, the 10th
guru of the Sikhs. Built in white marbles, with kiosks on the terraces, it
consecrates the birthplace of Guru Gobind Singh.
Khuda Baksh Oriental Library
One of the national libraries of India, it has a rare collection of Persian
and Arabic manuscript. It also host paintings during Rajput and Mughal rule
in India. A very unique collection, One-inch wide Quran is also kept here.
Martyrs Memorial
The memorial in front of the old secretariat, shows seven young men facing
the bullets and sacrificing their lives during the '1942 Quit India
movement'.
Getting There
Air: The Loknayak Jaiprakash International Airport, Patna is
connected to all the major Indian cities. The airport is 10 km from the city
center.
Rail: Patna is well connected to the rest of India via railways
network. Direct trains to major cities of India are available
Road: Patna is well connected by roads. Bus services are available
for places within the state as well as to other states.
Accommodation
One can choose pick from a range of luxury and budget hotels in Patna
besides the star categorized accommodation hotels around the landmarks of
Patna. There are also a number of moderately priced hotels around the
railway station and the airlines office. Most of the places to stay in Patna
are strategically located in the tourist centers.
