How to reach
Patna is well connected by Air to Delhi, Calcutta, Lucknow and Mumbai. It has an airport just outside the city. It is well connected by Rail to all the major cities in India.
Patna is well connected by road to Calcutta (608kms), Ranchi(316 kms) Bodhgaya (125kms), Nalanda (90kms), Pawapuri (90kms), Rajgir (102kms). Being the take off point for the Buddhist circuit Patna is well connected with kathmandu, Gaya, Bodhgaya, Rajgir and Nalanda by road also. There are several Bihar State road Transport Corporation buses plying to major destinations in Bihar and Varanasi. The journey to Varnasi takes 8-10 hours.
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Places to see
Golghar
This is a huge granery built in 1786 after the great famine of 1770. This is 29 metres high and has a winding flight of stairs leading to the top.
Patna Saheb
The great shrine of the Sikhs, Harmandirji is in Patna city. This was built by Maharaja Ranjit Singh to honour the birthplace of the tenth Guru of the Sikhs, Guru Gobind Singh. It is one of the holiest places of the Sikhs.
Jalan Museum
It is built in the Sher Shah Suri's Fort and has a huge collection of jade, Chinese paintings and silver filigree work of the Mughal period. Since it is a private collection, visitors to the Museum have to obtain prior permission.
Martyrs' Memorial
Life-size statues of the 7 martyrs who died in August 1942 has been put up in front of the old Secretariat.
Kumrahar
Kumrahar, is the old site of Patliputra, is 5 kms from the railway station. Archaeological excavations have revealed many artefacts of the ancient dynasties here.
Saif Khan's Mosque
Also known as Patthar Ki Masjid it is situated on the banks of Ganga. It is also called Chimni Ghat Mosque or Sangi Masjid.
Patna Museum
A must see for people interested in the relics of the Mauryan and Gupta dynasties.The is the fossil of a 16 metre tall tree.
Khuda Baksh Oriental Library
It houses a collection of rare Arabic and Persian manuscripts, Rajput and Mughal paintings and an inch-wide copy of the Holy Quran.
Agam Kuan
Agam Kuan(Unfathomable well) is an ancient relic of the Mauryan Emperor Ashok.
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Excursions
Maner 29 kms from Patna famous for the Bari dargah cenotaph of the Sufi saint Hazrat Makhdoom Yahiya Maner. The tomb of his desciple Shah Daulat is also situated here.
Vaishali 55 kms from Patna is a special place for Buddhists as buddha delivered his last sermon here and announced his impending nirvana. The second Buddhist council held 100 years after Buddha's Parinirvana also took place here. Vaishali is also the birthplace of Lord Mahavira, the jain Guru, and is a sacred place for the Jains. Places to be visited include Abhishek Pushkarni, Ashoka Pillar, Lotus tank, Chaumukhi Mahadeo and the Vaishali museum.
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Tips:
Madhubani paintings are an important art form and if one visits five days after Diwali they can witness the sun festival called Chatth which is unique to the state of Bihar.
