Best Places to visit in Patna: Let’s take a tour of the eastern state of India and find out the great history of the place called Patna. The city was founded in the 5th century BC. The original name of that place was Patilputra, which later changed to Patna. The name may have changed, but the pride of the city remains the same today. This wonderful city located in the eastern region is the capital of Bihar. Whether the focus of your trip is to explore ancient history or you just want to have fun on a holiday with your family and friends, this mesmerizing place offers everything that one needs to make their vacation perfect. To explore Patna you can hire a Car rental in Patna and can explore this beautiful city.
To make your trip the most enjoyable, we have listed nine incredible places in Patna that will turn your vacation into a memorable one.
Patna Museum
The museum is housed in a majestic colonial-era building. Taking a tour will give you a glimpse of ancient Indian history, especially the history of the two largest Indian empires, collected here. Spectacular sculptures made in the Maurya era and Gupta period are stored here, and you will also see incredible bronze Buddhist statues. It doesn’t end here. Beautiful paintings by Thomas and William Daniels in the early 19th century also attract visitors from around the world.
Golghar
This massive structure was built by the British Army in 1786. The word Golghar means “a round shaped house”. This will give you an idea of what the Golghar looks like; It has a dome-like structure. You need to climb stairs to reach the top of the structure, but once you reach the top, you will have a mesmerizing view of Patna city. It wasn’t just designed to entice tourists; It has an important purpose behind its existence. It was actually built to avoid a recurrence of the terrible 1770 famine. When you look at its wall, you will read an old carved sign that says, ‘For the prevention of famine in these provinces’. Fortunately, Golghar never came into use and has now become a famous tourist destination.
Bihar Museum
Time to explore another museum. After all, you are in a place that has a great history of its own and Bihar Museum is one of the largest museums in South Asia. This museum will introduce you to the great ethnic groups of Bihar, and will showcase the fine art of Patna’s history. The most important thing to see in this museum is the Maurya-era Deedarganj Yakshi statue from 3rd century BC.
Buddha Memorial Park
This is a newly developed park. His Holiness the Dalai Lama inaugurated the park in 2010. It is spread over 9-hectares (22 acres) and is famous for its huge sandblasted charcoal stupa. This is the best place to get some peace and refresh your soul. When you step into the stupa, you will see a beautiful, bulletproof relic chamber. Not only this, the modern Buddhist museum in the park is something that every tourist loves to visit. Plus, there’s a great library and a free meditation center – what more do you need to make your day amazing?
ruins of pataliputra
This place will force you to use your imagination, as it is now completely ruined and you will need to imagine what this great city would have looked like in the ancient world, during the time of great kings like Ajatashatru (491) -459 BCE), Chandragupta (321-297 BCE) and Ashoka (274-237 BCE). Although there is not much left to see, you can see the sandstone remains of the giant pillars, which today echo the agony they went through.
Hanuman Temple
You cannot come to India without visiting the temple. The best thing about this place is that it is not far away. In fact, it is just opposite to Patna Junction. Taste the religious culture of Patna by visiting this place and seek the blessings of Lord Mahavir (Hanuman). Earlier, it was just an indescribably small structure, but in 1987, the temple was given a modern touch. However, devotees come not because of the architectural beauty of this temple, but to pay homage to Lord Hanuman.
Ruins of Nalanda University
To know more about the history of Patna, it is imperative to explore Nalanda, which is an ancient university. In modern times all that is left of this great ancient university is just a ruined structure. This marvelous monument made of red brick was once the largest university of ancient times. You can also visit the stupa located in the middle of the university. It was founded by Buddhist monks in 450 BC and is believed to have accommodated over 10,000 students and 2,000 teachers, and hosted the Buddha Siddhartha himself.
Take a boat ride at Gandhi Ghat
Feel the cool breeze at the magnificent Gandhi Ghat. Sit on the banks of the holy Ganges river for a while and enjoy the panorama, and lose yourself in the peaceful rhythm of the river. There is a ferry terminal nearby, where you can take a cheap boat ride. It is the best place for couples and kids.
Sanjay Gandhi Biological Park
You will love Sanjay Gandhi Biological Park, and especially if you are traveling with kids, this is the place you must visit first. It was first established as a botanical garden in 1969. Now, you can see around 300 species of captivating trees, herbs and shrubs. The park also houses one of the largest zoos, where you will get to see 800 animals of around 100 species!
How to Reach Patna
Patna is the capital of Bihar and is well connected to the rest of India by road, rail and air. It is easily accessible from all the major cities of India. Here’s how to get to Patna:
By Plane
Loknayak Jaiprakash Airport in Patna is about 78 km from Nalanda. The airport is well connected by flights to major Indian cities like Mumbai, New Delhi, Jaipur, Kolkata, Bengaluru etc. Taxi services are available from the airport to Nalanda.
By Train
Patna Junction is a major railway station. Trains from Mumbai, Delhi, Kolkata, Chennai and Bangalore halt at the station. From the station, one can hire taxis or take local buses.
By Road
Patna is well connected by road. State-run buses ply regularly from many cities of Bihar to Patna. You can also hire a taxi in Patna to explore this city.
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