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Places To See In India |
Patna |
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City of Pushpapur or
Pataliputra (Patna) is the capital of the
Magadha country. It is the touchstone by
which all other cities are judged. It has
revealed the splendid vastness of the sea by
securing from it numerous precious jewels
and other objects, which are spread over its
several markets", wrote Dundin, a renowned
poet and storyteller of the 6th century AD
to fashion, the Chinese traveler, who
visited? Pataliputra a century earlier, it
looked so magnificent that the thought it
must have been built by supernatural beings.
Pataliputra had two older names, Pushpapur
and Kusumpur, both meaning the City of
Flowers. Patali also means the trumpet
flower. King Ajatashatru built a fort at
Pataliputra though the city was founded by
his son Udayana. "Modern researches have
shown that this ancient metropolitan city of
Pataliputra was situated on a long strip of
land, half a mile to the north of the
village Kumarhar. Ashok's palace extended
from the mound called Chhoti Pahari to
kumarhar and it covered an area of 4 sq.
miles.
Bhikra Pahari, an artificial hill of brick
debris, over 40 feet high and about a mile
in circuit, on which stood the residence of
one of the Nawabs of Patna, is identified as
the hermitage-hill built by Ashoka for his
brother Mahendra. In the Panchpahari are
identified five great relic-stupas built by
Ashoka." (Pataliputra by J.H. Dave, Bhavan's
Journal, 26 August 1956). Now Patna is
connected by air with Calcutta, Varanasi and
Delhi, and by train with all other major
cities. Over a million people live in this
city. Patna is also a Convenient place to
visit Nepal through a land route
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How To Get There |
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There are daily flights
from Delhi, Calcutta and Lucknow. Several
trains leave Delhi for 15 hour journey to
Patna. From Calcutta, the trip by rail takes
around 12 hours. Patna has extensive road
connection with Bodh Gaya (125 kms),
Calcutta (608 kms), Nalanda (90
kms),Pawapuri (90 kms), Rajgir (102 kms) and
many other places of tourist interest within
Bihar and the neighbouring state of Uttar
Pradesh.
By Flight :
Patna, the capital of Bihar, is well
connected by air with all major cities of
India. It is also the nearest airport for
the Buddhist tourist attractions of Bihar.
By Rail :
Gaya (112 km) is the nearest railhead
for Bodh Gaya. Patna is a Railway Junction
connected with all parts of India.
By Road :
Patna is connected by road to Bodh
Gaya, Nalanda, Rajgir, Varanasi, Gorakhpur,
etc. It is
90 km. from Nalanda
102 km. from Rajgir
125 km. from Bodh Gaya
653 km. from Calcutta and
252 km. from Varanasi
There are bus services to places within the
state of Bihar and to Siliguri (for
Darjeeling), Gorakhpur (for Kushinagar.
Calcutta, etc.
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What To See |
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AGAM KUAN :
Agam Kuan (Unfathomable well) is one
of the most important early historic
archaeological remains in Patna. It is
situated just close to the Gulzarbagh
Railway Station, which is proposed to be
associated with the Mauryan Emperor Ashok.
GOLGHAR :
This huge and impressive
beehive-shaped structure was constructed in
July 1786 by Captain John Garstin following
a terrible femine in 1770, to serve as a
state granary. A flight of steps winds round
this 29m high building leading to the top
from where one gets a fine view of the river
Ganga and Patna city.
JALAN MUSEUM :
A private collection, can be seen
with special permission. Jalan Museum
Constructed at the site of Sher Shah's fort,
it preserves a rich private collection of
jade, Chinese paintings and silver filigree
work of the Mughal period. The Museum can be
visited only with prior permission, since it
is a private collection.
KUMHRAR :
KUMHRAR (5km) where excavations have
found remains of the capital Pataliputra.
Kumarahar, site of the ancient city of
Patliputra, lies 5 kms from Patna Railway
Station on the Kankerbagh Road. Excavations
here have revealed relics of four continuous
periods from 600 BC to 600 AD. The fifth
period begins from 1600 AD. An important
find is the 80-pillared huge hall of the
Mauryan dynasty.
MARTYRS MEMORIAL :
Life size statues in the front of the
old secretariat compound have been put up in
memory of seven brave young men who
sacrificed their lives in August 1942 in the
historic struggle for India's independence.
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