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Patna

Patna

city · Bihar

Patna, the ancient city of Pataliputra, was the capital of the mighty Maurya and Gupta empires and is one of the world's oldest continuously inhabited cities.

State
Bihar
Type
City
Best season
Winter
Things to do
2+

Patna, the ancient city of Pataliputra, was the capital of the mighty Maurya and Gupta empires and is one of the world's oldest continuously inhabited cities. Today it is a key gateway to Bihar's Buddhist circuit and a major Sikh pilgrimage site as the birthplace of Guru Gobind Singh.

When to go

Best visited October to March; summers can be hot.

Why visit

The ancient Mauryan capital and a Sikh holy city — gateway to Bihar's Buddhist circuit, with deep layers of history.

Cultural notes

As Pataliputra, Patna was the seat of Ashoka's Mauryan empire; today it holds great significance for Sikhs as the birthplace of the tenth Guru, and anchors Bihar's heritage tourism.

How to reach

Jay Prakash Narayan Airport connects major cities; Patna Junction is a major rail hub. Gateway to Bihar's Buddhist and Sikh circuits.

Patna in 3 days

See the full itinerary

3 days in Patna

Take the whole plan, or add any single stop.

Day 1

Day 1

Golghar granary views

Golghar granary views

Bihar Museum

Day 1

Bihar Museum

A modern museum showcasing Bihar's ancient Mauryan and Buddhist heritage.

Day 1

Gandhi Maidan & riverfront

Gandhi Maidan & riverfront

Takht Sri Patna SahibDay 2

Day 2

Takht Sri Patna Sahib

A sacred Sikh Takht marking the birthplace of Guru Gobind Singh.

Day 2

Kumhrar — Pataliputra excavations

Kumhrar — Pataliputra excavations

Day 2

Patna Sahib old lanes

Patna Sahib old lanes

NalandaDay 3

Day 3

Nalanda

Nalanda was the greatest university of the ancient world, a vast Buddhist monastic centre of learning that flourished for 700 years and drew scholars from across Asia. Its red-brick ruins are a UNESCO World Heritage Site and a symbol of India's scholarly heritage.

Rajgir

Day 3

Rajgir

Rajgir, set in a valley ringed by hills, was an ancient capital and a major site in both Buddhism and Jainism. The Buddha meditated and taught here; today its hot springs, the Vishwa Shanti Stupa reached by ropeway, and Griddhakuta hill draw pilgrims and travellers.

Son Bhandar Caves

Day 3

Son Bhandar Caves

Two Jain caves cut into the base of the Vaibhar Hills at Rajgir, easy to reach and quickly seen. The main one is a rectangle with a trapezoidal doorway and a vaulted ceiling, borrowed straight from Barabar, but the rock is softer and the polish and finish are visibly poorer. That is honest information: if you have already been to Barabar this will read as a lesser copy. A dedicatory inscription in the larger cave is in 4th-century Gupta script, which is how the usual date is arrived at, though some scholars push the caves back to Mauryan times.

Eat your way through Patna

A stop-by-stop walk through what this city actually eats — what to order, in what order, and when.

Patna Food Trail

Patna guide & itineraries

Patna is perfect for

heritagespiritualbudget

Popular attractions

The places in Patna most people come for.

Takht Sri Patna Sahib

Takht Sri Patna Sahib

Attraction

Bihar Museum

Bihar Museum

Attraction

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