Holiday in Patna

About Patna

Patna is the capital of the state of Bihar in northeastern India and one of the oldest continuously inhabited cities in the world. As ancient Pataliputra, the city was once the capital of the Maurya Empire under Emperor Ashoka (3rd century BC) and one of the largest urban centers of the ancient world — Greek envoys described it as a magnificent metropolis, larger than any city of the Persian Empire. The city stretches over 20 km along the southern bank of the Ganges, which reaches its full width here. The Golghar, a massive beehive-shaped granary built in 1786 by the British after a devastating famine, offers a panoramic view of the city and the Ganges from its top. Patna is a significant center for Sikhs: The Takht Sri Patna Sahib (Harmandir Sahib) is one of the five holy thrones of Sikhism and the birthplace of Guru Gobind Singh, the tenth Sikh Guru. Pilgrims from around the world visit this magnificent white marble temple. The region around Patna is the heartland of Buddhism: Bodhgaya (110 km south), where Buddha attained enlightenment under the Bodhi tree, is the holiest site in Buddhism. Nalanda (90 km), the oldest university in the world (founded in the 5th century), whose ruins have been a UNESCO World Heritage Site since 2016, and Rajgir with its hot springs and Jain pilgrimage sites form the Buddhist circuit. The Patna Museum houses an impressive collection of Maurya artifacts, including the Didarganj-Yakshi — a polished sandstone sculpture from the 3rd century BC, considered one of the masterpieces of Indian art.