Patna

Patna is the capital of Bihar, located along the south bank of the Ganges River in eastern India. Ancient chronicles recorded the settlement under the name Pataliputra. The tenth Sikh guru, Guru Gobind Singh, was born here during the late 17th century.

King Ajatashatru of Magadha founded the fortified town in 490 BCE near the confluence of the Son and Ganges rivers. Chandragupta Maurya made the location the capital of the Maurya Empire during the 4th century BCE. Emperor Ashoka governed his empire from the court here in the 3rd century BCE and convened a Buddhist council. The Gupta Empire later governed northern territories from the site during the 4th and 5th centuries. Sher Shah Suri revived local fortifications during the 16th century and introduced the name Patna. Great Britain made the city the capital of Bihar and Orissa in 1912.

The Gaighat river port docks commercial freight barges transporting bulk cement and harvested grain along the Ganges River corridor of National Waterway 1 through dedicated cargo berths. Bata India manufactures stitched leather shoes and vulcanized rubber footwear in Bataganj, operating heavy pressing machinery installed along the western riverfront of the city. Bihar State Milk Co-operative Federation collects fresh milk from regional farming societies to process clarified butter, block paneer, and pasteurized pouches under the state brand Sudha.

The dome-shaped Golghar granary rose in the 1780s to store grain reserves following regional food shortages. The Patna Museum opened during the early 20th century and kept the Didarganj Yakshi sandstone statue until its move to the new Bihar Museum. The archaeological site of Kumhrar contains the excavated stone ruins of an 80-pillar assembly hall from the Mauryan period. Patna University opened during the early 20th century to teach humanities and natural sciences across collegiate departments. Litti chokha provides a traditional meal composed of baked wheat flour balls stuffed with roasted gram flour and served with spiced eggplant.