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Patna, India |
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City of Pushpapur or
Pataliputra (Patna) is the capital of the Magadha country. It is the
touchstone by which all other cities are judged. It has revealed the
splendid vastness of the sea by securing from it numerous precious
jewels and other objects, which are spread over its several
markets", wrote Dundin, a renowned poet and storyteller of the 6th
century AD to fashion, the Chinese traveler, who visited?
Pataliputra a century earlier, it looked so magnificent that the
thought it must have been built by supernatural beings. Pataliputra
had two older names, Pushpapur and Kusumpur, both meaning the City
of Flowers. Patali also means the trumpet flower. King Ajatashatru
built a fort at Pataliputra though the city was founded by his son
Udayana. "Modern researches have shown that this ancient
metropolitan city of Pataliputra was situated on a long strip of
land, half a mile to the north of the village Kumarhar. Ashok's
palace extended from the mound called Chhoti Pahari to kumarhar and
it covered an area of 4 sq. miles.
Bhikra Pahari, an artificial hill of brick debris, over 40 feet high
and about a mile in circuit, on which stood the residence of one of
the Nawabs of Patna, is identified as the hermitage-hill built by
Ashoka for his brother Mahendra. In the Panchpahari are identified
five great relic-stupas built by Ashoka." (Pataliputra by J.H. Dave,
Bhavan's Journal, 26 August 1956). Now Patna is connected by air
with Calcutta, Varanasi and Delhi, and by train with all other major
cities. Over a million people live in this city. Patna is also a
Convenient place to visit Nepal through a land route.
Beneath the din and bustle of Patna, the capital of Bihar state, has
a fascinating past. And in each chapter of its history, it has been
crowned by a new name - Kusumpur, Pushpapur, Patliputra and
Azeemabad. Turning over the pages of early Indian history one comes
across the name of the pre-eminent city of Patliputra. Located at
the site where Patna is today, this city saw the rise and fall of
India's first major kingdoms. Its period of glory spanned a thousand
years, from 6th century BC to 6th century AD.
Ajatshatru, second in the line of Magadh king, built a small fort at
Patliputra at the confluence of river Ganga and Sone. This later
become the famous Mauryan metropolis of Patliputra and was ruled by
Chandragupta Maurya (a contemporary of Alexander), and his grandson
Ashoka, acclaimed for the spread of Buddhism. Other emperors who
ruled from Patna were the Gupta and Pala Kings, Sher Shah Suri (16th
century) and Azimush Shan (18th century), grandson of the Mughal
emperor Aurangzeb who renamed it Azeemabad. Today, Patna is an
important business centre of Eastern India. More significantly it is
a gateway to the Buddhist and Jain pilgrim centres of Vaishali,
Rajgir, Nalada, BodhGaya and Pawapuri.
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How To Get There
There are daily flights from Delhi,Calcutta and Lucknow. Several
trains leave Delhi for 15 hour journey to Patna. From Calcutta, the
trip by rail takes around 12 hours. Patna has extensive road
connection with Bodh Gaya (125 kms), Calcutta (608 kms), Nalanda (90
kms),Pawapuri (90 kms), Rajgir (102 kms) and many other places of
tourist interest within Bihar and the neighbouring state of Uttar
Pradesh.
By Air: Patna, the capital of Bihar, is well connected by air with
all major cities of India. It is also the nearest airport for the
Buddhist tourist attractions of Bihar.
By Rail: Gaya (112 km) is the nearest railhead for Bodh Gaya. Patna
is a Railway Junction connected with all parts of India.
By Road: Patna is connected by road to Bodh Gaya, Nalanda, Rajgir,
Varanasi, Gorakhpur, etc. It is
90 km. from Nalanda
102 km. from Rajgir
125 km. from Bodh Gaya
653 km. from Calcutta and
252 km. from Varanasi
There are bus services to places within the state of Bihar and to
Siliguri (for Darjeeling), Gorakhpur (for Kushinagar. Calcutta, etc. |
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Places To See
AGAM KUAN
Agam Kuan (Unfathomable well) is one of the most important early
historic archaeological remains in Patna. It is situated just close
to the Gulzarbagh Railway Station, which is proposed to be
associated with the Mauryan Emperor Ashok.
GOLGHAR
This huge and impressive beehive-shaped structure was constructed in
July 1786 by Captain John Garstin following a terrible femine in
1770, to serve as a state granary. A flight of steps winds round
this 29m high building leading to the top from where one gets a fine
view of the river Ganga and Patna city.
HARMANDIRJI
This shrine consecrates the birthplace of the tenth religious
preceptor of the Sikh faith, Guru Gobind Singh. Originally built by
Maharaja Ranjit Singh, a ruler of Punjab, Harmandirji is one of the
holiest Sikh shrines. Standing in the Chowk area of the Old Patna,
this dome-shaped structure contains Sikh scriptures and the personal
belongings of the Guru. HARMANDIR SAHIB TEMPLE built at the
birthplace of Guru Govind Singh, the 10th Sikh Guru.
JALAN MUSEUM
A private collection, can be seen with special permission. Jalan
Museum Constructed at the site of Sher Shah's fort, it preserves a
rich private collection of jade, Chinese paintings and silver
filigree work of the Mughal period. The Museum can be visited only
with prior permission, since it is a private collection.
KUMHRAR
KUMHRAR (5km) where excavations have found remains of the capital
Pataliputra. Kumarahar, site of the ancient city of Patliputra, lies
5 kms from Patna Railway Station on the Kankerbagh Road. Excavations
here have revealed relics of four continuous periods from 600 BC to
600 AD. The fifth period begins from 1600 AD. An important find is
the 80-pillared huge hall of the Mauryan dynasty.
KHUDA BAKSH ORIENTAL LIBRARY
Set up at the turn of the century, the library has a distinguished
collection of rare Arabic and Persian manuscripts and Rajput and
Mughal paintings. It also contains the only books rescued from the
plunder of the University of Cordoba in Spain. It is one of the
national libraries of India.
MARTYRS MEMORIAL
Life size statues in the front of the old secretariat compound have
been put up in memory of seven brave young men who sacrificed their
lives in August 1942 in the historic struggle for India's
independence.
PATNA MUSEUM
Patna Museum. It has excellent collections. It contains metal and
stone sculptures of the Maurya and Gupta periods, terracotta
figurines, and archaeological find from sites in Bihar. Among it
prized exhibits is a 16 m long fossilized tree.
PATTAHR KI MASJID
Situated on the bank of river Ganga, this mosque is known as Saif
Khan's Mosque, Chimni Ghat Mosque or Sangi Masjid. It was built by
Parwez Shah, son of Mughal emperor Jahangir, during his tenure as
governor of Bihar.
SHER SHAH MASJID
SHER SHAH MASJID, built in the Afghan style of architecture. |
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India
