Patna

Understand

thumbnail|The Patna Museum The ancient name of Patna was "Pataliputra" and it was the capital of the Maurya and Gupta empires. With a glorious period of history spanning a thousand years (500 BCE–400 CE), Pataliputra is where India's first major kingdoms rose and fell.

Patna is on three sacred rivers, the Ganges, the Sone and the Poonpun. Legend has it that a sanctified Ganga had watched with reverence as a hallowed Buddha blessed this place to be a realm of great Kings and their Empires. Belonging to the blue family of cities with a royal heritage, it is the land where the greatest emperors of India walked, and where the greatest saints chose to preach. Guru Gobind Singh, the 10th Sikh Guru was born here. For anyone with a taste for history and religion, this place flies high.

Ajastshatru, second of the Magadh Kings, built a fort at Pataligram on the banks of the Ganges river. This later became the famous Mauryan metropolis of Pataliputra and was ruled by Chandragupta Maurya, his son Bindusara and his grandson Asoka, acclaimed for the spread of Buddhism across India. Following the fall of the Maurya Empire, the next powerful empire to have its capital in Pataliputra was the Gupta Empire, which reached its zenith under the rule of Chandra Gupta I (not to be confused with Chandragupta Maurya), his son Samudra Gupta and his grandson Chandra Gupta II. Other emperors who ruled from Pataliputra were the Pala Kings, Shershah Suri (16th century) and Azimush-Shan (18th century), th…

Get around

There are a few car rental companies available in Patna. But foreign travellers who have not driven in India may find driving the roads in Patna and Bihar a bit stressful due to the poor road conditions and the constant heavy traffic, although the road conditions have improved.

See

right|thumb|Mahatma Gandhi Setu. right|thumb|Giraffe at the Patna Zoo.

Do

You can go on excursions to the various religious and historical places in and around Patna. Do not miss a boat ride on the mighty Ganges river. When in Patna, try food typical to the region such as pua-pittha, tilkut, chiwra, makhana, the famed sattu or the farmer's staple, litti chokha, and the famous paan.

Revolving Restaurant Patna can now boast of a revolving restaurant, the biggest of its kind in the country, situated atop the tallest tower in the city on the 18th floor of Biscomaun Bhawan near Gandhi Maidan. Based on the German technique, the 5HP motor that revolves the restaurant can be fixed to take one revolution in 45, 60 or 90 minutes. Take a boat-ride in the Ganges., near Gandhi ghat

Buy

Madhubani Paintings can be bought from emporiums at Mauyra Lok, a shopping center located on "Dak- Bunglow" road. You can visit many malls around Frazer road/Dak Bunglow Crossing such as Vishal Mega Mart, Maurya Lok Complex and Patna Market on Ashok Rajpath, Hathwa Market, Bari Path & Alankar Palace and other shopping arcades near Boring Road Crossing

Relatively new malls include Patna Central Mall and P&M Mall Patliputra Kurji Road, Patliputra.

Eat

thumbnail|Pudina chicken pulao or chicken rice with curd, Patna style

Drink

Sattu-pani is among the popular drinks, lassi made of curd, dry fruits & sugar.

Country Club International, Patliputra Colony Mamta Anarkali, near Dak Bunglow Crossing Mamta Residency, near Dak Bunglow Crossing Oasis, Boring Road The Purple Lounge, SP Verma Road The Velocity, near Dak Bunglow Crossing

Sleep

Patna is a growing business city, and as such hotels tend to be overpriced for the room provided. It also means that many hotels are full most nights, giving little incentive to improve facilities.

Stay safe

There have been reports that British citizens are being discriminated against in Patna. Hotel staff may claim to have no vacancy whenever they see a guest with British passport, and direct you to the most expensive hotels in the city instead.

Patna has one of the highest rates of murder and abduction in India. While incidents typically involve local residents rather than travellers, it's still wise to remain vigilant and avoid unnecessary conflicts or confrontations.

Go next

Bodh Gaya, - The place where Buddha achieved enlightenment Buddhist Bodh circuit: Bodhgaya - Nalanda - Rajgir - Patna - Vaishali - Kesaria. Deo - City of the Sun Temple. Deoghar - A town containing a famous Babadham temple. It is 200 km from Patna By Railway (drop at Jasidih Junction on Patna Howrah Main Line) in Jharkhand State Nalanda - Location of an ancient university with a nearby museum. Pawapuri - The Place of Nirvana (Bhagwan Mahabir) - A holy site for the Jains. Kesariya - Perhaps the oldest Shanti Stupa, it is situated in East Champaran District (Motihari), 170 km from Patna. Munger - A small town on the bank of Ganga famous for Yoga. Nepal and Raxaul - Buses are available to Raxaul and Jogbani at the Nepali border, where you can hop on a bus to Kathmandu and Pokhra. These buses leave at about 07:00 from the Mithapur bus stop 3 km south of the train station. They don't leave at night during summer (tourist off season). The roads going north out of town are particularly bad - sit as far forward in the bus as you can! Rajgir - The place Vishwa Shanti Shutpa you can joy on Areial Ropeway, You can enjoy Venuvana (Beautiful Garden) Ranchi Vaishali - A town on Bank of Ganga famous for its banana, Buddhist temple and handicrafts