Patna Travel Guide

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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. 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 neighbouring archaeological sites at Kumrahar. Bhiknapahari, Agamkuan, Bulandi Bagh.

Getting There:
By Air : Patna has an airport and also well connected to the major cities.

By Rail :Patna is well connected via railways to all the major cities of India. Superfast trains also run from the city of Patna.

By Road: Regular bus services to Patna from all the major cities.

Tourist Attractions:

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.

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.

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.

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
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.