Tourism in Bihar

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Patna Travel Guide

                                           
Patna Tours Information
Location : Bihar
Popular As : Capital of Bihar
Attractions : Gol Ghar, Patna Museum, Sanjay Gandhi Zoological and Botanical Garden, Planetarium, Agam Kuan, Gandhi Maidan, Khuda Baksh Oriental Library, Jalan Museum etc.
Best Time To Visit : October to March

Introducing Patna
Patna is the capital of the state of Bihar and also one of the oldest continuously inhabited destinations in the world. Situated on the banks of the river Ganges, Patna is a bustling city sprawls around 30 kms long and 10 km wide. The modern part of the city lies on the southern banks of Ganga, while the old part of the city is called Patna City which is also an important trading centre. Besides the administrative headquarters of the state, Patna is also a city of historic importance. During its more than two millenia long existence period the city was known by various names such as Azimabad, Kusumpur, Pataligram, Patalipurta and Pushapura. The city got its name during the reign of Sher Shah Suri, a ruler from Bihar who also made the only interruption to the long rule of the Mughals. Even today a number of old structures are existing in and around Patna, that take you down the history to its glorious past. Patna is sacred place for Sikhs, the tenth and last Guru of Sikh, Guru Gobind Singh was born here. The city make an ideal gateway for the Buddhist and Jain pilgrimage cetres of Vaishali, Rajgir, Nalanda, Bodhgaya and Pawapuri. Patna is also a major educational centre, the city has a number of medical colleges, engineering and management institutes and various other educational institutions are coming up here. So, visit this historic town to have a look of the ancient monuments, a number of modern structures and take an excursion to Buddhist and Jain Pilgrim Sites.


Tourist Attractions in Patna
Gol Ghar : Located to the west of the Gandhi Maidan, the Gol Ghar is the principal landmark of Patna. An imposing beehive-shaped structure, Gol Ghar was constructed by Captain John Garstin, as a state granay following a devastating famine in 1770. Gol Ghar has a foundation of 125 m and a height of 29 m, you can climb at the top of this huge building through the 145 steps of its winding stairway. From the top of the Gol Ghar you get a breathtaking view of the river Ganges and Patna city.

Patna Museum : Patna Museum also called the Jadu Ghar, was built by the British in 1917 to house the historical artifacts found in the vicinity of the city. Built in the Mughal and Rajpur architectural styles, the Patna Museum has a prized collection of arhaeological finds from different parts of the state of Bihar. Here you can see archaeological items, a 16meters long (200 million years old) fossilized tree, coins, art objects, musical instruments, textiles, thankas, bronze and stone sculptures of the Maurya and Gupta periods, and terracotta images of Hindu and Buddhist artists. You will also see a rare collection of paintings of British period depicting their daily life and objects related the first President of India, Dr. Rajendra Prasad. Other

Sanjay Gandhi Zoological and Botanical Garden : A must visit place in Patna the zoological and botanical garden park spreads over a several acres of land. Here you can see a variety of faunal and floral species. Some of the popular wildanimals found inside the garden are tigers, lions, elephants, crocodiles, deers and antelopes etc. The garden also has a snake house and a aquarium that will surely amaze you.

Planetarium : Built few years back, the planetarium is a new attraction for the tourists. Everyday many shows are organized here related to celestial movements alternatively in Hindi and English.

Agam Kuan : Agam Kuan, literally meaning the 'unfathomable well' is one of the major tourist attractions in Patna. Located to the east of Patna, the archaeological remains of the well is said to back to the period of Mauryan Emperor Ashoka. Agam Kuan is 4.5 mts in diameter and well framed from outside. A number of legends are associated with the Agam Kuan, according to one legend Ashok beheaded his 99 brothers and consigned their their heads into this well before he declared himself as the emperor. Visitors use to throw coins in the well for a long time, and the tradition is still going on.

Jalan Museum : Jalam Museum has been built at the site of the fort of Sher Shah. The museum has a fine collection of jade, Chinese paintings and silver filigree work of the Mughal period.

Khuda Baksh Oriental Library : Situated at the Ashok Raj Path, the library is a perfect destination for book lovers. A very old library, Khuda Baksh Oriental Library has a collection of rare manuscripts including the new books as well.

Gandhi Maidan : A historic ground, Gandhi Maidan earlier known as the Patna Lawns is located near the banks of the river Ganges. On this ground, the flag raising ceremony on the Indian Independence Day and Republic Day is held by the Chief Minister and the Governor of the state respectively. Gandhi Maidan is also used for commercial use by private parties for conducting events like trade fairs and other similar activities.

Harmandirji : Harmandirki is a shire of Sikhs, which was built to consecrate the birthplace of Guru Godind Singh, the tenth Sikh Guru. In this dome-shaped structure a number of Sikh scriptures and the personal belongings of the guru have been preserved.

Tourist Attractions Around Patna
Kumhrar : Situated 5 kms from Patna, Kumhrar is the site of ancient Mauryan capital Pataliputra. Here you will see a number of interesting structures mostly in ruins.

Bodhgaya : Bodhgaya a town in Gaya district is located at a distance of 96 kms from Patna. The town is noted for being the place where Lord Buddha attained enlightenment. Mahabordhi Temple, a UNESCO World Heritage Site is the main attraction of Bodhgaya. Apart from this, a number of temples and monasteries are situated in Bodhgaya.

Rajgir : A famous tourist destination of Bihar, Rajgir is just 107 kms away from Patna. Rajgir has developed as a winter and health resort due it its hot water ponds. It is said the water of ponds contain some medicinal properties that help in the cure of many skin diseases. Rajgir has also been associated with both the historical Buddha and Mahavira. Rope way is the major attraction of Rajgir, other attractions include a number of temples, caves and thrilling peaks.

Nalanda : Nalanda lies about 100 kms south-east of Patna and was a Buddhist centre of learning from 427 CE to 1197 CE. Nalanda is home to ancient University of India and it was one of the first residential universities of the world.

How to Reach Patna
By Air : Lok Nayak Jayaprakash Airport of Patna is connected to major destinations of India. Flights of Indian Airlines / Alliance Air and other airlines connect Patna with Delhi, Mumbai, Kolkata, Ranchi and Lucknow. Private taxis are available from the airport to all the parts of the city.

By Train : Patna railway is the major railhead of Bihar and falls in the Eastern Railway Division in India. A number of express and superfast trains connect Patna with Delhi, Kolkata, Mumbai, Varanasi and many other cities of India. From Delhi Rajdhani, Sampurn Kranti Express, Magadh Express, Sharamjeevi Express ply daily to and from Patna.

By Road : National Highways and State Highways connect Patna with rest of the country. Patna is also take off point for Buddhist circuit and is connected with Kathmandu, Bodhgaya, Gaya, Rajgir and Nalanda. Road distances of some of the important destinations from Patna Vaishali (63 km), Nalanda (90 km), Rajgir (100 km), Jehanabad (115 km), Varanasi (278 km) and Kolkata (607 km).

Places Where You Can Stay
A few deluxe hotels available in Patna but there are large number of good hotels in the city. Hotels in Patna offer comfortable and pleasant stay at reasonable prices. Almost all the hotels in Patna have furnished rooms, all state of the art facilities, multi-cuisine restaurants etc.

Deluxe Hotels : Hotel Maurya Patna (South Gandhi Maidan) and Hotel Chanakya (Beer Chand Patel Marg).

Standard Hotels : Pataliputra Ashok (Beer Chand Patel Marg), Samrat International (Fraser Road).


Shopping in Patna
If you love shopping during any trip, then Patna is an ideal destination for you. Patna and the nearby region are known all over the country for a rich tradition of handicrafts. Madhubani painting is a famous handicraft of the state of Bihar and mostly practiced by the village women. The school of Madhbani painting represent mythological tales and incorporating figures of local deities and Hindu gods and goddesses as well. When you shop in Patna do not forget to pick some item of Madhubani painting. Over the ages the artisans of Bihar have perfected themselves in the art of stone and bead jewellers, stone pottery etc. these are very popular among the shoppers. Some of the famous artifacts include hand-painted wall hangings, miniatures in paper and leaves and appliqué work on fabric. In addition to these, wooden furniture and leather goods are other must buy in Patna. Maurya Lok Complex, Patna Market, Hathua Market are the most popular markets of Patna where you would be able to check out huge variety of artifacts and other items. Shops of Khadi Gramudyog and Bihar Handloom & Handicrafts Emporium also offers a wide range of Khadi garments.

Buddhist Tour Packages  in India
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