Patna, one of the oldest cities in the world, offers something for everything. The city stretches for 15 km along the south bank of the Ganges. The main railway station, airline offices and the airport are all at the western end of the town, while the older and more traditional part of Patna are to the east. The 'hub' of the new Patna is at Gandhi Maidan. The main market area is Ashok Raj Path which starts from Gandhi Maidan and Dak Bungalow Crossing and Bailey Road besides Frazer Road, Exhibition Road, Boring Road, and Boring Canal Road that offer some of the most swanky shopping experiences in the city.

museum4From old relics like Kumhrar to new constructions like the Patna Planetarium, there are interesting places for people of all interests, nationality, and religion. It's no wonder then that the Patna has more tourists than any other places in Bihar. There are many travel agents for your needs catering from domestic travels within the state to other parts of the country and abroad. For visitors, transportation is abundant to roam in and around the city. Also, there are several hotels in the area to suit just about any budget ranging from Marwari Basa to 3 or 4-star more expensive accommodations. Come and rediscover the glories of Patna where guests and visitors are treated with immense respect and love.

LANDMARKS OF PATNA:

Patna Museum: This is undoubtedly one of the best museums anywhere in the country. It has an excellent collection of artifacts and collectibles. It has a 53-foot fossil tree, 200 million years old. Besides this there are several metal and stone sculptures dating back to the 3rd century BC.

There are also a number of original terracotta figures and ancient household implements here. Some of the original Chinese and Tibetan paintings are also very interesting. There is also another museum, the Jalan Museum. It houses a private collection and can be seen only with prior permission.

Gandhi Setu, a bridge built across the mighty river Ganga connecting North and Central Bihar.

Moinul Haq Stadium, a center for international sporting events and has hosted World Cup Cricket matches.

Zoo & Botanical Garden, Bailey Road.

patna_high_courtPatna High Court, Bailey Road.

Sher Shah Masjid: This mosque was built in the Afghan style of architecture by the frontier ruler Sher Shah in 1545. This is also the oldest mosque in the entire region. Sher Shah Suri was easily the most important ruler of these parts in the more recent history of this region, he broke away from the Mughal empire of Humayun to setup his own kingdom.

Kumhrar - 8 kilometer from Patna, this is where excavations have found remains of the ancient capital, Pataliputra. Patna is one of the oldest inhabited places in the world, dating back to a document history  till the 4th century BC. The highlights here are the remains of a Buddhist monastery, Anand Bihar and an assembly hall with huge pillars which date back to the Mauryan period. Another fantastic find here is the 4th century BC palace of the Mauryas, the sheer size of whose constructions says a lot about the lifestyle of the times.

planetarium_aerialPlanetarium, 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.

Wheeler Senate Hall, Ashok Rajpath

All India Radio Station, Frazer Road

Gandhi Maidan

Rajgir: About 100 km. from Patna the Saptaparni cave in Rajgir was the venue for the first Buddhist council held after the Buddha attained Nirvana. During the Buddha's time, Rajgir and not Pataliputra was the capital city of these parts. It was known as Rajgriha and was the capital of Magadh, the major Hindu kingdom of this region in those days. Rajgriha is also one of the most important places in the history of Buddhism for it was here, in Griddhakuta, that the Buddha converted the Mauryan king Bimbisara to Buddhism and paved the way for the foundation of the greatest Buddhist empire in the subcontinent.

golghar_newRajgriha has several interesting tales attached to it. There is the famous archaeological discovery, 'Ajatshatru's fort' here that is said to be the place where King Ajatshatru imprisoned his father Bimbisara. There is also the Vishwa Shanti Stupa, a temple for wold peace built by the Japanese up the hill from Rajgir which has to be reached by an aerial ropeway. There is also the Jarasandha Akhada where the mythological battle between Bhima and Jarasdhana of the Mahabharat is said to have been fought.

LANDMARKS AROUND GANDHI MAIDAN:

Golghar: Golghar is a huge granary built in 1786 to store food in case of famines. It was built by the British after a terrible famine in 1770, but rarely ever used since then and remains Patna's one of the most photograped icons till date.

S. K. Memorial Auditorium.

Reserve Bank of India, South Gandhi Maidan
biscomaun_aerial1Biscomaun Building, West Gandhi Maidan