An immensely fertile, arched stretch of land along the bank of the Ganga, the history and cultural heritage of modern day Patna, go back well over two millennium. Like Delhi, Patna too had been the regal seat of governance for successive kingdoms, since ancient times. With every significant change in the ancient political scenario, the city was renamed. Thus, Kusumpura metamorphosed through Pushpapura, Pataliputra, Azeemabad into the present day Patna. Patna is the capital of the state of Bihar.

Places to see

Kumrahar
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.

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.

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.

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 hoist the national flag.

Pathar ki Masjid
Adjacent to 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.

Sher Shah Suri Masjid
Sher Shah Suri built this mosque in 1545 to commemorate his reign. Built in the Afghan architectural style, it is one of the many beautiful mosques in Bihar, and one of the impressive landmarks of Patna.

Khuda Baksh Oriental Library
A magnificent one man collection of rare Arabic and Persian manuscripts, Rajput and Mughal paintings and an assortment of old and new books from the University of Cordoba, Spain, it is one of the national libraries in India.

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.

Jalan Museum
Built at the old site of Sher Shah's fort, it has an excellent collection of jade, Chinese paintings, Mughal glass and filigree carvings. 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.

How to get there

Air:
Patna is airlinked with Calcutta, New Delhi, Mumbai, Ahmedabad and Lucknow.

Rail: Patna is linked by rail with New Delhi, Mumbai, Varanasi, Calcutta and many other major cities.

Road:
All - weather motorable roads connect Patna with the rest of Bihar. There are also regular inter - state bus services.