Patna
Patna Tourist Attractions, Pictures, Photos, Travel Information, Sites to See, Best time to visit, Shopping, How to Reach by Road by Train, by Air, Flight
Wednesday, December 13, 2023
Patna in the ancient times was known as Pataliputra, is the capital of Bihar. The city is among the world's oldest capital cities with unbroken history of many centuries as imperial metropolis. The history and heritage of modern day Patna go back well over two millennia. The city of Patna is a very fertile stretch of land along the bank of the river Ganga.
FACTS & FIGURES
Language: Hindi, Urdu, Bhojpuri, Maithili, and Magahi
Best time to visit: October to February
STD Code: 0612
Tourist Attractions in Patna
Har Mandir Takht: Guru Gobind Singh, the tenth Guru of the Sikhs, was born in 1660 in Patna. The Har Mandir Takht, is one among the four sacred shrines of the Sikhs. The temple was built by Maharaja Ranjit Singh, and it also contains belongings of Guru Gobind Singh and Sikh holy text.
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 view of the city and the Ganga flowing by.
Martyr's Memorial: The Martyr’s Memorial is a memorial to seven freedom fighters who sacrificed their lives during the Quit India Movement 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.
Gandhi Setu: Gandhi Setu is Asia's longest roadway bridge situated in Patna.
Kumhrar: Kumhrar, is the 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. The place contains the ruins of the ancient city Patliputra. 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.
Sher Shah Suri Masjid: Sher Shah Suri built this mosque in 1545 to memorialize his reign. Built in the Afghan architectural style, it is one among the beautiful mosques in Bihar, and one of the impressive landmarks of Patna.
Pathar ki Masjid: The Pathar ki Masjid lays Adjacent to Har Mandir Sahib, on the bank of the Ganga. This beautiful mosque was 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.
Old Opium Warehouse: The old opium warehouse in Gulzarbagh is located in a walked compound on the river bank. This opium warehouse was constructed by the East India Company and is now used as the government printing press. The visitors can enter the three long portioned buildings, from where the opium was packaged before being sent by boat to Kolkata
Patna Museum: The Patna Museum contains all the remarkeable treasures like the 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: Jalan museum was built on the foundations of Sher Shah's fort. Also known as Qila House, the museum’s electric collection is gathered by a 19th century ancestor of Jalan family. The museum 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.
Biological Park: The biological park is a famous zoo in the state and is also known as Sanjay Gandhi Biological Park
Sonepur Mela: The Sonepur Mela takes place at the town Sonepur which is 22km from Patna. One of the most astonishing cattle fairs to be held in Asia in terms of its size and scale. The Mela takes place on Kartik Purnima, a fortnight after Diwali , and people from all over the world get together to participate in this huge festival and is enjoyed by all.
Modern Planetarium: Indira Gandhi Science Complex is one of the must visiting places in Patna. This is among few Planetariums’ (Taramandal) in India.
Other attractions: A major centre of Islamic learning is situated at Maner which is 30km west of Patna. It has the fine 16th century sandstone mausoleum of the Sufi Saint Hazrat Makhdum Yahya Maneri set in a tranquil park. Maner is also famous for its laddoos, made up of gram flour and molasses.
Best Time to Visit Patna
Patna is hot and humid in summer and cold in winters. Temperature varies from a maximum of 43°C in summer to a minimum of around 5°C in the winters. Relative humidity can go up to 100% during summer. It receives medium to heavy rainfall in the monsoon.
Shopping in Patna
If you are a passionate shopper, shopping in Patna may turn out to be a delightful experience.
The region of has a quite rich tradition of handicrafts. The skilled artisans of Bihar have over ages perfected the art of Stone and bead-jewellery, Stone pottery etc. these are quite popular with those who go for shopping in Patna.
Check out artifacts like: hand-painted wall hangings, miniatures in paper and leaves, appliqué work on fabric while shopping in Patna. Wooden stools, Leather goods should also feature in your shopping cart in Patna.
Madhubani painting is a famous handicraft of Bihar that has gone places. Mostly practiced by the Bihari women folk, the school of painting illustrates mythological themes, incorporating images of local deities as well as Hindu gods and goddesses. Do not forget to pick up an item or two of while shopping in Patna. These artifacts serve well to decorate the interior of your home or as souvenirs too.
There are a number of shopping areas in the city that make for fantastic shopping in Patna. Hang out at Maurya Lok Complex, Hathua Market, Patna Market where you would be able to able to explore the large variety of artifacts and compare the prices.
The shopping outlets of Khadi Gramudyog and Bihar Handloom & Handicrafts Emporium nearly dot over the cityscape. Happy shopping in Patna !!!
How to Reach Patna
Patna the capital city of Bihar boasts of a rich history and is witness to the glorious past of a few mighty empires in ancient India.
Patna also serves as the base for exploring the sprawling Buddhist circuit in eastern part of India. Most of the Buddhist pilgrimage sites in India like Nalanda, Rajgir, Bodhgaya, Vaisahli and so on.
How to Reach Patna by Air: Patna being the capital city of Bihar has excellent air connection to many important Indian cities like, Delhi, Mumbai, Kolkata. Several Airlines serve this airport with regular flights.
How to Reach Patna by Road: An extensive road network links Patna to major cities and tourist detonations within Bihar and neighboring states. Bodhgaya, Rajgir, Ranchi, Siliguri are conveniently located by road to Patna.
How to Reach Patna by Rail: Patna is a key railway station in the Eastern Railway division in India. Many important trains links the city to other significant railway stations all over India, like Kolkata, Delhi, Varanasi, Siliguri (New Jalpaiguri).