Patna district General information
Patna is the largest town and headquarters of Patna district, Patna division and Bihar state. It lies on the main line of the Eastern Railway and is well connected by road. It is mainly an administrative and educational center. It has however a few ancient sacred places as also places of tourist interest.
History
The history and tradition of Patna go back to the earliest dawn of civilization. The original name of Patna was Pataliputra or Patalipattan and its history makes a start from the century 600 B.C. Patna covers area of 42 sq km. The name Patna has undergone many changes at its earliest stages like Pataligram, Kusumpur, Patliputra, Azimabad, etc., ultimately terminating to the present one. Chandragupta Maurya made it his capital in the 4th century A.D. Thereafter the city lost its importance until Sherkhan Suri rose into power in the early 16th century A.D. Another version that comes to focus is that there existed a village named Pattan or Patthan, which later turned into Patna.It has been said that Pataliputra was founded by Ajatashatru. Patna, therefore, has become inextricably bound up with the ancient Pataliputra. The ancient village was named ‘Patali’ and the word ‘Pattan’ was added to it. Greek history mentions ‘Palibothra’ which perhaps is Pataliputra itself.
Geographical and Physical features
The district can be divided into two natural comprising :-
A narrow strip of somewhat high land about 8 kms. in width along the southern bank of the Ganges having very fertile soil. Alluvial fertlie plains in the remaining portions. After creation of the new district of Patna does not contain any hilly region. It has an entirely alluvial and flat region.
The land in the district is too fertile to be left for wild growth. The district is devoid of any forest wealth of consequences. The alluvial text of land yields rice, sugarcane and other foodgrains. The area under cultivation is studded with mango orchads and bamboo clumps. In the fields adjoining the Ganges weeds such as ammannia, citriculari, hygrophile and sesbania grow. But palmyra and date palm and mango orchards are found near habitations. Dry shrub jungles are sometimes seen in the villages away from the rivers. Trees commonly met with are bel, siris, jack fruits and the red cotton tree.
Education
According to 1991 census, total literates (excluding the population in the age group of 0-6) is 1647184 persons, of these 1091311 are males and 555873 are females. In the rural areas of the district 801395 persons (578960 males and 22435 females) are literate and in urban araes 845789 persons (512351 males and 333438 females) are literate.
Overview
Headquarters: Patna
Area: 3202 km²
Population: Total: 3,623,225 Rural: 2,241,510 Urban: 1,119,800
Sub Divisions: (6 Nos) : Patna Sadar, Patna City, Barh, DanaPur, Masaurhi, Paliganj
Blocks: Patna Sadar, Phulwari sharif, Sampatchak, Fatuha, Khusrupur, Daniyawaan, Barh, Bakhtiarpur, Belchi, Athmalgola, Mokama, Pandarak, Ghoswari, Bihta, Maner, Danapur, Naubatpur, Masaurhi, Dhanarua, Punpun
Agriculture: Paddy, Maize, Pulses and Wheat. Also oil seeds. Roughly one third of the area sown is under rice (paddy). Cash crops such as vegetables and water-melons are also grown in Diara belt
Industry: Leather, Handicrafts, Agro processing
Rivers: Ganga, Sone, Punpun
Colleges: Indian Institute of Technology Patna, National Institute of Technology Patna(NIT), Maulana Azad College of Engineering & Technology (MACET), , Patna Medical College and Hospital, Patna Women's College, ANS College BARH, A N College,J D Women's College,A N Sinha Institute Of Social Sciences, Magadh Mahila College, Arvind Mahila college, Science College, Patna College, National Institute of Fashion Technology (NIFT) Patna, B N College, Commerce College, A N College, College of Commerce, Nalanda Medical College and Hospital.
Schools:Mount Carmel, St. Joseph's Convent, Notredam academy, Bankipur girls high school, Don Bosco Academy, Delhi Public School, D A V, Kendriya Vidyalaya, St. Xaviers.
Tourist Place
Sadakat Ashram: Situated on the banks of river Ganga, Sadakat Ashram is a memorial, dedicated to our first President, Dr. Rajendra Prasad. He had spent few years here, after vacating the presidential post. In the memorial, are kept many things, which Rajendra Babu used or were gifted to him. This is also the headquarters of Bihar Vidyapeeth, which was the organisation that started the Independence movement in Bihar.
Takth Harmandir: It was in Patna, far from Punjab, where Guru Gobind Singh, the tenth Guru of the Sikhs who consolidated the warrior sect, was born in 1660. The Har Mandir Takht, one of the four sacred shrines of the Sikhs, stands at this holy site, The original temple was built by Maharaja Ranjit Singh and contains belongings of the Guru and Sikh holy texts. As a sign of reverence, it is also called Patna Sahib by the Sikhs.
Gol Ghar: A very peculiar and interesting structure in the centre of the city. Alarmed by the famine of 1770, captain John Garstin built this huge granary for the British army in 1786. The 150 ft high building appears like one half of a coconut and has got stairs to reach the top. From the top one can get a good view of Patna.
The Sanjay Gandhi Botanical Garden: Situated on the famous Baily road, the botanical garden has numerous Birds and animals to be seen. This Zoo attracts children a lot. It has also got an artificial lake where boating can be enjoyed. A wooden house built on a tree attracts visitors too.
Patna Museum: Established in 1917, it is the oldest museum in Bihar. The museum houses about 57,000 items of archeological importance. It also has a collection of 22,000 old coins. The museum unfolds a long history of the region. The museum is located in Dedarganj. The sculpture of a Yakshni is a special attraction for visitors.
The Planetarium: One of the largest planetariums in Asia, the Patna Planetarium attracts a large number of domestic as well as foreign tourists. The planetarium has regular film shows on subjects related to astronomy. It also holds exhibitions, which attracts lots of visitors.
Khuda Baksh Library: Known as the 'world of manuscripts' in India, the library treasures thousands of Arabic, Persian, Mughal and Rajputana style paintings and manuscripts.
Stone Mosque (Pathar ki Masjid): Adjacent to’Har Mandir Sahib, this beautiful mosque was built by Parwez Shah, son of Jehangir, when he was the governor of Bihar. Situated on the bank of the Ganga, it is also called Saif Khan’s mosque, Chimmi Ghat mosque and Sangi Masjid.
Agam Kuan: It said that this well was made by Ashoka. Once many motors were put to empty the well but even after days, the well could not be dried so it was presumed that the well has endless source of water.
Kumharar: Six kms from the railway station, it was at this place that the remains of Pataliputra were found during excavation. Archaeological findings in this area establish Patna’s claim to over a thousand years of political glory -. 600 BC to 600 AD, and then again, 16th century onwards, spanning the rule of several dynasties. Very little of this grandeur remains though, except the remnants of a huge Mauryan hall supported by 80 sandstone pillars dating back to 400 – 300 BC.
Muner: About 29 km from Patna, Bari Dargah, is the cenotaph of the Sufi Saint Hazrat Makhdoom Yahiya Maner. The tomb of his disciple Shah Daulat is also here. It is an important pilgrimage place for Muslims during the annual urs.
The Sonepur Cattle Festival: 25 km north of Patna, at the confluence of rivers Gandak and Ganges, an enormous month-long cattle fair is held, across the huge Gandhi Bridge. All kinds of cattle, elephants, camels, parakeets and other animals are sold and bought and it is the biggest such fair in the whole of Asia.
Martyrs’ memorial: A memorial to seven freedom fighters who sacrificed their lives in "Quit India" movement of August 1942, it is a modern sculpture facing the Secretariat where they were shot in their attempt to hoist the national flag.
Sher Shah Suri Masjid: Sher Shah Suri built this mosque in 1545 to commemorate his reign. Built in Afghan architectural style, it is one of the many beautiful mosques in Bihar and a landmark in Patna.