Location : Bihar
Tourist Attractions : Kumrahar, Patna Sahib, Golghar
Local Tongue : Hindi
STD Code : (91) - 612
Best time to Visit : October to February
About Patna
Situated on a fertile tract of land along the banks of the Ganges, Patna
has been a historically and culturally significant destination with its
history dating back over two thousand years. The city has been an important
seat of governance for numerous kingdoms since the ancient times till today,
being the capital of the Indian state of Bihar. Patna was bestowed with
different names by various rulers as each gained in power, thus turning
Kusumpura into Pushpapura, Pataliputra, Azeemabad and finally the present
day Patna. The place occupied a significant position even during the British
rule being the hub of English activities in the area and the site of prayer
meetings held by the father of nation, Mahatma Gandhi.
Climate & Best time to Visit
The climate in Patna is extreme with hot and humid summers and cold
winters. The temperature in summers (March to June) can shoot up to around
mid 40's while in winters (November to January) it can drop to as low as 5
degrees Celsius. Monsoon months can be extremely humid and uncomfortable.
The best time to visit the place is from October to February when the
climate remains cool and ideal for a vacation.
Tourist
Attractions in Patna
Kumrahar
Patna's one thousand years of rich historical past is displayed at the
archaeological findings at Kumrahar. Situated a short distance from Patna,
Kumrahar houses a number of remains of the area's past grandeur including a
giant Mauryan hall with 80 ornate pillars dating back to 300 B.C.
Patna Sahib
Patna is an important Sikh pilgrimage, being the birth place of the tenth
leader, Guru Gobind Singh. One of the four sacred shrines, the Har Mandir
Takht also known as Patna Sahib, is situated here. Built by Maharaja Ranjit
Singh, the shrine houses a number of belongings of Guru Gobind Singh and
other Sikh saints.
Sher Shah Suri Mosque
Built in 1545 by Mughal emperor Sher Shah Suri to commemorate his reign
over the area, the mosque is one of the most impressive landmarks of Patna.
Ornate with beautiful architecture, the structure is a typical example of
the Afghan architectural style.
Golghar
The Gol Ghar is a huge structure, standing around 29 mts high and 3.6 mts
wide at its base. The construction was built by English Captain John
Grastin, originally meant to serve as a granary for the British army during
the famine of the 1700's. A winding stairway leads to the top, which affords
a panoramic view of the surroundings.
Patna Museum
The Patna museum houses a huge collection of rare artefacts, some dating
back thousands of years. Among the most interesting objects here are a first
world war cannon, relics from the Maurya and Gupta dynasties, Buddhist
sculptures and a 16 mts long fossilised tree.
Things
to Do
Shopping
Patna is known for its handicrafts such as hand painted showpieces,
embroidery work on fabrics, jewelley, pottery etc. Wooden and leather items
are also a must buy. The major shopping promenades in Patna are the Maurya
Lok Complex, Patna Market, Hathua Market and the Bihar Handloom &
Handicrafts Emporium.
Getaways
Ranchi
The former capital of the British in Bihar, Ranchi is a hilly region
situated at an altitude of 676 mts above sea level in the state of
Jharkhand. The immense natural beauty of the region is added to by a number
of beautiful water falls including the Hundru, Jonha, Dasamghagh and Hirni.
Among the major attractions of Ranchi are the Shiva temple, Ranchi lake,
Morabadi hill and Tagore hill.
Jamshedpur
One of the most beautiful and well maintained cities of India, it is the
industrial hub of the Indian state of Jharkhand, being home to industrial
biggies such as TATA steel. The city is surrounded by beautiful hills which
makes it an important tourist attraction.
Other Attractions
Numerous other tourist attractions are situated close to Patna including
Hazaribagh (181 Km), Netarhat, Palamau, Damodar Valley, Dhanbad (288 Km),
Bhagalpur (235 Km) and Monghyr (131 Km).
Stay At
Patna has with time emerged as an important commercial destination besides
being the gateway to a number of prominent Buddhist religious places. The
hotels in Patna are ideal for both business and leisure travellers ensuring
quality as well as comfort. Some of the major hotels in Patna are Hotel
Samrat International (3 star, situated on Fraser Road just 6 km from
airport, 0.5 km from railway station and 1 km from bus stand), Maurya (5
star, situated at South Gandhi Maidan just 7 km from airport, 1 km from
railway station, 1 km from bus stand & 5 km from city centre),
Pataliputra Ashok (3 star, situated on Beer Chand Patel Path just 6 km from
airport, 2.5 km from railway station & 2 km from bus stand), Hotel
Republic (3 star, situated on Exhibition Road just 5 km from airport, 1 km
from railway station & 2 km, bus stand) and Hotel Chanakya (3 star,
situated on Beer Chand Patel Path just 4 km from airport, 1 km from railway
station & 1 km from bus stand).
Getting There & Around
By Air : Patna has a domestic airport situated just
outside the city. Indian Airlines and other private carriers operate regular
flights to Patna from Delhi, Lucknow, Mumbai, Calcutta etc. For more
information on flight timings and schedules, refer to the official site of
Indian Airlines, visit http://indian-airlines.nic.in/
By Rail : Patna is an important rail head of the eastern
railways. The city is well connected to other cities in India through a
number of regular passenger, express and super fast trains. Major trains
from daily include the Vikramshila Exp, Sampoorna Kranti Exp and Lal Quila
Exp. while those from Mumbai include the Rajendra Nagar Exp and LTT RJPB
Exp.
By Road : Bihar State Road Transport Corporation (BSRTC)
operates regular buses connecting Patna with other major cities in and
around Bihar. Buses can be boarded from the main bus stand located just
outside the railway station. Another option is to hire a private taxi which
is a comfortable option of travel around the state.
Local Transport : The major means of travelling around
inside the city are cycle rickshaws, auto rickshaws and local buses. While
cycle rickshaws are ideal for commuting across short distances, autos and
buses can be boarded to access attractions situated at a longer distance.
Distance from Major Cities
- Ranchi : 250 Km
- Jamshedpur : 330 Km
- Allahabad : 360 Km
- Gaya : 97 Km
- Kanpur : 555 Km
- Varanasi : 235 Km
