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Patna



 
 
Pa?na is the capital
Capital City

Capital City was a television show produced by Euston Films which focused on the lives of investment bankers in London living and working on the corporate trading floor for the fictional international bank Shane-Longman....
 of the India
India

India, officially the Republic of India , is a country in South Asia. It is the List of countries and outlying territories by total area country by geographical area, the List of countries by population country, and the most populous liberal democracy in the world....
n state
States and territories of India

India is a Federal_republic union of states comprising twenty-eight State s and seven Union Territory. The states and territories are further Subdivisions of India into districts and so on....
 of Bihar
Bihar

Bihar is a States and territories of India in East India. Bihar is the 12th largest state in terms of geographical size 38,202 square mile and 3rd largest by population....
, and one of the oldest continuously inhabited places in the world. The modern city of Patna lies on the southern bank of the Ganges. The city also straddles the rivers Kosi
KOSI

KOSI is a commercial radio station located in Denver, Colorado, broadcasting on 101.1 FM Broadcasting. KOSI airs a soft adult contemporary music format branded as "KOSI 101"....
, Sone
Son River

The Son River or Sone of central India is the largest of the Ganges' southern tributaries. A British 1850s diary shows that the river was written in English as Soane....
 and Gandak
Gandak

The Gandaki River is one of the major rivers of Nepal and a left bank tributary of the Ganges in India. The headwaters of the river are formed at an altitude of in the Mustang region of Nepal, which borders Tibet....
. The population is 1.8 million people. Patna is approximately 25 km long and 9 km to 10 km wide. Ancient Patna, known as Patliputra
Patliputra

Patliputra Modern-day Patna, originally built by Shishunaga dynasty's Ajatashatru, in 490 BC as a small fort near the River Ganges and later the capital of the ancient Mahajanapadas kingdom of Magadha....
, was the capital of Magadha Empire under the Nanda
Nanda Dynasty

The Nanda Empire ruled Magadha during the 5th and 4th century BC. At its greatest extent, the Nanda Empire extended from Bihar and Bengal in the East to Sindh and Balochistan in the West....
, Mauryan, Sunga, Gupta and Pala dynasties.






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Pa?na is the capital
Capital City

Capital City was a television show produced by Euston Films which focused on the lives of investment bankers in London living and working on the corporate trading floor for the fictional international bank Shane-Longman....
 of the India
India

India, officially the Republic of India , is a country in South Asia. It is the List of countries and outlying territories by total area country by geographical area, the List of countries by population country, and the most populous liberal democracy in the world....
n state
States and territories of India

India is a Federal_republic union of states comprising twenty-eight State s and seven Union Territory. The states and territories are further Subdivisions of India into districts and so on....
 of Bihar
Bihar

Bihar is a States and territories of India in East India. Bihar is the 12th largest state in terms of geographical size 38,202 square mile and 3rd largest by population....
, and one of the oldest continuously inhabited places in the world. The modern city of Patna lies on the southern bank of the Ganges. The city also straddles the rivers Kosi
KOSI

KOSI is a commercial radio station located in Denver, Colorado, broadcasting on 101.1 FM Broadcasting. KOSI airs a soft adult contemporary music format branded as "KOSI 101"....
, Sone
Son River

The Son River or Sone of central India is the largest of the Ganges' southern tributaries. A British 1850s diary shows that the river was written in English as Soane....
 and Gandak
Gandak

The Gandaki River is one of the major rivers of Nepal and a left bank tributary of the Ganges in India. The headwaters of the river are formed at an altitude of in the Mustang region of Nepal, which borders Tibet....
. The population is 1.8 million people. Patna is approximately 25 km long and 9 km to 10 km wide. Ancient Patna, known as Patliputra
Patliputra

Patliputra Modern-day Patna, originally built by Shishunaga dynasty's Ajatashatru, in 490 BC as a small fort near the River Ganges and later the capital of the ancient Mahajanapadas kingdom of Magadha....
, was the capital of Magadha Empire under the Nanda
Nanda Dynasty

The Nanda Empire ruled Magadha during the 5th and 4th century BC. At its greatest extent, the Nanda Empire extended from Bihar and Bengal in the East to Sindh and Balochistan in the West....
, Mauryan, Sunga, Gupta and Pala dynasties. Patliputra
Patliputra

Patliputra Modern-day Patna, originally built by Shishunaga dynasty's Ajatashatru, in 490 BC as a small fort near the River Ganges and later the capital of the ancient Mahajanapadas kingdom of Magadha....
 was also a famous seat of learning and fine arts. Its population during Maurya period (around 300 BCE), was about 400,000. The Buddhist, Hindu, and Jain pilgrim centres of Vaishali
Vaishali

Vaishali may refer to:*A colony in north west Delhi*Vaishali District, in Bihar state, India.*Vaishali , an ancient democratic city of India, currently located in Vaishali District, Bihar, India....
, Rajgir
Rajgir

Rajgir is a city and a notified area in Nalanda district in the Indian States and territories of India of Bihar.The city of Rajgir was the first capital of the kingdom of Magadha, a state that would eventually evolve into the Mauryan Empire....
 (or Rajgriha), Nalanda
Nalanda

Nalanda is the name of an ancient university in Bihar, India.The site of Nalanda is located in the States and territories of India of Bihar, about 55 miles south east of Patna, and was a Buddhism center of learning from 427 to 1197 CE....
, Bodhgaya, and Pawapuri
Pawapuri

Pawapuri in the state of Bihar is a holy site for Jains, located 38 kilometers from Rajgir in Nalanda district and 90 kilometers from Patna, the capital of Bihar....
 are nearby and Patna is also a sacred city for Sikh
Sikh

Sikh is the title and name given to an adherent of Sikhism. The term has its origin in the Sanskrit ' "disciple, learner" or ' "instruction"....
s. The tenth and last Sikh guru, Guru Gobind Singh
Guru Gobind Singh

Guru Gobind Singh was the tenth Sikh Gurus of Sikhism. He was born in Patna, Bihar in India and became a Guru on November 11 1675, at the age of nine years, succeeding his father Guru Tegh Bahadur....
, was born here. Apart from being the administrative centre of the state and its historic importance, the city is also a major educational and medical centre. The walled old area, called Patna City by the locals, is a major trading centre.

Name

There are several theories regarding the source of the appellation
Appellation

An appellation is a geographical indication used to identify where the grapes for a wine were grown. Restrictions other than geographical boundaries, such as what grapes may be grown, maximum grape yields, alcohol level, and other quality factors, may also apply before an appellation name may legally appear on a wine bottle label....
 Patna (Devanagari
Devanagari

, or 'Nagari', is an abugida alphabet of India and Nepal. It is written from left to right, lacks distinct letter cases, and is recognizable by a distinctive horizontal line running along the tops of the letters that links them together....
:???? ):
  • It is etymologically
    Etymology

    Etymology is the study of the roots and history of words; and how their form and meaning have changed over time.In languages with a long detailed history, etymology makes use of philology, the study of how words change from culture to culture over time....
     derived from Patan(Devanagari
    Devanagari

    , or 'Nagari', is an abugida alphabet of India and Nepal. It is written from left to right, lacks distinct letter cases, and is recognizable by a distinctive horizontal line running along the tops of the letters that links them together....
    : ???), the name of the Hindu goddess, Patan Devi.
  • It comes from Pattan (Devanagari
    Devanagari

    , or 'Nagari', is an abugida alphabet of India and Nepal. It is written from left to right, lacks distinct letter cases, and is recognizable by a distinctive horizontal line running along the tops of the letters that links them together....
    : ?????)(meaning "port" in Sanskrit
    Sanskrit

    Sanskrit is a historical Indo-Aryan language, one of the liturgical languages of Hinduism and Buddhism, and one of the 22 official languages of India....
    ), since the city, located near the confluence of four rivers, has been a thriving river port.
  • It may be a short form of Patliputra
    Patliputra

    Patliputra Modern-day Patna, originally built by Shishunaga dynasty's Ajatashatru, in 490 BC as a small fort near the River Ganges and later the capital of the ancient Mahajanapadas kingdom of Magadha....
     (Devanagari
    Devanagari

    , or 'Nagari', is an abugida alphabet of India and Nepal. It is written from left to right, lacks distinct letter cases, and is recognizable by a distinctive horizontal line running along the tops of the letters that links them together....
    : ?????????? ), one of the most ancient names of this city. This name was mentioned by Megasthenes
    Megasthenes

    Megasthenes was a Ancient Greece traveller and geographer. He was born in Asia Minor and became an ambassador of Seleucus I of Syria to the court of Sandrocottus of India, in Pataliputra....
     (350-290 BCE), the Greek historian, (calling it Palibothra or Palimbotra in Greek), in his writings during the 4th century, and also appears in the records of the Chinese traveller, Fa Hien
    Faxian

    Fa Xian was a Chinese Buddhist monk who traveled to Nepal, India, and Sri Lanka to acquire Buddhist scriptures between 399 and 412 . His journey is described in his work A Record of Buddhistic Kingdoms, Being an Account by the Chinese Monk Fa-Hien of his Travels in India and Sri Lanka in Search of the Buddhist Books of Discipline....
     as Pa-lin-fou.
  • The Greeks called it Palibothra. The Chinese called the place as Pa-lin-fou.
  • The city has been known by various names during its more than two millennia long existence — Pataligram, Patliputra
    Patliputra

    Patliputra Modern-day Patna, originally built by Shishunaga dynasty's Ajatashatru, in 490 BC as a small fort near the River Ganges and later the capital of the ancient Mahajanapadas kingdom of Magadha....
    , Kusumpur, Pushpapura, Azimabad
    Azimabad

    Azimabad was an old name of Modern-day Patna., India. Patliputra was sacked by foreign attackers like Bakhtiyar Khilji and other Muslim raiders . This event is arguably seen by modern Brahiminist scholars as a milestone in the decline of Buddhism in India....
    , and the present-day Patna.
  • Patna received its current name during the reign of Sher Shah Suri
    Sher Shah Suri

    Sher Shah Suri , also known as Farid Khan or Sher Khan , was a powerful medievalIndian emperor from Sasaram, Bihar, India. Sher Shah was of Pashtun people descent who founded the dynasty known as Sur Dynasty in 1540 in North India....
    , whose tomb is at Sasaram
    Sasaram

    Sasaram is the administrative headquarters of Rohtas district in the Indian States and territories of India of Bihar....
    , a place near Patna.


History

Legend ascribes the origin of Patna to a mythological King Putraka who created Patna by magic for his queen Patali, literally Trumpet flower, which gives it its ancient name Pataligrama. It is said that in honour of the first born to the queen, the city was named Pataliputra. Gram is the Sanskrit for village and Putra means son.

From a scientific history perspective, it would be appropriate to surmise that the history of Patna started around the year 490 BCE when Ajatashatru
Ajatashatru

Ajatashatru was a king of the Magadha empire that ruled north India.He has been referred to as Vedehi-putto-Ajatashatru in Pali texts . During the his father?s kingship he was a Viceroy at Champa,the capital of Anga, which was annexed to Magadha Kingdom....
, the king of Magadh, wanted to shift his capital from the hilly Rajagriha to a more strategically located place to combat the Licchavi
Licchavi

Licchavi was an ancient republic which existed in what is now Bihar state of India, since the birth of Mahavira , and later a kingdom in Nepal which existed in the Kathmandu Valley from approximately 400 A.D to 750 A.D....
s of Vaishali
Vaishali

Vaishali may refer to:*A colony in north west Delhi*Vaishali District, in Bihar state, India.*Vaishali , an ancient democratic city of India, currently located in Vaishali District, Bihar, India....
. He chose the site on the bank of Ganges and fortified the area. From that time, the city has had a continuous history, a record claimed by few cities in the world. Gautam Buddha passed through this place in the last year of his life, and he had prophesized a great future for this place, but at the same time, he predicted its ruin from flood, fire, and feud.

With the rise of the Mauryan empire, the place became the seat of power and nerve centre of the sub-continent. From Pataliputra, the famed emperor Chandragupta
Chandragupta

Chandragupta may refer to:* Chandragupta Maurya, Indian king, Mauryan Empire, 322?293 BCE* Chandragupta I, Indian king, Gupta Empire, 320-335 CE...
 Maurya (a contemporary of Alexander
Alexander the Great

Alexander the Great , also known as Alexander III of Macedon was an ancient Greeks King of Macedon . He was one of the most successful military commanders of all time and is presumed undefeated in battle....
) ruled a vast empire, stretching from the Bay of Bengal
Bay of Bengal

The Bay of Bengal is a Headlands and bays that forms the northeastern part of the Indian Ocean. It resembles a triangle in shape, and is bordered by India and Sri Lanka to the West, Bangladesh and the Indian state of West Bengal to the North , and Myanmar, southern part of Thailand and the Andaman and Nicobar Islands to the East....
 to Afghanistan
Afghanistan

Afghanistan , officially the Islamic republic of Afghanistan, is a landlocked country that is located approximately in the center of Asia....
.

Early Mauryan Patliputra was mostly built with wooden structures. Emperor Ashoka
Ashoka

Ashoka was an Indian emperor, of the Maurya Empire who ruled from 273 BCE to 232 BCE. Often cited as one of India's as well as world's greatest emperors, Ashoka reigned over most of present-day India after a number of military conquests....
, the grandson of Chandragupta Maurya, transformed the wooden capital into a stone construction around 273 BCE. Chinese scholar Fa Hein
Faxian

Fa Xian was a Chinese Buddhist monk who traveled to Nepal, India, and Sri Lanka to acquire Buddhist scriptures between 399 and 412 . His journey is described in his work A Record of Buddhistic Kingdoms, Being an Account by the Chinese Monk Fa-Hien of his Travels in India and Sri Lanka in Search of the Buddhist Books of Discipline....
, who visited India sometime around 399-414 CE, has given a vivid description of the stone structures in his travelogue.

Megasthenes
Megasthenes

Megasthenes was a Ancient Greece traveller and geographer. He was born in Asia Minor and became an ambassador of Seleucus I of Syria to the court of Sandrocottus of India, in Pataliputra....
 (350-290 BCE), Greek historian and ambassador to the court of Chandragupta Maurya
Chandragupta Maurya

Chandragupta Maurya , sometimes known simply as Chandragupta , was the founder of the Maurya Empire. Chandragupta succeeded in bringing together most of the Indian subcontinent....
, gives the first written account of Patliputra. In his book Indika
Indika

Indika was a book written by Megasthenes , a Ancient Greece traveller and geographer who visited India during the third century BCE. The available copy of Indika is incomplete and only fragments of the entire work is available....
, he mentions that the city of Palibothra (Pataliputra, modern day Patna) was situated on the confluence of the rivers Ganges and Arennovoas (Sonabhadra - Hiranyawah) and was long and wide.

Much later, a number of Chinese travellers came to India in pursuit of knowledge and recorded their observation about Pataliputra in their travelogues, including those of a Chinese Buddhist Fa Hien, who visited India, between 399 and 414 CE, and stayed here for many months translating Buddhist texts.

In the years that followed, the city saw many dynasties ruling the Indian subcontinent from here. It saw the rules of the Gupta empire
Gupta Empire

The Gupta Empire was ruled by members of the Gupta dynasty from around 280 to 550 CE and covered most of Northern India, Southern and Eastern Pakistan, parts of Gujarat and Rajasthan and what is now western India and Bangladesh....
 and the Pala
Pala Empire

The Pala Empire was a dynasty in control of the northern and eastern Indian subcontinent, mainly the Bihar and Bengal regions, from the 8th to the 12th century....
 kings. However, it never reached the glory that it had under the Mauryas. With the disintegration of the Gupta empire, Patna passed through uncertain times. Bakhtiar Khilji captured Bihar in the 12th century AD and destroyed many ancient seats of learning, Patna lost its prestige as the political and cultural center of India.

Guru Gobind Singh
Guru Gobind Singh

Guru Gobind Singh was the tenth Sikh Gurus of Sikhism. He was born in Patna, Bihar in India and became a Guru on November 11 1675, at the age of nine years, succeeding his father Guru Tegh Bahadur....
 (Punjabi: ???? ?????? ????) (December 22, 1666 – October 7, 1708), the tenth Guru of the Sikhs was born as Gobind Rai in Patna to Teg Bahadur
Guru Teg Bahadur

Guru Tegh Bahadur became the 9th Guru of Sikhism on 20 March 1665, following in the footsteps of his grand-nephew, Guru Har Krishan. Guru Tegh Bahadur was executed on the orders of Mughal Emperor Aurangzeb in Delhi....
, the ninth Guru of the Sikhs, and his wife Gujri
Mata Gujri

Mata Gujari was daughter of Bhai lal Chand Subulikka of Kartarpur, in Kapurthala district of the Punjab . She was the wife of Guru Tegh Bahadur, the ninth Guru of Sikhism, and the mother of Guru Gobind Singh, the tenth Guru of Sikhism....
. His birth place Harmandir saheb is a one of most sacred pilgrimage for Sikhs.

The Mughal
Mughal era

The Mughal era is the historic period of the Mughal Empire in India, it ran from the early sixteenth century, to a point in the early eighteenth century when the Mughal Emperors' power had dwindled....
 period was a period of unremarkable provincial administration from Delhi. The most remarkable period during these times was under Sher Shah Suri
Sher Shah Suri

Sher Shah Suri , also known as Farid Khan or Sher Khan , was a powerful medievalIndian emperor from Sasaram, Bihar, India. Sher Shah was of Pashtun people descent who founded the dynasty known as Sur Dynasty in 1540 in North India....
 who revived Patna in the middle of the 16th century. He built a fort and found a town on the banks of Ganga. Sher Shah's fort in Patna does not survive, but the mosque built in Afghan architectural style survives.

Mughal emperor Akbar came to Patna in 1574 to crush the Afghan Chief Daud Khan
Daud Khan

The name Daud Khan may mean:* Mohammed Daoud Khan, President of the Republic of Afghanistan* Nawab Daud Khan, Nawab of Carnatic* David XI of Kartli, a Muslim Georgian king ...
. Akbar's navratna and state's official historian and author of "Ain-i-Akbari
Ain-i-Akbari

File:Court_of_Akbar_from_Akbarnama.jpgThe Ain-i-Akbari or the "Institutes of Akbar", is a 16th century, detailed document recording the administration of emperor Akbar's empire, written by his vizier, Abu'l-Fazl ibn Mubarak....
" Abul Fazl refers to Patna as a flourishing centre for paper, stone and glass industries. He also refers to the high quality of numerous strains of rice
Rice

Rice is a staple food for a large part of the world's human population, especially in tropical Latin America, and East Asia, South Asia and Southeast Asia, making it the second-most consumed cereal grain, after maize....
 grown in Patna famous as Patna rice
Patna rice

Patna rice, a variety of the species Oryza sativa, and one of the varieties of long-grain white rice, is extensively cultivated in the Gangetic plainss, in and around Patna, Capital city of Bihar States and territories of India, India....
 in Europe.

Mughal Emperor Aurangzeb
Aurangzeb

Aurangzeb Aurangzeb ruled India for 48 years, bringing a larger area under Mughal rule than ever before . He is generally regarded as the last Great Mughal ruler....
 acceded to the request of his favourite grandson Prince Muhammad Azim to rename Patna as Azimabad
Azimabad

Azimabad was an old name of Modern-day Patna., India. Patliputra was sacked by foreign attackers like Bakhtiyar Khilji and other Muslim raiders . This event is arguably seen by modern Brahiminist scholars as a milestone in the decline of Buddhism in India....
, in 1704 while Azim was in Patna as the subedar
Subedar

Subedar is a historical rank in the Indian Army , ranking below British commissioned officers and above non-commissioned officers. The rank was otherwise equivalent to a British lieutenant and was introduced in the East India Company's presidency armies to make it easier for British officers to communicate with native troops....
. However, very little changed during this period other than the name.

With the decline of the Mughal empire, Patna moved into the hands of the Nawabs of Bengal, who levied a heavy tax on the populace but allowed it to flourish as a commercial centre.

During the 17th century, Patna became a centre of international trade. The British started with a factory in Patna in 1620 for trading in calico and silk. Soon it became a trading centre for saltpetre, urging other Europeans—French, Danes, Dutch and Portuguese—to compete in the lucrative business. Peter Mundy, writing in 1632, described Patna as "the greatest mart of the eastern region".

After the decisive Battle of Buxar
Battle of Buxar

The Battle of Buxar was fought in October 1764 between the forces under the command of the British East India Company, and the combined armies of Mir Kasim, the Nawab of Bengal; Shuja-ud-Daula, the Nawab of Awadh; and Shah Alam II, the Mughal Emperor....
 (1765), Patna fell in the hands of the East India Company
British East India Company

The East India Company was an early England joint-stock company that was formed initially for pursuing trade with the Indies, but that ended up trading with the Indian subcontinent and China....
 which installed a puppet government. Ruled during the raj
Raj

Raj may refer to:In history:*British Raj, the British Indian Empire*License Raj, the former Indian system of elaborate licences, regulations, and accompanying red tape...
 by a series of ineffectual Viceroy
Viceroy

A viceroy is a royal official who governs a country or province in the name of and as representative of the monarch. The term derives from the Latin prefix vice-, meaning "in the place of" and the French word roi, meaning king....
s, the most well known was Rahul Gunderjaharagand
Rahul Gunderjaharagand

Rahul Gunderjaharagand was the 23rd Viceroy of Patna, India, reigning from 1854-1866.Born in Bissleboron, Patna, he was a leader in the Indian Rebellion of 1857....
. During this period it continued as a trading centre. In 1912, Patna became the capital of Orissa Province
Orissa

Orissa , is a states and territories of India located on the east coast of India, by the Bay of Bengal. It was established on 1 April 1936 as a province in British India, and consists, predominantly of Oriya language speakers....
 and Bihâr
Bihar

Bihar is a States and territories of India in East India. Bihar is the 12th largest state in terms of geographical size 38,202 square mile and 3rd largest by population....
 when Bengal Presidency
Bengal Presidency

The Bengal Presidency originally comprising east and west Bengal, was a colonial region of British India, which comprised undivided Bengal, which is present day Bangladesh and West Bengal, as well as the states Assam, Bihar, Meghalaya, Orissa and Tripura....
 was partitioned. It soon emerged as an important and strategic centre. A number of imposing structures were constructed by the British. Credit for designing the massive and majestic buildings of colonial Patna goes to the architect, I. F. Munnings. Most of these buildings reflect either Indo-Saracenic
Indo-Saracenic

Indo-Saracenic , also known as Indo-Gothic, was a style of architecture used by United Kingdom architects in the late 19th century in British India....
 influence (like Patna Museum and the state Assembly), or overt Renaissance
Renaissance

The Renaissance was a cultural movement that spanned roughly the 14th to the 17th century, beginning in Italy in the late Middle Ages and later spreading to the rest of Europe....
 influence like the Raj Bhawan and the High Court. Some buildings, like the General Post Office (GPO) and the Old Secretariat bear pseudo-Renaissance influence. Some say, the experience gained in building the new capital area of Patna proved very useful in building the imperial capital of New Delhi
New Delhi

New Delhi is the capital city of India. With a total area of 42.7 km2, New Delhi is situated within the metropolis of Delhi and serves as the seat of the Government of India and the Government of the National Capital Territory of Delhi ....
. Orissa
Orissa

Orissa , is a states and territories of India located on the east coast of India, by the Bay of Bengal. It was established on 1 April 1936 as a province in British India, and consists, predominantly of Oriya language speakers....
 was created as a separate province in 1935. Patna continued as the capital of Bihar province under the British Raj
British Raj

British Raj primarily refers to the British rule in the Indian subcontinent between 1858 and 1947; it can also refer to the period of dominion, and even the region under the rule....
.

Patna played a major role in the Indian independence struggle
Indian independence movement

The term Indian independence movement incorporates various national and regional campaigns, agitations and efforts of both Nonviolent and Revolutionary movement for Indian independence philosophy....
. Most notable are the Champaran movement against the Indigo
Indigo

Indigo is the color on the electromagnetic spectrum between about 420 and 450 nanometre in wavelength, placing it between blue and violet . Although traditionally considered one of seven divisions of the optical spectrum, modern color scientists do not usually recognize indigo as a separate division and generally classify wavelengths shorter...
 plantation and the 1942 Quit India Movement
Quit India Movement

'Quit India Movement' was a civil disobedience movement launched in India in August 1942 in response to Mohandas Gandhi's call for immediate independence....
. Patna's contribution in the freedom struggle has been immense with outstanding national leaders like Swami Sahajanand Saraswati
Swami Sahajanand Saraswati

Swami Sahajanand Saraswati , was born in a Jijhoutia Bhumiharfamily of Gazipur of Uttar Pradesh States and territories of India of India, was an ascetic of Dashnami Order of Adi Shankara Sampradaya as well as a nationalist and peasant leader of India....
, the first President of the Constituent Assembly of India
Constituent Assembly of India

The Constituent Assembly of India was elected to write the Constitution of India, and served as its first Parliament as an independent nation....
 Dr. Sachidanand Sinha,Dr. Rajendra Prasad,Bihar Vibhuti Anugrah Narayan Sinha
Anugrah Narayan Sinha

Anugrah Narayan Sinha , known as Bihar Vibhuti, was thefirst Deputy Chief Minister cum Finance Minister of the Indian state of Bihar .He was also a Member of the Constituent Assembly of India, which was elected to write the Constitution of India and served as its first Parliament as an independent nation.He also held a range of portfolio...
,Basawon Singh (Sinha)
Basawon Singh (Sinha)

Basawon Singh has been among the greatest nationalists who joined into the freedom struggle at a tender age of 13 and kept on his struggle for the independence of the country from the colonial yoke and fighting for the rights of the underprivileged, industrial labours and agricultural workers all throughout his life....
 , Loknayak Jayaprakash Narayan
Jayaprakash Narayan

Jayaprakash Narayan , widely known as JP, was an Indian freedom fighter and political leader, remembered especially for leading the opposition to Indira Gandhi in the 1970s and for giving a call for peaceful Total Revolution....
, Sri Krishna Sinha
Sri Krishna Sinha

Sri Krishna Sinha , known as Bihar Kesari, was the first Chief Minister of the Indian state of Bihar . He is among the Architects of Modern Bihar....
, Sheel Bhadra Yajee
Sheel Bhadra Yajee

Pandit Sheel Bhadra Yagee was a freedom fighter from Bihar who was associated with the non-violent and the violent form of freedom struggle....
, Sarangdhar Sinha(Singh), Yogendra Shukla
Yogendra Shukla

Yogendra Shukla was an Indian nationalist born in a Bhumihar Brahmin family in Bihar. He served in the Cellular Jail , and he was among the founders of Hindustan Socialist Republican Association ....
, and many others who worked for India
India

India, officially the Republic of India , is a country in South Asia. It is the List of countries and outlying territories by total area country by geographical area, the List of countries by population country, and the most populous liberal democracy in the world....
's freedom relentlessly. Shrii Anandamurti formed the Ananda Marga movement in Patna in 1962 to worked for world unity and justice. He moderized the ancient practices of yoga and made the most advanced practices of meditation abvailabe to the general public. He spoke about the inequality of women (both in India and worldwide). As an example, he questioned the morality of the dowry system of marriage and the Indian caste system. His Ananda Marga organization spread worldwide and teaches both neo-humanism (oneness of family of life) and PROUT (Progressive Utilization Theory) for overall economic developement. He is concidered a leader in the field of philosophy and morality.

Patna continued to be the capital of the state of Bihar
Bihar

Bihar is a States and territories of India in East India. Bihar is the 12th largest state in terms of geographical size 38,202 square mile and 3rd largest by population....
 after independence in 1947, though Bihar itself was partitioned again in 2000 when Jharkhand
Jharkhand

Jharkhand is a States and territories of India in eastern India. It was carved out of the southern part of Bihar state on 15 November 2000. Jharkhand shares its border with the states of Bihar to the north, Uttar Pradesh and Chhattisgarh to the west, Orissa to the south, and West Bengal to the east....
 was carved out as a separate state of the Indian union.

Geography

Patna is located on the south bank of the Ganges River
Ganges River

The 'Ganges' is one of the major rivers of the Indian subcontinent, flowing east through the Gangetic Plain of northern India into Bangladesh....
, called Ganga locally. Patna has a very long riverline, and it is surrounded on three sides by rivers—the Ganga, Sone, and Poonpun (also spelt Punpun). Just to the north of Patna across the river Ganga flows the river Gandak
Gandak

The Gandaki River is one of the major rivers of Nepal and a left bank tributary of the Ganges in India. The headwaters of the river are formed at an altitude of in the Mustang region of Nepal, which borders Tibet....
 making it a unique place having four largish rivers in its vicinity. It is the largest riverine city in the world. A historical city on the banks of Ganges was nomenclated by princess Sarika, daughter of king Patliputra.

The bridge
Bridge

A bridge is a structure built to span a gorge, valley, road, Rail tracks, river, body of water, or any other physical obstacle, for the purpose of providing passage over the obstacle....
 over the river Ganga (Mahatma Gandhi Setu
Mahatma Gandhi Setu

Mahatma Gandhi Setu is a bridge over the river Ganges connecting Patna in the south to Hajipur in north in Bihar, India. It was inaugurated in May 1982 by Indian Prime Minister, Mrs Indira Gandhi....
) is 5850 m long and is one of the longest single river bridge in the world
List of bridges by length

This is a list of the world's bridges longer than 2 km sorted by their full length above land or water. "Span" refers to their longest span without ground support....
.

Economy


From the very ancient time Patna has rich socioeconomic background. Patna has long been a major agricultural center of trade, its most active exports being grain
Cereal

Cereals, or cereal grains, are mostly Poaceae cultivated for their edible brans or fruit seeds . Cereal grains are grown in greater quantities and provide more energy worldwide than any other type of crop; they are therefore staple foods....
, sugarcane
Sugarcane

Sugarcane is a genus of 6 to 37 species of tall perennial plant Poaceae , native to warm temperate to tropical regions of the Old World. They have stout, jointed, fibrous stalks that are rich in sugar and measure 2 to 6 meters tall....
, sesame
Sesame

Sesame is a flowering plant in the genus Sesamum. Numerous wild relatives occur in Africa and a smaller number in India. It is widely naturalization in tropical regions around the world and is cultivated for its edible seeds, which grow in pods....
, and medium-grained Patna rice
Patna rice

Patna rice, a variety of the species Oryza sativa, and one of the varieties of long-grain white rice, is extensively cultivated in the Gangetic plainss, in and around Patna, Capital city of Bihar States and territories of India, India....
. It is also an important business center of eastern India.

The hinterland
Hinterland

The hinterland is the land or district behind the borders of a coast or river. Specifically, by the doctrine of the hinterland, the word is applied to the inland region lying behind a port, claimed by the state that owns the coast....
 of Patna is endowed with excellent agro-climatic resources and the gains of the green revolution
Green Revolution

Green Revolution usually refers to the transformation of agriculture that began in 1945. One significant factor came at the request of the Mexican government to establish an agricultural research station to develop more varieties of wheat that could be used to feed the rapidly growing population of the country....
 have enabled the older eastern part of Patna (locally called as Patna City) to develop as a leading grain market of the state of Bihar, and one of the biggest in eastern India. Patna, being the state capital, with a growing middle income group households, has also emerged as a big and rapidly expanding consumer market, both for Fast Moving Consumer Goods
Fast Moving Consumer Goods

Fast Moving Consumer Goods , are products that are sold quickly at relatively low cost. Though the absolute profit made on FMCG products is relatively small, they generally sell in large quantities, so the cumulative profit on such products can be large....
 (FMCG), as also for other consumer durable items. A large and growing population, and expanding boundaries of the city, is also spurring growth of service sector. The old and established educational institutions of the city have always been contributing to the national pool of excellent human resource
Human resource

human resource may stand for:* human resources, another name for labor* Human Resources , a Nick the Doctor Who audio drama* The Human Resource, a drum and bass compilation album presented by Dieselboy...
s.

Financial Express
Financial Express

The Financial Express is a daily newspaper published by the Indian Express group since 1961.Launched in 1961, India?s oldest financial daily, The Financial Express, is today one of the leading newspapers in the country....
 reported on April 7, 2008 that even as Bihar has the lowest per capita income
Per capita income

Per capita income means how much each individual receives, in monetary terms, of the yearly income generated in the country. This is what each citizen is to receive if the yearly national income is divided equally among everyone....
 in the country at Rs
Indian rupee

The rupee is the currency of India. The issuance of the currency is controlled by the Reserve Bank of India. The most commonly used symbols for the rupee are Rs, ? and ??....
 5,772 against the national average of Rs 22,946, some of its southern districts are much better off compared with those in the north. This disparity within the state is clearly reflected in Bihar’s latest economic survey for 2007-08. The survey shows that Patna, Munger
Munger

Munger town is the headquarters of Munger district, in the Indian States and territories of India of Bihar. Historically, Munger is known for its manufacturing of iron articles such as firearms and swords....
, and Begusarai
Begusarai

See...
 in south Bihar were the three best-off districts out of a total of 38 districts, recording the highest per capita gross district domestic product
Gross domestic product

File:GDP nominal per capita world map IMF 2008.pngThe gross domestic product or gross domestic income is one of the measures of national income and output for a given country's economy....
 (GDP) of Rs 31,441, Rs 10,087, and Rs 9,312, respectively in 2004-05. In contrast, right at the bottom of the rank, with the lowest per capita GDP, were the northern districts of Araria
Araria

Araria is a city and a municipality in Araria district in the Indian state of Bihar, India....
 at Rs 4,578, Sitamarhi
Sitamarhi

Sitamarhi is a town and the district headquarters of Sitamarhi district, Bihar, India....
 at Rs 4,352, and Sheohar
Sheohar

Sheohar is a city and a notified area in and headquarters of Sheohar district in the Indian States and territories of India of Bihar....
 at Rs 3,636.

Climate


Patna, as most of Bihar, has a subtropical climate with hot summers from late March to early June, the monsoon
Monsoon

A monsoon is a seasonal prevailing wind that lasts for several months. The term was first used in English in India, Bangladesh, Pakistan, and neighboring countries to refer to the big seasonal winds blowing from the Indian Ocean and Arabian Sea in the southwest bringing heavy rainfall to the region....
 season from late June to late September and a mild winter from November to February. The table below details historical monthly averages for climate variables. Highest ever recorded is 47 °C
Celsius

Celsius is a temperature scale that is named after the Swedish astronomer Anders Celsius , who developed a similar temperature scale two years before his death....
, lowest ever is 1 °C and annual rainfall is 1000 mm.

Demographics

The population of Patna is over 1,885,470. The population density
Population density

Population density is a measurement of population per unit area or unit volume. It is frequently applied to living organisms, and particularly to humans....
 is 1132 persons per square kilometre
Square kilometre

Square kilometre , symbol km2, is a decimal multiple of the SI Units of measurement of surface area, the square metre, one of the SI derived units....
. There are 839 females to every 1,000 males. The overall literacy rate
Literacy

The traditional definition of literacy is considered to be the ability to read and write, or the ability to use language to Reading , Writing, Listening, and Speech communication....
 is 62.9%, and the female literacy rate is 50.8%.

Many languages are spoken in Patna. Hindi is the official language. The native dialect
Dialect

A dialect is a variety of a language that is characteristic of a particular group of the language's speakers. The term is applied most often to regional speech patterns, but a dialect may also be defined by other factors, such as social class....
 is Magadhi or Magahi, named after Magadha
Magadha

Magadha formed one of the sixteen Mahajanapadas or Kingdoms of Ancient India. The core of the kingdom was the area of Bihar south of the Ganges; its first capital was Rajagaha then Pataliputra ....
, the ancient name of Bihar
Bihar

Bihar is a States and territories of India in East India. Bihar is the 12th largest state in terms of geographical size 38,202 square mile and 3rd largest by population....
. Dialects from other regions of Bihar spoken widely in Patna are Angika, Bhojpuri, and Maithili
Maithili

Maithili may refer to:* Maithili language* Maithili script...
. Other languages widely spoken in Patna include Bengali
Bengali language

Bengali or Bangla is an Indo-European languages language of the eastern Indian subcontinent, evolved from the Magadhi Prakrit and Sanskrit languages....
, Oriya
Oriya language

Oriya is an Indian language, belonging to the Indo-Aryan branch of the Indo-European language family. It is mainly spoken in the Indian States and territories of India of Orissa....
, and English
English language

English is a West Germanic language that originated in Anglo-Saxon England and has lingua franca status in many parts of the world as a result of the military, economic, scientific, political and cultural influence of the British Empire in the 18th, 19th and early 20th centuries and that of the United States from the mid 20th century onwa...
.

People and culture

Though geographically located in the Magadh region of Bihar, many residents of Patna are natives of one of the four other regions of Bihar - Bhojpur
Bhojpur

Bhojpur is the name of several places:*India**Bhojpur District, Bihar**Bhojpur, Madhya Pradesh**Bhojpur, Orissa*Nepal**Bhojpur, Nepal**Bhojpur District, Nepal...
, Mithila
Mithila

File:EpicIndiaCities.jpgMithila was a city in Ancient India, the capital of the Videha Kingdom. The name Mithila is also commonly used to refer to the Videha Kingdom itself, as well as to the modern-day territories that fall within the ancient boundaries of Videha....
, Vajj, or Ang
ANG

ANG, a three-letter abbreviation, may refer to:* Air National Guard, part of the United States National Guard* Angiopoietin, in biochemistry...
, which differ only slightly from each other. Intermarriages and cultural intermixing among the people of the five regions has been so common that it may be difficult for an outsider to discern the differences. Intermixing of people is also common at the village level (e.g. resident of Gulni
Gulni

Gulni is a village in the heart of the State of Bihar, India. It is surrounded by rivers on the south and the north. It is 4 kilometres south of Hilsa, Bihar, in Nalanda district of Republic of India....
 include people from Gaya
Gaya

Gaya may refer to:*Gaya Confederacy, an ancient Korean league of statelets*Gaya District, India*Gaya, India, a city in India*Gaya, Niger, a city in Niger...
, Ganga-par and other villages).

Family orientation

People are religious and family-oriented, and their lives are deeply rooted in tradition
Tradition

The word tradition comes from the Latin traditionem, acc. of traditio which means "handing over, passing on", and is used in a number of ways in the English language:...
. The interests of the family take precedence over that of an individual. Families are generally large, though the government is actively encouraging family planning
Family planning

Family planning is people Planning when to have children, and the use of birth control and other techniques to implement such plans. Other techniques commonly used include sex education, prevention and management of sexually transmitted disease, pre-conception counseling and pregnancy#management , and infertility....
 to curb rapid population growth. Extended families often live together in one home because of economic necessity. Although the culture
Culture

Culture is difficult to define. For example, in 1952, Alfred Kroeber and Clyde Kluckhohn compiled a list of 164 definitions of "culture" in Culture: A Critical Review of Concepts and Definitions....
 is same among the regions, the dialects spoken are quite different. Many talented people of Bihar have emigrated
Emigration

Emigration is the act of leaving one's native country or region to Settler in another. It is the same as immigration but from the perspective of the country of origin....
 for better opportunities.

Marriage

Most marriage
Marriage

Marriage is a social, spirituality, or law union of individuals. This union may also be called matrimony, while the ceremony that marks its beginning is usually called a wedding and the married status created is sometimes called wedlock....
s are arranged; the degree to which the children are consulted depends on the family. Marriage is sacred and is considered to endure beyond death. Wedding
Wedding

File:Pimenov SvadbaOnTomorrowStreet.jpgA wedding is the ceremony in which two people are united in marriage. Wedding traditions and customs vary greatly between cultures, ethnic groups, religions, country, and social classes....
s are times of great celebration, expense, and feasting. Ceremonies are often elaborate. In many ceremonies, the bride and groom exchange garlands and promises before they circle around a fire seven times to solemnize the marriage. Bright clothing, jewellery, and flowers are part of almost every type of ceremony. The bride's parents may still give a dowry
Dowry

A dowry is the money, goods, or estate that a woman brings to her new husband. Compare bride price, which is paid to the bride's parents, and dower, which is property settled on the bride herself by the groom at the time of marriage....
, such as money or land, to the groom, even though the practice is illegal. This practice is called Tilak. Mostly marriages (arranged ones) are caste
Caste

Castes are hereditary systems of wikt:occupation, endogamy, culture, social class, and political power, the assignment of individuals to places in the social hierarchy is determined by social group and culture....
-based.

Marriage practices are changing as the culture is becoming more progressive. Now people are marrying people from different cultures and castes as more women become professionals.

Cuisine

Staple food
Staple food

A staple food is a food that can be stored for use throughout the year and forms the basis of a traditional diet. Staple foods vary from place to place, but are typically inexpensive starchy foods of vegetable origin that are high in food energy and carbohydrate....
 "Khichdi", the broth
Broth

Broth is a liquid in which bones, meat, fish, cereal grains, or vegetables have been simmering. Broth is used as a basis for other edible liquids such as soup, gravy, or sauce....
 of rice
Rice

Rice is a staple food for a large part of the world's human population, especially in tropical Latin America, and East Asia, South Asia and Southeast Asia, making it the second-most consumed cereal grain, after maize....
 and lentils, seasoned with spice
Spice

A spice is a dried seed, fruit, root, bark, leaf, or vegetable used in nutritionally insignificant quantities as a food additive for the purpose of flavor, color, or as a preservative that kills harmful bacteria or prevents their growth....
s, and served with several accompanying items like curd
Curd

Curds is a dairy product obtained by curdling milk with rennet or an edible acidic substance such as lemon juice or vinegar and then draining off the liquid portion ....
, chutney
Chutney

Chutney , is a term for a variety of sweet and spicy condiments, usually involving a fresh, chopped primary vegetable or fruit with added seasonings....
, pickles
Pickles

Pickles may refer to* A pickled cucumber, a food most commonly referred to as a pickle in the U.S. and Canada* A pickled onion, a food most commonly referred to as a pickle in the UK....
, papads, ghee
Ghee

Ghee is a class of clarified butter that originated in the Indian subcontinent, and is important in South Asian cuisine and Middle Eastern cuisine ....
 (clarified butter
Butter

Butter is a dairy product made by churning fresh or fermentation cream or milk. It is generally used as a spread and a condiment, as well as in cooking applications such as baking, sauce making, and frying....
), and chokha
Chokha

A chokha is part of the traditional male dress of the peoples of the Caucasus. It has been in wide use among Georgians from 9th century until 1920s and among Azeris between the 17th and the 20th century....
 (boiled mashed potato
Potato

The potato is a starchy, tuberous crop from the perennial plant Solanum tuberosum of the Solanaceae family. The word potato may refer to the plant itself as well....
es, seasoned with finely cut onion
Onion

Onion is a term used for many plants in the genus Allium. They are known by the common name "onion" but, used without qualifiers, it usually refers to Allium cepa....
s, green chilies) constitutes the lunch for most Patnaites on Saturdays.

Patna is also known for the sweet delicacies of central Bihar including Khaja
Khaja

Khaja is a sweet delicacy of Bihar, Orissa and West Bengal states in eastern India.Refined wheat flour, sugar and edible oils are the chief ingredients of khaja....
, Motichoor ka Ladoo, Kala Jamun, Kesaria Peda, Parwal ki Mithai, Khubi ka Lai, and Chena Murki. These owe their origin to towns in the vicinity of Patna: Khaja from Silao
Silao

Silao is a city in the west-central part of the state of Guanajuato in Mexico. It is the seat of the Silao, Guanajuato with the same name. As of the 2005 census, the city had a population of 147,123, making it the seventh-largest community in the state....
, Ladoo from Maner
Maner

Maner is a city and a notified area in Patna district in the Indian States and territories of India of Bihar....
, Kala Jamun from Vikram
Vikram

Vikram may refer to:*Vikram is a male name in the Hindu community*Vikram is a Tamil film actor in India*Vikramaditya, a legendary king of India...
, Khubi ka Lai from Barh
Barh

See...
, Kesaria Peda from Gaya
Gaya, India

Gaya[] is a city in Bihar, India, and it is also the headquarters of Gaya District.Gaya is 100 kilometers south of Patna, the capital city of Bihar....
 and Chena Murki from Koelwar, Poori from Behea
Behea

Behea is a small town and a notified area in Bhojpur district in the state of Bihar, India....
. Descendants of the original family members of the cooks, called halwais in the local language
Bihari

Bihari may mean:* of Bihar, a state in central eastern India** Bihari people*** Stranded Pakistanis popularly known as "Biharis", people of Bihari origin in Bangladesh...
, have migrated to urban Patna and authentic sweet delicacies are now available in the city itself. Unlike the Bengali
Bengali

Bengali may refer to the following:* Bengal, a region shared by Bangladesh and India** Bangladesh, a country in South Asia** West Bengal, Indian state of Bengal, popularly known as Bangla or Poshchim Bongo...
 sweets which are soaked in syrup
Syrup

In cooking, a syrup is a thick, viscous liquid, containing a large amount of dissolved sugars, but showing little tendency to deposit crystals....
 of sugar and are therefore wet, sweets of Patna and Bihar are mostly dry. The mango
Mango

Mangoes belong to the genus Mangifera, consisting of numerous species of tropical fruiting trees in the flowering plant family Anacardiaceae....
es of Digha
Digha

Digha is a small seaside resort town in the state of West Bengal, India. It lies in East Midnapore district and at the northern end of the Bay of Bengal....
, Patna are very delicious and famous.

There are several other traditional snacks and savouries:
  • Pua, prepared from a mixture of refined wheat flour (maida
    Maida

    Maida can refer to:*Maida , a town and comune in the Province of Catanzaro, Calabria, Italy, which gave its name to the Plain of Maida and the 1806 Napoleonic Battle of Maida....
    ), milk
    Milk

    Milk is an opaque white liquid produced by the mammary glands of female mammals . It provides the primary source of nutrition for newborn mammals before they are able to digestion other types of food....
    , ghee (clarified butter), sugar, dry fruits, and honey
    Honey

    Honey is a sweet fluid produced by honey bees , and derived from the nectar of flowers. According to the United States National Honey Board and various international food regulations, "honey stipulates a pure product that does not allow for the addition of any other substance?this includes, but is not limited to, water or other sweeteners...
  • Pittha, steam cooked, made by powdered rice
    Rice

    Rice is a staple food for a large part of the world's human population, especially in tropical Latin America, and East Asia, South Asia and Southeast Asia, making it the second-most consumed cereal grain, after maize....
     with stuffed ground gram (chana
    Chana

    Chana may refer to:*Hannah , a biblical character*Chana dal, a Hindi word meaning "chickpea"*The unincorporated community of Chana, Illinois...
    ) or khoya etc.
  • Tilkut, referred to as 'Palala' in Buddhist literature, is made of pounded 'tila' or sesame
    Sesame

    Sesame is a flowering plant in the genus Sesamum. Numerous wild relatives occur in Africa and a smaller number in India. It is widely naturalization in tropical regions around the world and is cultivated for its edible seeds, which grow in pods....
     seeds (Sesamum indicum) and jaggery
    Jaggery

    Jaggery , gur , desi and panela , is a traditional unrefined non-centrifugal sugar consumed in Asia, Africa and South America....
     or sugar
  • Chiwra, beaten rice, served with a coat of creamy curd and sugar or jaggery
  • Makhana, (a kind of water fruit) is prepared from lotus seed
    Lotus seed

    Lotus seeds or Lotus nuts are the seeds of plants in the genus Nelumbo, particularly the species Nelumbo nucifera. The seeds are of great importance to East Asian cuisine and are used extensively in traditional Chinese medicine and in Chinese cuisine....
    s and is taken puffed or as kheer, prepared with milk and sugar
  • Sattu, powdered baked gram, is a high energy giving food. It is taken mixed with water or with milk. Sometimes, sattu mixed with spices are used to prepare stuffed 'chapattis', locally called as 'makuni roti'.
  • Litti Chokha, A baked round shape, made by wheat flour with stuffed sattu (litti), the combination of smashed boiled potatoes, bringals & tomatoes (chokha).
  • Makuni, a stuffed paratha
    Paratha

    A paratha is a bread that originated in the subcontinent . It is made with whole-wheat flour, pan frying in ghee or cooking oil, and sometimes stuffed with vegetables, such as boiled potatoes, radishes or cauliflower and/or paneer ....
     with sattu (ingredients: sattu, onion, chilli, pickles, mustard oil
    Mustard oil

    The term mustard oil is used for three different oils that are made from mustard seeds:* a fatty vegetable oil resulting from pressing the seeds,...
    , salt)
  • Paan
    Paan

    Paan, from the word pan in Urdu, ???, and Hindi, ???, is a South and South East Asian tradition which consists of chewing Betel leaf combined with the areca nut....
    , a dessert made out of betel nuts, spices, tobacco
    Tobacco

    Tobacco is an agricultural product processed from the fresh leaves of plants in the genus Nicotiana. It can be consumed, used as an organic pesticide, and in the form of nicotine tartrate it is used in some medicines....
    , and certain other ingredients, wrapped in a betel
    Betel

    The Betel is the leaf of a vine belonging to the Piperaceae family, which includes Black pepper and Kava. It is valued both as a mild stimulant and for its medicinal properties....
     leaf and had after a meal.


A variety of non-vegetarian items are also prepared by a section of the population. Fish
Fish

A fish is any marine biology vertebrate animal that is typically ectothermic , covered with scale , and equipped with two sets of paired fins and several unpaired fins....
 curries are widely used by a cross section of non-vegetarian population of all social groups. Mughal cuisine
Mughlai cuisine

Mughlai cuisine is a Pakistani and Indian cuisine, influenced by the imperial kitchens of the Mughal Empire. It represents the cooking style used in Delhi and Punjab ....
 is well known and widely relished in Patna. Of late, continental
Continental

Continental is the adjective form of continent. Continental may refer to:*Geography:** Continental climate, a type of climate** Continental Europe, or various terms relating to continental Europe such as continental breakfast and continental lifestyle...
 dishes are also catching up fancy. Various types of roll
Roll

Roll can refer to:...
s which are also available in New York
New York

The State of New York is a U.S. state in the Mid-Atlantic States and Northeastern United States regions of the United States and is the nation's List of U.S....
 owe their origin to Patna. Some Muslim families moved from here to Karachi
Karachi

is the largest city, seaport and the International financial centre of Pakistan. It is List of metropolitan areas by population in terms of metropolitan population, and is Pakistan's premier centre of banking, industry, and trade....
, Pakistan
Pakistan

Pakistan , officially the Islamic Republic of Pakistan, is a country located in South Asia and borders Central Asia and the Middle East. It has a 1,046 kilometre coastline along the Arabian Sea and Gulf of Oman in the south, and is bordered by Afghanistan and Iran in the west, India in the east and People's Republic of China in th...
 during partition
Partition of India

File:Brit IndianEmpireReligions3.jpgThe Partition of India was the Partition of British India that led to the creation, on August 14, 1947 and August 15, 1947, respectively, of the Sovereignty states of the Dominion of Pakistan and the Union of India ....
, and then to the U.S.
United States

The United States of America is a Federal government constitutional republic comprising U.S. state and a federal district. The country is situated mostly in central North America, where its Contiguous United States and Washington, D.C., the Capital districts and territories, lie between the Pacific Ocean and Atlantic Oceans, Borders of the U...
, taking with them their culture and cuisine
Cuisine

Cuisine is a specific set of cooking traditions and practices, often associated with a specific culture. A cuisine is primarily influenced by the ingredients that are available locally or through trade....
. They sell various vegetarian and non-vegetarian rolls and are rather popular by the generic name Roll Bihari in and around Lexington Avenue (South) in New York City
New York City

The City of New York is the List of United States cities by population in the United States, while the New York metropolitan area ranks among the List of urban areas by population....
.

There are also numerous restaurants: Bansi Vihar, Basant Vihar, Dosa Plaza, and Chennai cafe provide excellent South Indian cuisine. Yo China at bander bagicha is an excellent Chinese Restaurant. Kapil Dev's "Elevens" is also a famous restaurant, it was established by Kapil Dev
Kapil Dev

Kapil Dev Ramlal Nikhanj , better known as Kapil Dev, is a former Indian cricket team regarded as one of the greatest all-rounders of all time....
 himself. The Bollywood Treats at Hotel Maurya is also one of quality restaurants. The Mayfair at Frazer road is one of the oldest restaurants.And Mings Chimney The most respected tibetan restaurant for 11years and Still Running Successfully.

Transportation


The district of Patna is well served by a network of roads. National Highway No.31 passes through Danapur, Patna and Patna City. While one branch goes to Barauni via Barh, another proceeds to Nawada via Bihar. All the subdivisional headquarters of the district (except the newly created subdivision of Masaurhi) are situated on this National Highway which provides the road link between North and South Bihar. The number of metalled and black-topped roads has considerably increased over the decade. Bridge, culverts and caise ways have been constructed on the important roads.

The main line of the Eastern Railway passes through the entire length of the district running parallel to the Ganga. There are three railway lines running across the district from north to south viz., the Patna Gaya Branch line the Fatwah-Islampur Light Railway and the Bakhtiarpur-Rajgir Branch line. Except the Light Railway, the other two are branches of the Eastern Railway. With the opening of the famous Patna-Hajipur Bridge (Mahatma Gandhi Setu), the ferry service connencting the capital with the North-Eastern Railway System has Ceased to function.

The Ganges is navigable through out the year and there is considerable boat traffic for transporting cargo. The smaller rivers, e.g., Punpun and Dardha become navigable only during the rains when they are used for transporting agricultural produce to the grain market at Fatwah.

Patna is connected by air to Calcutta and Delhi and a few other places by Daily flights. There is an airport near Phulwarisharif and another at Bihta.

Places of interest

  • Agam Kuan
    Agam Kuan

    Agam Kuan, which means "unfathomable well", is said to date back to the period of Maurya Empire, Ashoka. The well is located east of Patna, Bihar States and territories of India, India....
    , literally the unfathomable well which is said to date back to the Ashokan period.
  • Hanuman Mandir The favourite Deity of the Patnaite. It is situated right in front of the Patna Junction, the central railway station of the City. Long winding queues can be seen at the temple on Saturdays and Tuesdays, the traditional worshipping days of the deity.
  • Kumhrar
    Kumhrar

    Kumhrar or Kumrahar is the remains of an ancient city of Pataliputra, located 5 km from Patna Railway Station, on Kankarbagh Road, Patna, Bihar....
    , the site of the ruins of the Ashoka
    Ashoka

    Ashoka was an Indian emperor, of the Maurya Empire who ruled from 273 BCE to 232 BCE. Often cited as one of India's as well as world's greatest emperors, Ashoka reigned over most of present-day India after a number of military conquests....
    n Patliputra
    Patliputra

    Patliputra Modern-day Patna, originally built by Shishunaga dynasty's Ajatashatru, in 490 BC as a small fort near the River Ganges and later the capital of the ancient Mahajanapadas kingdom of Magadha....
    .
  • Mahatma Gandhi Setu
    Mahatma Gandhi Setu

    Mahatma Gandhi Setu is a bridge over the river Ganges connecting Patna in the south to Hajipur in north in Bihar, India. It was inaugurated in May 1982 by Indian Prime Minister, Mrs Indira Gandhi....
     is one of the longest
    List of bridges by length

    This is a list of the world's bridges longer than 2 km sorted by their full length above land or water. "Span" refers to their longest span without ground support....
    (single river bridge in the world.
  • Takht Shri Harmandir Saheb, constructed by Punjab ruler Maharaja Ranjit Singh, consecrates the birthplace of Guru Gobind Singh Jee also known as 'Takht Shri Patna Sahib'
  • State Secretariat Building and its Clock Tower, including the Martyrs Memorial
    Martyr's Memorial Patna

    The Martyr's Memorial Patna is a life-size statue of seven brave young men who sacrificed their lives in the Quit India movement, to hoist the Indian national flag....
     commemorating the seven school and college students who were brutally killed by the armed forces under the command of the British Raj
    British Raj

    British Raj primarily refers to the British rule in the Indian subcontinent between 1858 and 1947; it can also refer to the period of dominion, and even the region under the rule....
     in front of the Patna Secretariat during the Quit India movement of 1942.
  • Maner Sharif
    Maner Sharif

    Maner Sharif is located 25 kilometers on the Danapur-Daltonganj road west of Patna .It is the popular medieval site in Bihar. Maner enjoys position of one of the chief spiritual centers in India....
    , shrine of Makhdoom Yahya Maneri
    Makhdoom Yahya Maneri

    Hazarat Makhdoom Yahya Maneri was a famous Indian Sufi saint of 13th century. His tomb lies in courtyard of a mosque, located in Maner, 29 km from Patna, Bihar, India ....
    , and his disciple, Shah Daulat, at Maner
    Maner

    Maner is a city and a notified area in Patna district in the Indian States and territories of India of Bihar....
    , 29 km from Patna.
  • Phulwari Sharif
    Phulwari Sharif

    Phulwari Sharif is a city and a notified area in Patna district in the Indian States and territories of India of Bihar....
     is a place of great Religious and Historical importance for Muslims.
  • Imarat-E-Shariya or the "Shariyat" of Patna looks after whole of Bihar, Jharkhand,Orrisa, WestBengal and all North-Eastern states.
  • High Court
    Patna High Court

    The Patna High Court is the High Courts of India of the Indian state of Bihar. It was established on February 3, 1916 and later affiliated under the Government of India Act, 1915....
     Building and a famous Dargah beside it.
  • Patna Planetarium
    Patna Planetarium

    Patna Planetarium is also known as Indira Gandhi Science Complex. Planetarium was constructed through Bihar Council on Science & Technology at a total cost of about Rs....
     on Dak Bungalow Road. One of the largest Planetarium in Asia, the Patna Planetarium attracts large number of domestic as well as foreign tourists. The planetarium has regular film shows on subjects related to astronomy. It also holds exhibitions which attracts lots of visitors.
  • Patna Golf Club
    Patna Golf Club

    The Patna Golf Clubis established in March 21, 1916 when the Government of the Province of Bihar & Orissa had sanctioned the lease of of land west of the Government House to the South Bihar Gymkhana Club....
    , Estd. 1916, includes some very tough holes, this well-maintained course will prove interesting to amateur and pros alike.
  • Moin-Ul-Haque Stadium boasts of its Cricket Ground which is 2nd largest in India, next only to "The Eden Gardens". It holds 25,000 spectators. The first ODI
    ODI

    ODI has various meanings, including:* One Day International cricket match* Overseas Development Institute - UK think tank on international development....
     was played here between Zimbabwe
    Zimbabwe

    Zimbabwe , is a landlocked country located in the southern part of the continent of Africa, between the Zambezi and Limpopo River rivers. It is bordered by South Africa to the south, Botswana to the southwest, Zambia to the northwest and Mozambique to the east....
     and Sri Lanka
    Sri Lanka

    Sri Lanka, officially the Democratic Socialist Republic of Sri Lanka is an island country in South Asia, located about off the southern coast of India....
     on November 15, 1993: the 1993/94 Hero Cup. Another ODI was between Kenya
    Kenya

    The Republic of Kenya is a country in East Africa. It is bordered by Ethiopia to the north, Somalia to the northeast, Tanzania to the south, Uganda to the west, and Sudan to the northwest, with the Indian Ocean running along the southeast border....
     and Zimbabwe on February 27, 1996: the 1996 Wills World Cup.
  • Golghar
    Golghar

    The Golghar or Gol Ghar , , located to the west of the Gandhi Maidan in Patna, capital city of Bihar States and territories of India, India is a granary built by Captain John Garstin, in 1786 ....
     (a beehive shaped granary) - One of the oldest British buildings in Patna.
  • Patna Museum
    Patna Museum

    Patna Museum is the state museum of Bihar. It was built by the United Kingdom during the British Raj in the year 1917 to house the historical artefacts found in the vicinity of Patna ....
     called the Jadu Ghar: The well-known museum has a fine collection of stone and bronze sculptures and terracotta figures of Hindu and Buddhist artists. Didarganj Yakshi is the most prized collection of this museum.
  • Sri krishna Science Centre is a Science Museum
    Science museum

    A science museum or a science centre is a museum devoted primarily to science. Older science museums tended to concentrate on static displays of objects related to natural history, paleontology, geology, industry and industrial machinery, etc....
    . Sri krishna Science Centrewas established in Patna in the year 1978 which was named after the first Chief Minister
    Chief Minister

    A Chief Minister is the elected head of government of a sub-national state, notably a state of India, a territory of Australia or a United Kingdom crown colony that has attained self-government....
     of Bihar
    Bihar

    Bihar is a States and territories of India in East India. Bihar is the 12th largest state in terms of geographical size 38,202 square mile and 3rd largest by population....
     (Dr. Sri Krishna Sinha).
  • Begu Hajjam's mosque, built in 1489 by the Bengal ruler Alauddin Hussani Shah.
  • Pathar ki Masjid
    Pathar ki Masjid

    The Pathar Ki Masjid stands on the bank of river Ganga near the Takht Shri Harmandir Saheb. Parvez Shah, son of Jahangir established Pathar Ki Masjid in 1621.The structure is built of stone, and so it got its name as Pathar Ki Masjid....
     built by Pervez
    Pervez

    Pervez is a name common in Iran, Afghanistan and Pakistan. Pervez and Parviz are usually the same name but with diferrent spellings. Furthermore, prounciation between the two are equal....
    , the elder brother of Shah Jahan
    Shah Jahan

    Shihab-ud-din Muhammad Shah Jahan I , was the ruler of the Mughal Empire in the Indian subcontinent from 1628 until 1658. The name Shah Jahan comes from Persian meaning "King of the World." He was the fifth Mughal ruler after Babur, Humayun, Akbar, and Jahangir....
     and the first Mughal prince who made Bihar his residence.
  • Qila House (Jalan House) houses an interesting museum famous for its jade collection, Chinese paintings and other far eastern work of art, Collected by Diwan Bahadur Radhakrishan Jalan.
  • Sadaqat Ashram on the banks of the river Ganga [The land was donated by Mulana Mazharul Haque
    Mulana Mazharul Haque

    Mulana Mazharul Haque was born to a rich landlord, Sheikh Ahmedullah, in Bihar in December 1866. An only son, he had two sisters Ghafrunisha and Kaneez Fatma....
     to the then congress party]
    which later became the retreat of Dr. Rajendra Prasad
    Rajendra Prasad

    Dr. Rajendra Prasad was the Firsts in India President of India of the Republic of India .He was an Indian independence activists and, as a leader of the Congress Party, played a prominent role in the Indian Independence Movement....
    .
  • Zoological and Botanical garden called Sanjay Gandhi Jaivik Udyan, Patna
    Sanjay Gandhi Jaivik Udyan, Patna

    Sanjay Gandhi Jaivik Udyan, Patna is also known as Sanjay Gandhi Botanical and Zoological Garden, Patna or Patna Zoo.This is situated near Bailey Road in Patna.The park is classified as one of the 16 large zoos in the country....
    .
  • Bissleboron, birthplace of Rahul Gunderjaharagand
    Rahul Gunderjaharagand

    Rahul Gunderjaharagand was the 23rd Viceroy of Patna, India, reigning from 1854-1866.Born in Bissleboron, Patna, he was a leader in the Indian Rebellion of 1857....
    .
  • Padri Ki Haveli
    Padri Ki Haveli

    Padri-Ki-Haveli,,also known as St Mary's Church, it is the oldest Church in Bihar. When Roman Catholics were arrived in Bihar, They built a small Church in 1713 at a place now known as "Padri-ki-Haveli'....
    , deemed to be the oldest church in Bihar dating back to 1772.
  • Bankipore Club on the banks of the river Ganges. The dance hall of this club is said to be one of the original buildings built by the Dutch in the 17th century.
  • Congress Maidan A historic ground that symbolises the Indian independence movement in Bihar.It was used to hold meetings by great illumanaries like Rajendra Prasad,Nehru,Anugrah Narayan Sinha, Sri Babu, Jayaprakash Narayan and others.
  • Darbhanga House, also called Nav Lakha building. This was built by Maharaja Sir Kameshwar Singh of Darbhanga. This beautiful building on the banks of Ganges now houses the post graduate departments of Patna University. It houses the Kali Mandir, which has been a place of worship of the goddess, the Maharaja himself was a great devotee and the students of the Patna University rarely take an exam without offering a prayer.
  • Patna College administrative block building was initially part of a Dutch Opium factory established on the banks of the Ganga as a part of the flourishing Opium Trade from the northern China and Nepal region.
  • Gandhi Maidan
    Gandhi Maidan

    Gandhi Maidan, previously known as the Patna Lawns, is a historic ground at Patna near the banks of Ganges. The Golghar falls to its west....
     called the Patna Lawns during the British Raj.
  • Anugrah Seva Sadan It was established by Loknayak Jayprakash Narayan to serve the underprivileged masses and to serve as a care home for the poor.It bears the pious name of reverend leader Bihar Bibhuti Dr. Anugrah Narayan Sinha.
  • Very old Church Known as Christ Church which also has a school with same name near Gandhi Maidan.
  • Kargil Chowk
    Kargil Chowk

    Kargil Chowk is a War memorial. It was established in year 2000, near by Gandhi Maidan, Patna. It is dedicated to the soldiers from Bihar & Jharkhand who had sacrificed their lives in the Kargil War in 1999....
     near gandhi maidan built in the memory of our brave soldier who get shaheed in Kargil War
    Kargil War

    The Kargil War, also known as the Kargil conflict, was an war between India and Pakistan that took place between May and July 1999 in the Kargil district of Kashmir....
    .
  • Saheed Smarak, situated near Bihar Vidhan Sabha. is a memory of seven extra ordinary students who attempted to hoist the Indian flag on the top of Bihar Vidhan Sabha in 1942 during English rule
    British Raj

    British Raj primarily refers to the British rule in the Indian subcontinent between 1858 and 1947; it can also refer to the period of dominion, and even the region under the rule....
    . The six were shot dead by the forces under the command of the-then colonial government of India, while the last and the seventh one was able to hoist the flag.
  • Nagholkothi
    Nagholkothi

    Naghol kothi is a palace located in Patna City, India. This building was built in the British Raj, by a mughal architect and is splendid example of Mughal architecture ....
     Located in Old city of Patna. Built by Nawabs of Patna, it is an example of unique architecture of midlive time with beautiful garden of Mughal style.
  • Danapur
    Danapur

    Danapur, sometimes known as Dinapur, located on on the right bank of the Ganges, is a satellite town of Patna in Bihar state of India. In 1857 the sepoy garrison of the place initiated the rebellion in Patna district, but after a conflict with the European troops the sepoys were forced to retire from the town, and subsequently laid sie...
     Cantonment, 12 km from Patna. Its centre for Bihar Regiment.


Education

Patna emerged as one of the major center of learning in India. The Patna University, the first university in Bihar, was established in 1917, and is the 7th oldest University of the Indian subcontinent. PATNA imparting quality education in Technology, Management, Law, Medicine & Life Science, Fashion, History, Political Science, Economics etc. Major Institutions at Patna
  • Indian Institute of Technology Patna
    Indian Institute of Technology Patna

    Indian Institute of Technology, Patna , an autonomous institute for education and research in science, engineering and technology located in Patna, India, forms a part of the league along with 15 other IITs in India....
     is 8th IIT
    Indian Institutes of Technology

    The Indian Institutes of Technology , are a group of thirteen autonomous engineering and technology-oriented institutes of higher education established and declared as Institutes of National Importance by the Parliament of India....
     in India.
  • National Institute of Fashion Technology Patna
    National Institute of Fashion Technology Patna

    National Institute of Fashion Technology Patna , an autonomous institute for education Fashion and Related technology located in Patna, India. It is the Ninth member of the National Institute of Fashion Technology fraternity....
     is 9th NIFT in India.
  • National Institute of Technology, Patna
    National Institute of Technology, Patna

    The National Institute of Technology Patna is the 18th National Institute of Technology, created by the Ministry of Human Resources Development, Government of India on January 28, 2004....
    , (Estd. 1900), is 6th oldest engineering college of the country.
  • BIT Mesra Extension Centre, Patna
    Birla Institute of Technology

    Birla Institute of Technology Mesra, is an autonomous engineering and technology-oriented institute located in Ranchi, Jharkhand in India. It is a deemed university under Sec....
  • Chandragupt Institute of Management
    Chandragupt Institute of Management

    Chandragupt Institute of Management Patna has been established in 2008 as an autonomous institution under Societies Act, with active support and help from the Government of Bihar....
    , Patna, (Estd. 2008)
  • Chanakya National Law University
    Chanakya National Law University

    The Bihar Government has established Chanakya National Law University to provide quality legal education on the lines of NALSAR Hyderabad, India, NLSIU Bangalore and other Law Universities....
    , Patna, (Estd. 2006)
  • , Patna, (Estd. 1964), is a prominent social research institute.
  • Patna University, (Estd. 1917), Seventh Oldest University of the Indian Subcontinent.
  • Patna Science College
    Patna Science College

    Science College is an institution of higher science education located near the Ganges River in Bihar, India. The institution is a centre of international fame in the field of higher education under University of Patna....
    , (Estd. 1927), boasts of its numerous great Alumnus & research facilities.
  • Patna College
    Patna College

    Patna College is a college in Patna, Bihar, India. It was founded in 1863. After partition from Bengal, the first constitutent assembly was held in seminar hall of this college....
    , (Estd. 1863), one of oldest graduate college in India. Patna College has been hailed as the Oxford of Bihar with no Cambridge to compete with the students of Patna College have earned fame and respect not only in India but even abroad.
  • Patna Medical College and Hospital
    Patna Medical College

    Patna Medical College, established in 1925 and originally known as Prince of Wales Medical College, is a medical college located in Patna, the States and territories of India of Bihar, India.It is located on the southern bank of the river Ganges and is affiliated to Patna University.The exact location is on Ashok Rajpath which is home to...
    , (Estd. 1925), earlier known as Prince of Wales
    Prince of Wales

    Prince of Wales is a title traditionally granted to the Heir Apparent to the reigning monarch of the United Kingdom . The current Prince of Wales is Charles, Prince of Wales, the eldest son of Elizabeth II of the United Kingdom....
     Medical College.
  • Patna Women's College
    Patna Women's College

    Patna Women's College is one of the prestigious institutions of Bihar State, India. It was founded on 14 September, 1940 by Bishop B. J. Sulivan....
    , (Estd. 1940), was the first college for women in Bihar. It was founded by Bishop B. J. Sulivan.
  • College of Arts and Crafts
    College of Arts and Crafts

    College of Arts & Crafts, Patna is an institution for advanced training in Visual Arts and is a part of the Patna University, Patna, Bihar, India....
    , (Estd. 25 January 1939)
  • Magadha Mahila College, Patna
  • Patna Law College
  • Bihar National College, Patna
  • Vanijya Mahavidyala, Patna
  • Magadh University
    Magadh University

    Magadh University is a university in the state of Bihar, India. It is recognized by the University Grants Commission . The University is now governed by Bihar State University Act 1976....
  • L N Mishra Institute of Economic Development & Social Change, (Estd. 1973)
  • Anugrah Narayan College
    Anugrah Narayan College

    Anugrah Narayan College is one of the premier co-educational institutions of the state of Bihar, India. It was established in January, 1956. The first principal of the college was Dr....
    , (Estd. 1956), is one of the premier co-educational institutions of the state of Bihar
    Bihar

    Bihar is a States and territories of India in East India. Bihar is the 12th largest state in terms of geographical size 38,202 square mile and 3rd largest by population....
     imparting teachings to almost nine thousand students and is a constituent unit of Magadh University Bodh Gaya.It has been accredited Grade 'A' by NAAC and also accorded "CPE"(Colleges with Potential for Excellence) by UGC.
  • College of Commerce, Patna
  • Patna Institute of Technology
  • Maulana Azad College of Engineering and Technology, Patna
  • Dr. Zakir Hussain Institute of Non Formal & Continuous Education
  • International Institute Of Management Studies (iims)


Most government-run schools in Patna are affiliated with the Bihar School Examination Board, whereas most private schools are affiliated with the ICSE
ICSE

ICSE may refer to:*Indian Certificate of Secondary Education*International Conference on Software Engineering*Imperial College String Ensemble...
 and CBSE boards. Some of the prominent old schools in the city were established by missionaries during the British Raj
British Raj

British Raj primarily refers to the British rule in the Indian subcontinent between 1858 and 1947; it can also refer to the period of dominion, and even the region under the rule....
.

Patna also houses one of India's world-renowned libraries, the Khuda Baksh Oriental Library
Khuda Baksh Oriental Library

One of the national libraries of India, it has a rare collection of Persian language and Arabic manuscript. It also host paintings during Rajput and Mughal rule in India....
 and the Sinha Library, which is one of the largest in the region.

Gallery





External links