Patna
Patna, historically known as Pāṭaliputra, is the capital and largest city of the Indian state of Bihar.
According to the United Nations, as of 2026, Patna had a population of 3.33 million, making it the 19th largest city in India. Covering 250 square kilometres (97 sq mi) and over 2.5 million people, its urban agglomeration is the 18th largest in India. Patna also serves as the seat of Patna High Court. The Buddhist, Hindu and Jain pilgrimage centres of Vaishali, Rajgir, Nalanda, Bodh Gaya and Pawapuri are nearby and Patna City is a sacred city for Sikhs as the tenth Sikh Guru, Guru Gobind Singh was born here. The modern city of Patna is mainly on the southern bank of the river Ganges. The city also straddles the rivers Son, Gandak and Punpun. The city is approximately 35 kilometres (22 mi) in length and 16 to 18 kilometres wide.
Getting to Patna
- 01Jay Prakash Narayan Airport
Directly connected to Delhi, Lucknow, Kolkata, Mumbai, Bengaluru,Hyderabad, Chennai, Ahmadabad, Indore and Ranchi, with daily flights to and from Delhi, Mumbai and Kolkata.
- 02Patna Junction ECR
It is served by multiple Rajdhani Express trains from New Delhi, as well as Vande Bharat trains from different parts of India.
- 03Hajipur Junction ECR
Trains from Nepal border area (Gorakhpur and Raxaul) as well as some from Delhi, Varanasi and the North-East arrive at Hajipur, on the other side of the Ganges.
- 04Rajendra Nagar Terminal ECR
Served by some trains from the west and the east.
Worth seeing
- 01Golghar
Captain John Garstin built a Golghar for the storage of food for the British army with storing capacity of 140,000 tons in 1786.
- 02Mahatma Gandhi Setu
The bridge over the river Ganges connecting Patna and Hajipur.
- 03Agam Kuan
- 04Kumhrar
Explore the ancient ruins of Pataliputra.
- 05Bihar Museum
Opened in 2015, the museum shows you the history of Bihar.
- 06Gandhi Sangrahalaya
A public museum showcasing the life and principles of Mahatma Gandhi.
Things to do
You can go on excursions to the various religious and historical places in and around Patna. Do not miss a boat ride on the mighty Ganges River. Maner-Sufi Saint Shrine (30km west of Patna). You can buy famous Maner Ka Ladoo(Sweets). Maner Sweets is one of the popular shops that specializes in these. However, avoid going there in the late evening or night. Take a boat-ride in the Ganges., near Gandhi ghat
- 01Sonepur Cattle Fair
It is held in November in Sonepur which across the Ganges from Patna.
- 02Buddha Smriti Park
- 03Eco Park
Contains attractions like waterslides, wave pool, swimming pools, multi-cuisine restaurant, coffee shops, souvenir shops and a banquet hall.
- 04Gandhi Maidan
Gandhi Maidan is the heart of this city today.
- 05Sanjay Gandhi Jaivik Udyan
- 06Shaheed Veer Kunwar Singh Azadi Park
Where to eat
When in Patna, try food typical to the region such as pua-pittha, tilkut, chiwra, makhana, the famed sattu or the farmer's staple, litti chokha, and the famous paan. Anarsa is one of the finest sweet delicacies of Bihar. It has rice flour shell with khoya filling, with white til in the upper shell.
Getting around Patna the local way
- Get inThere are prepaid and shared taxis/rickshaws available throughout the day between two stations.
- Get inShared rickshaws (₹30) leave from south side of Patna Junction.
From Wikivoyage: Patna, CC BY-SA. Not yet checked by us. Last edited 2026-09.
Text adapted from Wikipedia and Wikivoyage, CC BY-SA 4.0. Photograph: Shivamsetu (CC BY-SA 4.0), Wikimedia Commons.
