Patna, the capital of Bihar, is situated on the banks of River Ganga. Patna, known as ‘Pataliputra’, was also known by the names Kusum Dhvaja, Pataligrama, Azimabad, Padmavati and Pushpapura during different times under the different rulers from the Haryanka, Nanda, Mauryan, Sunga, Gupta, Pala and Suri dynasties. During the Maurya reign Patna, then called Pataliputra, reached its pinnacle and was considered the Golden age. Patna was the home of many renowned personalities like Chanakya (political strategist and writer), Vatsyayana (author of Kamasutra), Ashvaghosha (philosopher and poet), Aryabhatta (mathematician), Sthalabhadra (scholar) and Panini (grammarian). A number of Chinese travellers who came to India in pursuit of knowledge have recorded their observations about Pataliputra in their travelogues.
Patna is also referred in the Vedas, the Ramayana and the Mahabharata.
Today, Patna is a thriving city that facilities trade and tourism. Patna is the centre of political activities too. Patna is also an educational hub. Many premier institutes like the Indian Institute of Technology (IIT), Patna Medical College, National Institute of Fashion Technology (NIFT), Chanakya National Law University and Patna University are situated here. Being a city of a lot of archaeological findings, Patna has a lot to offer to the tourists visiting this place. Kumhrar is the site that consists of the archaeological excavations of Pataliputra that marks the ancient capital of Ajatshatru, Chandragupta and Ashok.An important find is the 80-pillared huge hall of the Mauryan dynasty dating back to 400-300 BC. Agam Kuan, a well with an endless source of water, is one of the most important early historic archaeological remains in Patna. Jalan museum, also known as Qila house, is situated at the old site of Sher Shah's fort. The museum showcases a collection of jade, Chinese paintings, Mughal glass and silver carvings. Padri Ki Haveli, the oldest church in Bihar, is in Patna and is visited for its intricate architectural details. Pathar Ki Masjid is a beautiful mosque built on the banks of the Ganga. One of the modern monuments that attract tourists in Patna is the martyr’s memorial.
This is a collection of life size statues of the seven brave young men who sacrificed their lives in the Quit India movement to hoist the national flag. The site of Nalanda, 77 km from Patna, was a Buddhist centre of learning. Bodhgaya, 110 km from Patna, is famous for being the place where Gautama Buddha obtained Enlightenment. Patna has five major railway stations namely the Patna Junction, Rajendranagar Terminal, Gulzarbag, Danapur Junction and Patna Sahib. Lok Nayak Jayaprakash airport is Patna’s main airport. Luxury bus services between Patna and several neighbouring cities are provided by the Bihar State Tourism Development Corporation and the Bihar State Road Transport Corporation.
Patna – The Ancient City