Patna, a beautiful city on the banks of holy river Ganges, is the capital and largest city of the state of Bihar in India. This city in the north-east region of India is famous as a vibrant trade centre for many agricultural products including rice, sugarcane, sesame, wheat and oilseeds. Historically known as Pataliputra, Patna had praise worthy history, tradition and culture. It was ruled by many famous kings from well known dynasties including Maurya Dynasty.

Patna is a famous tourist and pilgrimage destination. Hindi is the official language of the state of Bihar and the native dialect is Magadhi or Magahi, named after Magadha, the ancient name of Bihar. Another widely spoken dialect and language includes Bhojpuri. Delectable local specialities such as Litti Chokha, Chaat, sweets like Peda and Kalakand should not be missed when in Patna.

Best time to visit:

Patna offers humid subtropical climate with hot summers and the best time to visit Patna is from October to March.

Top five places to see:

Golghar – Alarmed by the famine of 1770, Captain John Garstin built this huge granary for the British army in 1786. The massive structure is 29 m high and the walls are 3.6 m wide at the base. The winding stairway around this monument offers a brilliant panoramic view of the city and the Ganges.

Har Mandir Takht – Guru Gobind Singh, the 10th Guru of the Sikhs, was born in Patna. The Har Mandir Takht, one of the four sacred shrines of the Sikhs, stands at this holy site. The original temple was built by Maharaja Ranjit Singh and contains belongings of the Guru and Sikh holy texts.

Patna Museum – The Patna Museum houses a First World War cannon, metal and stone sculptures of the Mauryan and Gupta periods, Buddhist sculptures and quaint terracotta figures. A 16 m long fossilised tree is one of its special features.

Khuda Bakhsh Oriental Library – Situated close to the banks of the Ganga River is the Khuda Bakhsh Oriental Library. Established in 1900, it is one of the oldest libraries in India housing a unique collection of around 21,000 oriental manuscripts and 2.5 lakh printed books.

Quila House – This private museum is an interesting place to visit in Patna. The place houses a wide range of antiques that include Mughal period silverware, weaponry and even the wooden bed of Napoleon III. Visiting this museum is sure to give and enriching and enlightening experience.