Places To See In Patna

Patna, nestled on the banks of River Ganges, is a hard place to miss out when you look at the map of India. The land that was once an abode to many powerful rulers and dynasties still carries an old world charm about it. Though commercialism has crept in Patna, much of the rustic appeal and rich cultural heritage remain intact and unaffected. Some of the elegant structures and architectural attractions like Gol Mahal (Round Palace), Khuda Baksh Oriental Library, Patna Museum gives the visitors a deep insight on the grandiosity of this place. Patna also boasts of a plethora of shopping centers and souvenir shops that sells terracotta handicrafts, bronze sculptures, Madhubani paintings and other local crafts found in this region. The ideal time to hit Patna is from October to February when the weather is pleasant. People here love to savor dishes like khichdi, chokha, khadi bari, pittha and others. To know more on the top tourism destinations in Patna, read the following write-up.

Tourist Attractions In Patna

Kumhrar
Kumhrar Garden located 5 km away from Patna railway station throws significant light on the great Mauryan Empire and its capital, Pataliputra. The remains of the Mauryan structures, a large pillared assembly hall, clay figures, wooden beams, a Buddhist monastery and parts of Anand Bihar can be found at this place. Kumhrar, the land of ruins, can be visited on all the days except on Mondays.

Har Mandir
Har Mandir, also referred to as Patna Sahib is magnificent in terms of art, architecture and designs. The pearly white structure is considered to be the second holiest place for the Sikhs, the first being the golden temple in Amritsar. Built by Guru Gobind Singh, the 10th guru of the Sikhs, Har Mandir attracts a lot of tourists and pilgrims from all over India. Furthermore, check out the fascinating museum housed within the Gurudwara. This tourism spot is nestled in the Chowk area of Patna.

Patna Museum
Patna Museum has an interesting collection of archaeological exhibits. Not just the history lovers but even children and local inhabitants come here to check out the terracotta figurines, ashes of Buddha and stone and metal sculptures belonging to Maurya and Gupta Periods. Another prized possession found inside the museum is the 16 m long fossilized tree, which is believed to be more than 200 million years old. Patna Museum remains open from 10 am to 4.30 pm on all days except Mondays.

Golghar
Golghar with its unusual structure continues to woo tourists in Patna. A spiral staircase that leads to the top of the monument surrounds this round shaped building. From here, you can enjoy the panoramic view of the River Ganges and the whole city. Evenings are the best time to visit Golghar that earlier served as a storehouse during the times of famines.

Gandhi Maidan
Strategically located in the heart of Patna is the Gandhi Maidan, a significant landmark in the city. What makes this place special is the fact that many historical movements and events during the days of independence struggle took place here. Today, Gandhi Museum stands tall surrounded by many educational institutions.

Patna Planetarium
Patna Planetarium, also known as Indira Gandhi Science Complex, is the largest planetarium in Asia. Both foreigners and domestic tourists flock this place to catch up on the interesting shows related to astronomy and other related topics. Not just that, even the science exhibitions draws students from various educational institutions. The planetarium is huge and surrounded by lush greenery and plants, which in turn makes the place look serene and pleasant.

Khuda Baksh Oriental Library
Bookworms must head out to this wonderful library that is well-stocked with thousands of valuable books. Khuda Baksh, one of the oldest libraries in India, also has a collection of rare manuscripts and paintings belonging to Mughal and Rajput era. Browse through audio and video tapes found inside the library. Letters written by famous personalities are also preserved with great care here.