Patna
The Kingdom of the Magadh Rulers
General Information
Other Name: Patliputra, District: Patna, State: Bihar, India
Area: 107.8 Sq. Km.
Languages Spoken: Hindi, Maithili, Bhojpuri, Magadhi and English.
Long Distance Code: +91-612
Importance: Capital of the state of Bihar.
Best Time to Visit: October to February
Description
Patna... or Pataliputra was a small village with the name of Patali or Pataligrama as mentioned in Buddhist and Jain scriptures. Although historically it is believed to have been transformed from a village to a town by the King Ajatshatru who ruled over Rajgriha and wanted Patali to be his capital for its strategic location; legends say its original King was Putraka who named the place on his queen's name, Patali. It is said that just before his death, Lord Buddha after seeing a fort built on the banks of River Ganges had predicted a bright future for the would be city but also had predicted its downfall due to flood or fire.<br />And indeed, Pataliputra, as it was known then, rose to be a great city. It served many a dynasties and rulers. From Pataligrama, to Pataliputra, to Kusumpura to Kusumdhwaja to Padmavati to Azimabad to Patna, the name of the city changed with times, time and again. But the glory of this ancient city rose during the Maurya dynasty and especially during the tenure of Emperor Ashoka. The architecture of the city as well rose to a grandeur which was never seen before. It was during this period that Pataliputra produced great scholars from Chanakya, Aryabhatta and Vatsyayana. <br />Emperor Ashoka then transformed the earlier city into even more beautiful city. After embracing the Buddhism he built many Stupas and Monasteries which dotted the skyline of this prosperous city. <br />But alas all the glory and beauty vanished with the floods caused by rains in the 6th century A.D. The history of the middle age of this ancient city is not known. It was only in the 16th century when Sher Shah Suri decided to build a fort here that the city came back to the forefront. Later it went under the Mughal control. It was once again renamed as Azimabad after the favourite grand son of the Mughal king Aurangzeb. With an eventual decline of the Mughal power, Patna went into the hands of the Nawab of Bengal and soon was passed on to the British. After the Indian independence the small and tiny village Pataligrama became the capital of the state of Bihar. <br />Today, Patna has become the starting point for Buddhist pilgrimage in the country as there are many sites of Buddhist interest in its vicinity. Bihar state as a whole is famous for its Madhubani paintings and its peculiar festivities such as the Chhath. The people of the region, basically rice eaters, love to have sattu in its various forms. The fertile land and its verdant greenery are because of the Ganges that flows from west to east through the state. Especially at Patna, it is at its fullest and therefore has the largest bridge in India that stretches from one shore to the other. It is around 7.5 kms long and is called as Mahatma Gandhi Setu.Location
The district of Patna is situated in the heart of the eastern state of Bihar and is the capital city of Bihar. Bihar once was a flourishing state economically as well as religiously. It is called as a divine state which gave birth to legends like Lord Buddha and Lord Mahavira. Infact the name Bihar comes from the name Vihar, which were Buddhist monasteries in earlier days. The capital city of Patna is situated on the famous Ganga River and is famous as the biggest historical city of India. Surrounded by the districts of Nalanda, Vaishali, Jahanabad, Bhojpur and Saran it has always been a fertile soil with bountiful crops.
The claims of Patna to be one of the ancient cities India is proved on this spot. The archaeological findings here give all the proof what the city of Pataliputra must have been once upon a time. The remains of the political glory of the ancient city of Pataliputra that was from 600 B.C to 600 A.D. have been unearthed from this very site. Although not much is found here as the Mauryan architecture was based on wood, what has been excavated is enough to prove its links with the olden city. Some of the structures unearthed are remains of a large pillared assembly hall of the Mauryan times, a Buddhist monastery, parts of Anand Bihar, and some clay figures and wooden beams. But all these date back to the days of Ajatshatru and Emperor Ashok nearly of the year 300 B. C.
The region faced a bad famine during the mid of the 18th century. This made the British think over and ultimately the Golghar was built by Captain John Grastin in 1786. It was meant to be a storage house of grains fro the people if famine ever occurs. Though it was never used for the purpose, the structure still stands. The 29 meter high structure has spiral stairs to go on to the top which gives a magnificent view f the city of Patna and the River Ganga.
Also known as Harmandir Ki Takht and one of the Takht out side Punjab, this place is revered for the Sikh pilgrims, being the birth place of the 10th Sikh Guru, Guru Gobind Singh. He was born here in 1666 and spent his childhood in Patna before moving out to Punjab. The Temple has the articles used by him during his childhood. The structure that was built earlier was destroyed by fire. Later Maharaja Ranjit Singh of Punjab built a new structure in Marble in 1934, which too was destroyed in the massive earthquake that rocked the city. The present structure is fifty years old and was rebuilt in 1954. Located in the old city of Patna, the Patna Sahib attracts many pilgrims from all over the world. The birthday of Guru Gobind Singh is celebrated as a festivity here.
The beautiful life size statues standing in front of the secretariat building were built in the memory of the young seven men who sacrificed their lives during the Quit India movement in 1942.
Probably the only ancient remain of the Mauryan period in the city is the Agam Kuan. It was supposed to be prison during the time of Maurya Emperor Ashok and literally means a bottomless well.
The beautiful Masjid next to the Patna Sahib, standing on the banks of the River Ganga, was built in the early 17th century, by Parwez Shah, son of Jehangir, when he was appointed the governor of Bihar.
The Patna Museum situated inside the city has many archaeological artifacts on display. The most famous amongst them being the huge canon used during the First world War, and a 200 million old fossil of a tree; the oldest fossil of the world. One can also find Buddhist sculptures of the Maurya and Gupta period. The Jalan Museum situated inside the fort of Sher Shah Suri also has beautiful Chinese paintings and some other private collection.
An ancient town nearly 40 kms from Patna, the location of Maner suggests its strategic importance in the early days of the Maurya Empire. It is situated on the confluence of the Rivers Ganga, Son and Sharayu. There is a beautiful mausoleum of a 13th century Sufi saint Hazrat Makhdoom Yahya Maneri which gives the place its name, in Maner. This mausoleum is of special significance as not only as one of the holy pilgrimage sites but also the historical fact that Sikandar Lodi and Mughal king Babur having visited it. \r\n\r\nOther places to be visited near Patna are the important Buddhist sites such as Vaishali, Nalanda and Rajgir.\r\n
Buddhism with Heritage & Culture Tour / PI-0183 (11 Days / 10 Nights)
Delhi-Jaipur-Agra-Jhansi-Khajuraho-Varanasi-Bodhgaya-Rajgir-Nalanda-Patna-Delhi
From Bodh Gaya to Sarnath to Sravasti to Rajgir to Kushinagar to Lumbini - this entire region of India recreates the life of Buddha. Our tour package not only gives you an opportunity to visit these places but also makes you appreciate the culture of this region which gave the world some of the most enduring religions.
Detailed Itinerary
Day 1 : Delhi
Day 2 : Delhi
Day 3 : Delhi - Jaipur
Day 4 : Jaipur - Agra
Day 5 : Agra - Jhansi - Khajuraho
Day 6 : Khajuraho - Varanasi
Day 7 : Varanasi
Day 8 : Varanasi - Bodhgaya
Day 9 : Bodhgaya
Day 10 : Bodhgaya - Rajgir - Nalanda - Patna
Day 11 : Patna - Delhi
Delhi-Jaipur-Agra-Jhansi-Khajuraho-Varanasi-Bodhgaya-Rajgir-Nalanda-Patna-Delhi
From Bodh Gaya to Sarnath to Sravasti to Rajgir to Kushinagar to Lumbini - this entire region of India recreates the life of Buddha. Our tour package not only gives you an opportunity to visit these places but also makes you appreciate the culture of this region which gave the world some of the most enduring religions.
Detailed Itinerary
Day 1 : Delhi
Day 2 : Delhi
Day 3 : Delhi - Jaipur
Day 4 : Jaipur - Agra
Day 5 : Agra - Jhansi - Khajuraho
Day 6 : Khajuraho - Varanasi
Day 7 : Varanasi
Day 8 : Varanasi - Bodhgaya
Day 9 : Bodhgaya
Day 10 : Bodhgaya - Rajgir - Nalanda - Patna
Day 11 : Patna - Delhi
Buddhist Pilgrimage Tour of India / PI-0129 (12 Days / 11 Nights)
Mumbai-Aurangabad-Mumbai-Bhopal-Agra-Varanasi-Bodhgaya-Rajgir-Nalanda-Patna-Delhi
From the Stupa of Sanchi to the ruins of Nalanda and the ultimate caves of Ellora and Ajanta; Buddha's preachings reached all over in India through the art form. This tour takes you from the Ajanta caves which were created nearly thousand years after the nirwana of Lord Buddha to the place where he attained his enlightenment.
Detailed Itinerary
Day 1 : Mumbai
Day 2 : Mumbai - Aurangabad
Day 3 : Aurangabad
Day 4 : Aurangabad-Mumbai-Bhopal
Day 5 : Bhopal
Day 6 : Bhopal - Agra
Day 7 : Agra - Varanasi
Day 8 : Varanasi
Day 9 : Varanasi - Bodhgaya
Day 10 : Bodhgaya
Day 11 : Bodhgaya-Rajgir-Nalanda-Patna
Day 12 : Patna-Delhi
Mumbai-Aurangabad-Mumbai-Bhopal-Agra-Varanasi-Bodhgaya-Rajgir-Nalanda-Patna-Delhi
From the Stupa of Sanchi to the ruins of Nalanda and the ultimate caves of Ellora and Ajanta; Buddha's preachings reached all over in India through the art form. This tour takes you from the Ajanta caves which were created nearly thousand years after the nirwana of Lord Buddha to the place where he attained his enlightenment.
Detailed Itinerary
Day 1 : Mumbai
Day 2 : Mumbai - Aurangabad
Day 3 : Aurangabad
Day 4 : Aurangabad-Mumbai-Bhopal
Day 5 : Bhopal
Day 6 : Bhopal - Agra
Day 7 : Agra - Varanasi
Day 8 : Varanasi
Day 9 : Varanasi - Bodhgaya
Day 10 : Bodhgaya
Day 11 : Bodhgaya-Rajgir-Nalanda-Patna
Day 12 : Patna-Delhi
Buddhist Sector / PI-018 (7 Days / 6 Nights)
Delhi-Patna-Nalanda-Rajgir-Bodhgaya-Varanasi-Delhi
An evolution of man from a normal human to an elevated soul leading the path to salvation is the primary guideline of Buddhism. The doctrine that was preached by Lord Buddha was not meant to be a religion but a path to lead the life. Buddha preached the four noble truths and the eight-fold path to salvation and attaining nirvana. Today one can seek for mental peace at these places where once the great soul left his footmarks.
Detailed Itinerary
Day 1 : Delhi
Day 2 : Delhi - Patna
Day 3 : Patna-Nalanda-Rajgir-Bodhgaya
Day 4 : Bodhgaya
Day 5 : Bodhgaya - Varanasi
Day 6 : Varanasi - Delhi
Day 7 : Delhi
Delhi-Patna-Nalanda-Rajgir-Bodhgaya-Varanasi-Delhi
An evolution of man from a normal human to an elevated soul leading the path to salvation is the primary guideline of Buddhism. The doctrine that was preached by Lord Buddha was not meant to be a religion but a path to lead the life. Buddha preached the four noble truths and the eight-fold path to salvation and attaining nirvana. Today one can seek for mental peace at these places where once the great soul left his footmarks.
Detailed Itinerary
Day 1 : Delhi
Day 2 : Delhi - Patna
Day 3 : Patna-Nalanda-Rajgir-Bodhgaya
Day 4 : Bodhgaya
Day 5 : Bodhgaya - Varanasi
Day 6 : Varanasi - Delhi
Day 7 : Delhi
BUUDHA S FOOTSTEPS WITH SONEPUR MELA / PC-599 (13 Days / 12 Nights)
Delhi-Lucknow-Sravasti-Lumbini-Kushinagar-Varanasi-Patna-Sonepur-Patna-Sonepur-Patna-Nalanda-Rajgir-Bodhgaya-Varanasi-Delhi
Sonepur Mela starts in November and lasts for next 15 days to one month every year. It draws more than 600,000 visitors to the Sonepur. One of the major attractions of the fair is the sight of scores of elephants that are beautifully decorated and lined up for sale. This is the only place in India or probably in the world where largest number of elephants are traded at one place. The buyers are mainly government forest department officials. You may even find the trading of large number of horses, goats, buffaloes, donkeys, ponies and dogs etc. along with elephants and other household cattle. In his very first sermon Lord Buddha put forth the Middle Way, the Four Noble Truths, and the Eightfold Path - the message spread rapidly, penetrating caste and class barriers; today Buddhism is a way of life in large parts of the world, its message of peace and tolerance speaks to us all. Buddha preached that the way to salvation is not dependent on God but on understanding the way things really are for all living beings subject to desire. We take you on a journey to places associated with important events in Buddha's life. Prince Siddhartha was born at Lumbini, became Buddha, the Enlightened One, at Bodhgaya, gave his first sermon at Sarnath, lived the greater part of his monastic life in Sravasti, and attained Nirvana at Kushinagar.
Detailed Itinerary
Day 1 : Delhi
Day 2 : Delhi
Day 3 : Delhi-Lucknow-Sravasti
Day 4 : Sravasti-Lumbini
Day 5 : Lumbini-Kushinagar
Day 6 : Kushinagar-Varanasi-Patna
Day 7 : Patna-Sonepur-Patna
Day 8 : Patna-Sonepur-Patna
Day 9 : Patna-Nalanda-Rajgir-Bodhgaya
Day 10 : Bodhgaya
Day 11 : Bodhgaya-Varanasi
Day 12 : Varanasi-Delhi
Day 13 : Delhi
Delhi-Lucknow-Sravasti-Lumbini-Kushinagar-Varanasi-Patna-Sonepur-Patna-Sonepur-Patna-Nalanda-Rajgir-Bodhgaya-Varanasi-Delhi
Sonepur Mela starts in November and lasts for next 15 days to one month every year. It draws more than 600,000 visitors to the Sonepur. One of the major attractions of the fair is the sight of scores of elephants that are beautifully decorated and lined up for sale. This is the only place in India or probably in the world where largest number of elephants are traded at one place. The buyers are mainly government forest department officials. You may even find the trading of large number of horses, goats, buffaloes, donkeys, ponies and dogs etc. along with elephants and other household cattle. In his very first sermon Lord Buddha put forth the Middle Way, the Four Noble Truths, and the Eightfold Path - the message spread rapidly, penetrating caste and class barriers; today Buddhism is a way of life in large parts of the world, its message of peace and tolerance speaks to us all. Buddha preached that the way to salvation is not dependent on God but on understanding the way things really are for all living beings subject to desire. We take you on a journey to places associated with important events in Buddha's life. Prince Siddhartha was born at Lumbini, became Buddha, the Enlightened One, at Bodhgaya, gave his first sermon at Sarnath, lived the greater part of his monastic life in Sravasti, and attained Nirvana at Kushinagar.
Detailed Itinerary
Day 1 : Delhi
Day 2 : Delhi
Day 3 : Delhi-Lucknow-Sravasti
Day 4 : Sravasti-Lumbini
Day 5 : Lumbini-Kushinagar
Day 6 : Kushinagar-Varanasi-Patna
Day 7 : Patna-Sonepur-Patna
Day 8 : Patna-Sonepur-Patna
Day 9 : Patna-Nalanda-Rajgir-Bodhgaya
Day 10 : Bodhgaya
Day 11 : Bodhgaya-Varanasi
Day 12 : Varanasi-Delhi
Day 13 : Delhi
Patna, India Tours
