India Travel and Holiday Guide

Overview:

A tourist visit to the Gangetic plains of India a trip to Patna, the capital of the State of Bihar. Known earlier as Pataliputra, Kusumpura or Pushpapura, which means the city of flowers, legend ascribes its creation to a magic stroke of a mythological king, Putraka, for his queen, Patali. History, however, says that the capital of the expanding Magadh Kingdom was shifted from the hilly Rajagriha to Pataligram by Emperor Ajatashatru, a contemporary of the Buddha. The Enlightened One when passing through Pataligram had predicted that a great city would rise there. Pataliputra witnessed the rise and fall of the Mauryan and Gupta empires, the first two imperial powers of India whose reigns were considered to be the classical and the golden ages of India.

The emperors Chandragupta Maurya, Ashoka and Samudragupta ruled, unified and spread India's message from here. Its period of glory spanned about a millennium. Among the later rulers of Patna the name of the great Afghan administrator, Sher Shah Suri's. Patna also has the distinction of being the birthplace of the tenth Sikh Guru, Govind Singh, who was born in this city in 1766.

Besides being the capital of Bihar, Patna is also its cultural metropolies and a great tourist attraction. Some of its imposing building show how the aesthetic features of old architecture can be gracefully preserved even in a modern edifice.


Area: Altitude : 53 metres

Population: 1,285,470

Climate: Temperature (degree C) : Summer - Max. 43, Min. 21; Winter - Max. 20, Min. 6. Rainfall : 120 cms.

Main Language(s): Hindi and English

Time Zone: GMT + 05:30

Phone Area Code: 0612

Best Time To Visit: October to March

Places To Visit:

Kumrahar

Remains of the ancient city of Pataliputra have been found here at Kumrahar, seven kilometres from Patna. Excavations have revealed wooden ramparts and parts of the palace belonging to the Mauryas. Remnants of a massive hall, belonging to the Mauryas, supported by 80 sandstone pillars have been found here. Although they are really old (400-300 BC), they are rather esoteric and so might only interest those with a real passion for archaeology.

Golghar

This gigantic egg rises over the skyline at Patna, a futile attempt at storing grain against famine. Commissioned by Warren Hastings in 1876, and built by Captain John Garstin, it could store 137,000 tonnes of grain. The two staircases on either side were meant for the labourers who would fill the granary, toiling laden up on side, unburdening themselves and then coming down the other. But it was never filled and the inscription, First filled and publicly closed by. remains incomplete. Now it offers some interesting views of the city and the river. Should you manage to sneak in, there's a rather terrifying echo. Golghar Golghar is 1 km away from Patna city. Following the famine of 1770 that ravaged the area, this massive dome shaped structure was built by Capt. John Garstin in 1786 to serve as the state granary. Steps wind around the edifice leading to the top where a fenced in terrace commands a view of the city and the river frontage.

Sadaquat Ashram

Sadaquat Ashram is situated by the Ganga and headquarters the Bihar Vidyapeeth. India's first President, Dr. Rajendra Prasad used to frequent this place and eventually lived here after retirement. Today, Sadaquat Ashram is a memorial dedicated to him and displays his personal belongings.

Takht Harmandirji

The tenth and last Guru of the Sikhs,Guru Govind Singh was born here in 1666 at the Gurudwara Shri Patna Sahib. It is a major pilgrimage for the Sikhs and was originally built by Maharaj Ranjit Singh. It is located at Chowk in the old city and you can take a look at the old Sikh scriptures and relics, belonging to the last guru, here in the museum on the first floor.

Sadaquat Ashram

Headquarters of the Bihar Vidyapeeth, a National University, established in 1921, this was the place from where the struggle for India's independence was launched in the State. It was also the retreat where Dr Rajendra Prasad, India's first President, lived after retirement. Today Rajendra Museum displays some of his personal belongings.

Pathar ki Masjid

Parwez Shah, the Mughal Emperor Jehangir's son, constructed this beautiful mosque in 1621 near the Harmandirji. It is known by other names such as Saif Khan ki Masjid, Chimmi Ghat and Sangi Masjid.

Harmandirji

This shrine consecrates the birthplace of the tenth religious preceptor (Guru) of the Sikh faith, Guru Govind Singh. Originally built by Maharaja Ranjit Singh of Punjab, Harmandir Sahib, also known as Patna Sahib, is one of the holiest Sikh shrines. Standing in the Chowk area of Old Patna, this dome shaped Gurudwara contains Sikh scriptures and some of the relics that belonged to the last Guru who was born in Patna in 1766. Open between 0700 to 1200 hrs and 1500 to 2000 hrs. Office and Library closed on Thursday.

Golghar

This domed structure was meant by the British to be Patna's granary. Built in 1786 following a famine, it was never used until recently when the Bihar government decided to do so. A flight of steps winds up the 29m building leading to the top from where one can get an impressive view of the Ganga and the city of Patna. Unfortunately, the Golghar is in the middle of a park that doubles as a garbage dump.

Patna Museum

An interesting though musty museum to saunter through at leisure. There are some fine displays of metal and stone sculptures from the Maurya and Gupta reigns; terracotta idols and other artifacts from the site of Nalanda University; and breathtakingly beautiful thangkas (Buddhist scroll paintings). Not to be missed is the exquisite Didarganj Yakshi, agreed by art historians without exception as the finest piece of Indian sculpture ever produced. Another is the Shalabhanjika, a young maiden twisting the branches of the Sala tree. But the all-time favourite is the world's longest fossilized tree - 16m tall and 200 million years old. Another prized possession is the urn containing the ashes of the Buddha.

Kumrahar

South of Patna, here stood the historic palace of Pataliputra from where the mighty Mauryan rulers - Ajatashatru, Chandragupta and Ashoka himself - marched to their numerous victorious campaigns. One can see the remains of the 80-pillared hall that so impressed Greek traveller Megasthenese. The pillars still retain the famous Mauryan polish, the secret of which masons and architects are yet to fathom. Also in the complex are the remains of Ashoka's charitable hospital and the foundations of the Buddhist monastery popularly known as Anand Bihar.

Takht Har Mandir Sahib

Har Mandir is actually a Sikh shrine built to commemorate the birth of the last Sikh Guru, Guru Gobind Singh. Commissioned by Maharaja Ranjit Singh, this gurudwara built of white marble stands in the older part of the city. With special permission, you can get to see the personal belongings of the guru as well as ancient Sikh scriptures.

Quila House

A remarkable museum with a collection you'd least expect to find here in Patna. Popularly known as Jalan Museum, it was raised on the foundations of Sher Shah's fort. The museum is home to a private collection which has among others a dinner set that belonged to George III, the French Queen Marie Antoinette's Sevres porcelain, Napoleon's four-poster bed, Chinese jade and intricate Mughal silver filigree. As the museum is privately owned, you need prior permission to visit. So call 642354.

Padri ki Haveli

Constructed in 1772, this Church of Virgin Mary has been a victim of history. In the tussle between the British and the Nawab of Bengal, Mir Qasim, the latter's army robbed it of all its treasures. Later during the Revolt of 1857, the church was again attacked. Padri ki Haveli is the oldest Christian shrine in Bihar and among the only ones with such intricate work.

Khuda Baksh

Oriental Library : Set up in 1900, the Khuda Baksh Library has an envious collection of Arabic and Persian manuscripts including a teeny 25mm wide Quran, rare books and Rajput miniature paintings. It also has the only books rescued from the plunder of the Moorish University of Cordoba in Spain.