Page 220 - (DK Eyewitness) Travel Guide - India

218  CENTR AL INDIA

1 Patna Among them is the Mauryan-
era (probably 3rd century BC)
The capital of Bihar is a modern city with ancient roots polished stone image of
going back to 600 BC. During the reign of the Maurya and the Didarganj Yakshi (female
Gupta empires (see pp46–7) Patna, then known as Pataliputra, attendant), considered a master-
was renowned as one of the great cities of Asia, but today piece of Indian sculpture. Other
highlights include Gandharan-
it is a congested urban sprawl, stretching along the banks style statues of Bodhisattvas;
of the Ganges. West Patna, laid out by the British, has gracious outstanding Buddha images in
mansions and administrative buildings, while the eastern end bronze and black stone, dating
comprises the old city, a warren of crowded lanes surrounding from the Pala period (8th–12th
medieval monuments and bustling bazaars. centuries); terracotta figurines;
ancient Buddhist scriptures;
and a collection of Tibetan
thangkas. The museum also
boasts a 15-m (49-ft) long
fossilized tree trunk, believed
to be 200 million years old.
P Khudabaksh Library
Tel (0612) 267 0209. Open Sat–Thu.
∑ kblibrary.bih.nic.in
Founded in 1900, this library has
a renowned collection of rare
Persian and Arabic manuscripts,
including a group of beautiful
illuminated medieval Korans,
and superb Mughal miniature
Patna, lying on the south bank of the Ganges paintings. Its rarest exhibits
are volumes salvaged from
P Golghar at the top into the dome’s pit, the sacking of the Moorish
Open daily. which had a capacity of 124,285 University in Cordoba, Spain,
Patna’s signature landmark, the tonnes. A remarkable echo can in the 11th century, though
Golghar (literally “round house”), be heard inside the structure. how they found their way to
is an extraordinary dome that During the monsoon, the dome’s India still remains a mystery.
resembles a giant beehive. Built summit offers impressive views
in 1786 by Captain John Garstin of the Ganges, which, in this  Harmandir Sahib
as a silo to store grain during the season, can swell to a width Open daily.
famines that occurred frequently of 8 km (5 miles). This historic Sikh gurdwara
in those days, the Golghar was marks the birthplace of the
never actually put to use. The E Patna Museum firebrand tenth guru, Gobind
structure is 125 m (410 ft) wide at Tel (0612) 223 5731. Open Tue–Sun. Singh (see p107), who was born
the base and gradually tapers up Some remarkable treasures here in 1666. Regarded as one
to a height of 29 m (95 ft). Two are displayed in of the four holiest Sikh shrines, R i v e r G a n g e s
external staircases spiral upwards the Patna the marble temple was built Mahendra Ghat
Ferry Terminal
along its sides, with platforms to Museum. in the 19th century by MANER
rest on along the way. The idea Maharaja Ranjit Gandhi
was to haul the grain Singh (see p108). Bus Stand Khudabaksh
up, and pour it ASHOK RAJPATH Library
down a hole Golghar Maidan RD Birla Old Opium Warehouse,
Gandhi
BUDDHA MARG MA HAT M A GANDHI M A IDA N Mandir KHANJANCHI ROAD Jalan Museum
Harmandir Sahib,
Patna ARYA KUMAR ROAD
Museum S P VERMA ROAD EXHIBITION ROAD (KR ANTI MARG) SAIDPUR ROAD
BAILEY ROAD FRASER ROAD RAMKRISHNA AVENUE
Iskcon
BIRCHAND PATEL MARG Ganj Talab Udhyaan Patna Junction
R A J E N D R A PAT H
DAK BUNGALOW ROAD
Temple
Buddha
Smriti
Adalat
GPO
Garden
Railway Station
Lok Nayak Railway Station OLD BYPASS RD Rajendra Nagar
The beehive-shaped Golghar, built as a granary in the 18th century Jayaprakash Airport Kumrahar
6 km (4 miles)
For hotels and restaurants in this region see p696 and p709
218-219_EW_India.indd 218 26/04/17 11:44 am
Eyewitness Travel LAYERS PRINTED:
Catalogue template “UK” LAYER
(Source v2.4)
Date 25th April 2013
Size 125mm x 217mm