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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
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