Tourism in Patna is refers to tourism in capital city of Bihar state in India. Patna is known for its tourist destinations and people across the state and abroad visits Patna. This article deals with major tourist attractions in Patna.
History of tourism edit
The documented history of tourism in the Patna region dates back to the 4th century BC. Greek geographer Megasthenes (c. 350–290 BC) visited the region during the reign of Chandragupta Maurya. His observations were recorded in Indika.[1] Dionysius was the son of Megasthenes, who visited Pataliputra in the reign of Ashoka the Great.[2]
Fa-Hien (ca. 337 - c. 422) was a Chinese tourist who traveled to acquire Buddhist scriptures and take back to China between 399 and 412.[3] Hieun-Tsang visited the sacred Buddhist sites in Magadha and spent much time studying at the great Nalanda University between 629 and 645.[4]
Types of tourists and tourism edit
In the earliest days tourism in the region was purely for educational purposes.[3] As Patna is one of the most sacred cities of religions like Buddhism, Jainism, Sikhism and Islam, many people travel to Patna as part of religious tourism.
- International tourists - Patna attracts tourists from all over the globe, though most are Buddhists from Japan and China.
- Domestic tourists visit the area on their respective pilgrimages.
Today, tourism in Patna is mainly either religious-based or moderated educational tourism. The Bihar government is also promoting adventure tourism.[5]
Attractions edit
Archaeological sites edit
The history and tradition of Patna starts from the earliest dawn of civilization. The original name of Patna was Pataliputra. Its documented history starts around 600 BC.[6] As Patna has 2600 years of history and has seen a number of empires, there are numerous archaeological sites in the area.
- Kumhrar - The archaeological remains of the Mauryan period (322–185 BCE) have been discovered here, including the ruins of a hypostyle 80-pillared hall.[7][8] The excavation finding here dates back to 600 BC,[9] and marks the ancient capital of Ajatashatru, Chandragupta and Ashoka, and collectively the relics range through four continuous periods from 600 BC to 600 AD.[9]
- Didarganj Yakshi is a fine example of Mauryan art. The sculpture is currently housed in the Patna Museum,[10] and is India's most famous piece of art.
- Agam Kuan, which means "unfathomable well", is said to date back to the period of the Maurya emperor Ashoka. The well is located east of Patna.[11][12]
- Chausagarh or Chausa, of Buxar, while very well known in the annals of Indian history as the place where in 1539 AD Sher Shah defeated the Mughal emperor Humayun, is also a place of great antiquity.
- Bulandibag
- Bhikhnapahari
Ganges river banks edit
The Bihar State Tourism Development Corporation (BSTDC) has recently started operating an air-conditioned floating restaurant MV Ganga Vihar from Gandhi Ghat offering dinner cruises twice a day.[13]
The Tourism Department focuses on the Ganges Ghats in Patna as a major attraction. Motor boats are available to rent at a moderate price and are fitted with Yamaha 25 HP air-cooled two-stroke engines. Lucky tourists can spot Ganges dolphins.[14] There are a number of forts (like Raja Ghat, at Rani Ghat, collectarate Ghat) and pilgrimages (like Kali Mandir at Kali Ghat, Gurdwara Pahila Bara at Gai Ghat, and Gurdwara Gobind Ghat at Gaobind Ghat) situated on the bank of the Ganges in Patna. Tourists can visit Mahatma Gandhi Setu which is one of the longest bridges in the world and situated at Gaighat.
Religious complex edit
Patna is a popular destination for people who are on pilgrimage.
Hindu pilgrimages edit
- Mahavir Mandir, located in Patna, is one of the holiest Hindu temples dedicated to Hanuman. Millions of pilgrims visit the temple every year. It is the second most-visited religious shrine in North India. The Mahavir Mandir Trusts have the second highest budget in North India after the famous Vaishno Devi shrine.[15]
- Patan Devi - The sacred temple is held to be one of the 51 Siddha Shakti Pithas in India. According to Puranic legends, the 'right thigh' of the corpse of Sati had fallen here when it was chopped off by Lord Vishnu with his 'Sudarshan Chakra'. The ancient temple, originally called Maa Sarvanand Kari Patneshwari, is believed to be the abode of the goddess Durga.[16]
- Kali Mandir
- Birla Mandir
Sikh pilgrimages edit
Patna is one of the holiest cities in Sikhism, as the tenth Guru of the Sikhs, Guru Gobind Singh, was born here in 1666 and spent his early years before moving to Anandpur.[17] Patna was also honoured by visits from Guru Nanak in 1509 as well as Guru Tegh Bahadur in 1666.
- Takht Shri Harmandir Saheb is one of the Five Takhts of Sikhism. The Gurdwara at Patna Sahib is in remembrance of the birthplace of Guru Gobind Singh, the tenth Guru of the Sikhs.[17]
- Gurdwara Pahila Bara, commonly known as Gurdwara Ghai Ghat, is dedicated to Guru Nanak Dev, who during his visit to Patna stayed here in 1509 AD Guru Tegh Bahadur along with his family visited this place in 1666 AD[18]
- Gurdwara Gobind Ghat is where the child Guru Gobind Singh used to play with his playmates on the bank of the Ganges. It is situated on the bank of river Ganges and hardly 200 yards from Takht Shri Harmandir Saheb. It is also known as Gurdwara Kangan Ghat.[19]
- Gurdwara Guru ka Bagh - This Gurdwara is situated 2 miles away from the birthplace of Guru Gobind Singh.[20]
- Gurdwara Bal Leela - This place is just a few meters away from Takhat Patna Sahib. Guru ji were playing with other children during his childhood. Gurdwara Bal Leela is also known as Maini Sangat.[21]
- Gurdwara Handi Sahib - This Gurdwara was built in the memory of Guru Teg Bahadur, as he with Mata Gujri and Bala Preetam stayed here in 1728.[22]
Islamic pilgrimages edit
- Pathar ki Masjid - The Pathar Ki Masjid stands on the bank of the river Ganges near Takht Shri Harmandir Saheb. Parvez Shah, son of Jahangir, established Pathar Ki Masjid in 1621.[1] The structure is built of stones, and so it got its name as Pathar Ki Masjid.[23]
- Sher Shah Suri Masjid, a mosque, also known as Shershahi, is an example of the Afghan style of architecture.[24] Sher Shah Suri built this mosque in 1540–1545 to commemorate his reign. It is sited in the southwest corner of Purab Darwaza near Dhawalpura.[25]
- Maner Sharif is the place where Makhdum Daulat in 1608 breathed his last. It was then in 1616 that Ibrahim Khan, Governor of Bihar who was also his disciple, finished the construction of his mausoleum.
- Bihar Sharif - The city was an active centre of Muslim learning and art. Today it is a small town with a rich cultural past and is a major Muslim pilgrimage centre.[26]
- Phulwari Sharif - Some important places in Phulwari Sharif: Khanqah Mujeebia, Sheesh Mahal, Shahi Sangi Masjid, Imarat-E-Shariya.
- Begu Hajjam's Mosque - built in 1489 by the Bengal ruler Alauddin Hussani Shah.
Christian pilgrimages edit
- Padari ki haveli - The "Mansion of Padre", also known as St Mary's Church, is the oldest church in Bihar. When Roman Catholics arrived in Bihar, they built a small church in 1713 at a place now known as "Padri-ki-Haveli".[27]
- Old Church of Patna
Jain pilgrimages edit
- Kamaldah Jain Temple : Kamaldah Jain Temple Complex is the oldest Jain temple in Patna built in 18th century. This temple belonging to digambar sect. of Jainism, is dedicated to Neminatha, the 22nd tirthankara. This place has traditionally been associated with the birth of the renowned Jain teacher, Sthulabhadra.
Infotainment complex edit
- Patna Planetarium is one of the largest planetariums in Asia.[28] It was dedicated to the nation and opened to public on 1 April 1993.
- Patna Museum is the state museum of Bihar. It was built by the British during the British Raj in 1917 to house the historical artifacts found in the vicinity of Patna.[29]
- Sanjay Gandhi Jaivik Udyan is classified as one of the 16 large zoos in the country and is also known as Sanjay Gandhi Botanical and Zoological Garden or the Patna Zoo. This is situated near Bailey Road in Patna.[30]
- Srikrishna Science Centre - This institution forms a unit of the National Council of Science Museums, an autonomous body under the Ministry of Culture. It is located at the southwestern corner of the Gandhi Maidan.[31] Of late it has become a popular destination, especially for the kids. A number of attractions have been added in the center.[32]
- Khuda Bakhsh Oriental Library - One of the national libraries of India, it has a rare collection of Persian and Arabic manuscripts. It also hosts paintings made during Rajput and Mughal rule in India.[33]
- Sinha Library
Buildings and structures edit
- Golghar - The Golghar or Gol Ghar ("Round house"), located to the west of the Gandhi Maidan, is a granary built by Captain John Garstin in 1786.[34]
- Sabhyata Dwar- a sandstone arch monument located on the banks on River Ganga in the city of Patna.
- Mahatma Gandhi Setu, with a length of 5450 meters,[35] is one of the longest bridges in the world. The approach to the bridge from the south is a 50 km long flyover. There are 40 piers to this bridge.
- Digha–Sonpur Bridge is a rail-cum-road bridge provides easy roadway and railway link between northern and southern parts of Bihar.
- Kargil Chowk is a war memorial. It was established in the year 2000, near Gandhi Maidan. It is dedicated to the soldiers from Bihar and Jharkhand who sacrificed their lives in the Kargil War against Pakistan in 1999.[36]
- Patna High Court was established on 3 February 1916, and later affiliated under the Government of India Act, 1915. The court is headquartered in Patna, the administrative capital of the state.[37]
- Naghol kothi is a palace (Kothi) located in Patna. This building was built during the British Raj by a Mughal architect and is a splendid example of Mughal architecture.[38] This building is surrounded by a beautiful garden.
- Saheed Smarak is a famous landmark situated near Bihar Vidhan Sabha. It is a memorial to seven extraordinary students who attempted to hoist the Indian flag on top of the Bihar Vidhan Sabha in 1942 during British rule.[39]
- Anugrah Seva Sadan, Established by Loknayak Jayaprakash Narayan, a care home for underprivileged [40]
- Darbhanga House, also called Nav Lakha building, was built by Maharaja Sir Kameshwar Singh of Darbhanga. This beautiful building on the banks of Ganges houses the Kali Mandir, which is a place of worship of the goddess Durga.[41]
- Shri Krishna Memorial Hall
- Secretariat Building
- Qila House - also known as Jalan House
Parks edit
- Gandhi Maidan, previously known as the Patna Lawns, is a historic ground at Patna near the banks of the Ganges.[42]
- Patna Zoo is classified as one of the 16 large zoos in the country and is also known as Sanjay Gandhi Botanical and Zoological Garden or Patna Zoo. It is situated near Bailey Road in Patna.[43]
- Congress Maidan is a historic ground that symbolises the Indian independence movement in Bihar. It was used to hold meetings by great luminaries like Rajendra Prasad, Nehru, Anugrah Narayan Sinha, Sri Dr. Krishna Sinha, Jayaprakash Narayan and others.
- Buddha Smriti Park, located at the place where once historical Bankipore jail of British era existed. The central attraction of this park is the Stupa, 200 feet high, situated in the middle of the park.
Sports complexes edit
- Moin-ul-Haq Stadium is the largest in Bihar.[44] The stadium features a swimming pool and a cricket academy.
- Patna Golf Club - situated west of the Government House to the South Bihar Gymkhana Club. It is a 165-acre (67 ha) golf field[45] and includes some very tough holes. This well-maintained course will prove interesting to amateur and pros alike.[46]
- Patliputra Sports Complex - is a sports stadium in the Neighbourhood of Kankarbagh.
- Patna Indoor Stadium - also known as Rainbow Field and will be renamed after Abhinav Bindra.[47]
Club edit
Patna houses such prominent clubs as the Bankipore Club, Golf Club, New Patna Club, Lions Club, and Rotary Club.[48] The Bankipore Club, on the banks of the river Ganges, came into existence in 1913.[49] It is affiliated with various organizations.[50][51] The dance hall of this club is said to be one of the original buildings built by the Dutch in the 17th century.
Neighbourhoods edit
Places Near Patna edit
Shopping edit
Shopping is one of the favourite recreational activities of the locals. Numerous shopping complexes exist in Patna, including P &M Mall, City Centre, N.P. Centre, Maharaja Kameshwar Complex, Verma Centre, Kulharia complex, Khaitan market and Harihar Chamber being amongst the prominent shopping destinations. Maurya lok is one of the oldest and largest shopping areas of Patna. Patna market and Hathwa market are also famous shopping points of the city. There are also malls featuring branded outlets and entertainment.
Footnotes edit
- ^ Surviving text of Indika Archived 28 May 2006 at the Wayback Machine - book by Megasthenes
- ^ Pliny the Elder, The Natural History, Chap. 21 Archived 28 July 2013 at the Wayback Machine
- ^ a b A Record of Buddhistic Kingdoms: Being an account by the Chinese Monk Fa-Hien of his travels in India and Ceylon (A.D. 399-414) in search of the Buddhist Books of Discipline Archived 24 January 2009 at the Wayback Machine. Oxford, Clarendon Press. Reprint: New York, Paragon Book Reprint Corp. 1965. ISBN 0-486-21344-7
- ^ Wriggins, Sally Hovey. Xuanzang: A Buddhist Pilgrim on the Silk Road. Westview Press, 1996. Revised and updated as The Silk Road Journey With Xuanzang. Westview Press, 2003. ISBN 0-8133-6599-6.
- ^ Ganges river banks as tourism destination in Patna Archived 29 January 2009 at the Wayback Machine
- ^ History of Patna Archived 10 August 2007 at the Wayback Machine
- ^ Devise plan to save Kumhrar site:HC Archived 21 October 2012 at the Wayback Machine. The Times of India, 1 February 2002.
- ^ Experts meet to preserve Kumhrar Archived 21 October 2012 at the Wayback Machine. The Times of India, 26 December 2006
- ^ a b Ancient city of Pataliputra Archived 10 April 2009 at the Wayback Machine (Patna) official website.
- ^ Yakshni Museums in Bihar Archived 17 March 2007 at the Wayback Machine, Govt of Bihar official website.
- ^ Patna Buddhist-Tourism Archived 7 September 2008 at the Wayback Machine
- ^ Patna Archived 18 September 2014 at the Wayback Machine, Bihar State Tourism Development Corporation.
- ^ MV Ganga Vihar Floating Restaurant Archived 1 August 2009 at the Wayback Machine
- ^ Ganges Ghats as Tourism destination in Patna Archived 29 January 2009 at the Wayback Machine
- ^ Budget of Mahavir Mandir Archived 21 October 2012 at the Wayback Machine
- ^ Patan Devi Temple Archived 17 December 2008 at the Wayback Machine
- ^ a b Johar, Surinder Singh (1979). Guru Gobind Singh: A Study. Marwah Publications. p. 23.
- ^ Gurdwara Pahila Bara Archived 11 January 2010 at the Wayback Machine
- ^ Gurdwara Gobind Ghat Archived 27 May 2009 at the Wayback Machine
- ^ Gurdwara Guru ka Bagh Archived 17 February 2012 at the Wayback Machine
- ^ Gurdwara Bal Leela Archived 27 May 2009 at the Wayback Machine
- ^ Gurdwara Handi Sahib Archived 27 May 2009 at the Wayback Machine
- ^ Pathar ki Masjid Archived 21 November 2008 at the Wayback Machine
- ^ Sher Shah Suri Masjid
- ^ Sher Shah Suri Masjid Archived 10 April 2009 at the Wayback Machine
- ^ Sufi circuit Archived 10 December 2008 at the Wayback Machine
- ^ Padri-Ki-Haveli Archived 8 August 2008 at the Wayback Machine
- ^ Patna Planetarium Archived 16 April 2009 at the Wayback Machine
- ^ The State Museum - Patna Museum Archived 9 May 2008 at the Wayback Machine
- ^ Patna Sanjay Gandhi Jaivik Udyan Archived 16 October 2010 at the Wayback Machine
- ^ Exhibits / Facilities at Srikrishna Science Centre Archived 1 October 2008 at the Wayback Machine
- ^ New Facilities at Shrikrishna Science Center Archived 6 December 2010 at the Wayback Machine
- ^ Khuda Baksh Oriental Library
- ^ Golghar, 1888[permanent dead link], Victoria & Albert Museum.
- ^ "Karnataka / Bijapur News : Korthi-Kolhar bridge inaugurated". The Hindu. Chennai, India. 24 August 2006. Archived from the original on 25 September 2008.
- ^ Kargil Chowk Archived 10 April 2009 at the Wayback Machine
- ^ Patna High Court Archived 16 September 2008 at the Wayback Machine
- ^ Nagholkothi Archived 6 May 2008 at the Wayback Machine
- ^ Saheed Smarak Archived 14 September 2008 at the Wayback Machine
- ^ masses.http://www.biharjagran.com/tourism.php
- ^ Darbhanga House Archived 10 November 2008 at the Wayback Machine
- ^ Kamat. "Great freedom Fighters". Kamat's archive. Archived from the original on 20 February 2006. Retrieved 25 February 2006.
- ^ Sanjay Gandhi Jaivik Udyan Archived 16 October 2010 at the Wayback Machine
- ^ Moin-ul-Haq Stadium Archived 5 July 2008 at the Wayback Machine
- ^ Patna Golf Club Archived 7 December 2008 at the Wayback Machine
- ^ Patna Golf Club Archived 6 October 2008 at the Wayback Machine
- ^ Patna Indoor Stadium Archived 21 September 2008 at the Wayback Machine
- ^ Clubs in Patna Archived 26 October 2008 at the Wayback Machine
- ^ Bankipore Club
- ^ Affiliation of Bankipore Club by Golden Swan Country Club Archived 3 October 2008 at the Wayback Machine
- ^ Affiliation of Bankipore Club by L'AMICALE Archived 27 August 2008 at the Wayback Machine
External links edit
