Patna district is one of the districts of Bihar with Patna as the district headquarters. Patna district is a part of Patna division. Patna, the capital of Bihar state, a city with a fascinating past. The city of Patna with every new chapter in its history has gone through various names like Kusumpur, Pushpapur, Pataliputra and Azeemabad. Pataliputra perhaps the name of the city that was the most prosperous of all of the above. The city of Pataliputra saw the emergence as well as the departure of the major India empires. The city has been ruled by some of the most famous rulers for more than a perioed of 1000 years, famous kings like Ajatshatru, Chandragupta Maurya, Ashok, Guptas, Palas, Shershah Suri and Azimush-Shan grandson of Mughal emperor Aurangzeb, who renamed it Azeemabad also ruled this city. As the city passed through hands of different kings and that of diffrent culture, this can be easily seen in and around the Patna we know today.

Today Patna, the capital of the State of Bihar, is an important business centre of eastern India. Also it is a gateway to the Buddhist and Jain pilgrimage centres of Vaishali, Rajgir, Nalanda, Bodhgaya and Pawapuri. This shows that Patna not only played an important part culturally but also spiritually. Patna is one of the major business center in eastern parts of India. Apart from attracting business class people the city of Patna also invites a lot of tourists to the city because it acts as a gateway to the world famous Buddhist and Jain pilgrimage centers.

The district lies virtually in the heart of the South Bihar Plain. The city of Patna, besides being the headquarters and the state capital since 1911. The district is bounded on the north by the Ganges, beyond which lie the district of Saran, Vaishali, Samastipur and Begusarai. To the east lie the district of Lakhisarai and Nalanda and in the south the district of Jahanabad. Patna is separated from Bhojpur district on its west by river sone. The district is named after its principal city, Patna. Various legends exist regarding its origin. The most popular legend ascribes it to a prince named Putraka, who created it with a stroke of his magic staff and named it in honour of his wife, the princess Patali. It is also said that originally Pataliputra was a village known as Pataligram which appears to have been derived from 'Patali' or 'Trumpet flower'. It was called Palibhotra by Megasthanes. It is, however, generally accepted that Patna stands on the site of the ancient metropolis of Patna or Patliputra.

Total area of the district is 3202 sq km. The district headquarter is located at Patna.

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.

Ajatashatru had to adopt certain security measures in order to protect Patna from the repeated Lichchavi invasions. He had got a natural riverine fort protected by three rivers. Ajatashatru’s son had moved his capital from Rajagriha to Pataliputra and this status was maintained during the reign of the Mauryas and the Guptas. Ashoka the Great, administered his empire from here. Chandragupta Maurya and Samudragupta , valliant warriors, they took Pataliputra as their capital. It was from here Chahandragupta sent forth his army to fight the Greeks of the western frontier and Chandragupta Vikramaditya repelled the Shakas and the Huns from here. It was there that the Greek ambassador Megasthenes stayed during the reign of Chandragupta Maurya. The famous traveler Fa-Hien in the 3rd century and Hiuen-Tsang in the 7th century inspected the city. Many noted scholars like Kautilya stayed here and works like ‘Arthashastra’ were written from this place. This city was the fountainhead of the spring of knowledge and wisdom in ancient times.

Prince Azim-us-Shan, the grandson of Aurangzeb came as the Governor of Patna in 1703. Earlier than that Sher Shah had removed his capital from Biharsharif to Patna. It was prince Azim-us-Shan who tried to turn Patna into a beautiful city and it was he who gave it the name ‘Azimabad’. The common people however went on calling it ‘Patna’.

PLACES OF INTEREST

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.