Patna Sahib in Bihar

One of the holiest pilgrimages for people belonging to the Sikh community outside Punjab is the Gurudwara Patna Sahib, being the birthplace of the tenth Sikh guru, Guru Govind Singh. Born in 1666, it was here that Guru Govind Singh spent the early years of his life preaching around the place before moving to Anandpur. Besides that, the place is also revered for visits by saints such as Guru Nanak and Guru Teg Bahadur.

Harmandir Takht, as it is more commonly known, is situated in the old quarters of Patna city, the place earlier known as Kucha Farrukh Khan. Patna Sahib is regarded to be one amongst the five holy Sikh takhts located across the country and is also one of the only two situated outside of Punjab, the other being Takht Sri Hazoor Sahib at Nanded in Maharashtra.

The history of the shrine dates back years to the times of Salis Rai Johri, a great devotee of Guru Nanak, who influenced by his teachings converted his opulent residence into a 'dharamshala' providing free accommodation for Sikh devotees. The place was subsequently converted into the Patna Sahib before being heavily damaged by a huge fire in the early 19th century. The restoration work on the site was started in 1839 by Maharajah Ranjit Singh. The building suffered another dent when an earthquake rocked the city of Patna in 1934. Work on the construction of the present structure was taken up on November 19, 1954 and was completed in about three years.

The holy structure houses a number of ancient articles related to the Sikh community and Guru Govind Singh, prominent ones being a cradle covered with golden plates, four iron arrows, sword and a pair of footwear. Rare 'hukumnamas' or written orders of Guru Govind Singh and Guru Teg Bahadur are also contained here. The architecture of the temple is also one of a kind built entirely in snow white marble.

Other Attractions in Patna

Golghar : The Golghar is a huge beehive shaped structure built by captain John Garstin in 1786 to primarily serve the purpose of a granary, following the famine of 1770. A series of steps wounding the 29 mts high structure leads to the top, from where a breathtaking view of the nearby Ganga river and the entire Patna city can be had.

State Museum : Situated on the Buddha Marg, the museum contains a rare collection of coins, miniature paintings, terracotta, bronze and stone sculptures dating back centuries to the Gupta and Maurya periods. Amongst the most famous artifacts contained here are the Mauryan Didarganji Yakshi dating back to 3rd century BC, Ashes of Buddha, a cannon from the First World War, a 15 mts long fossilised tree and other finds from Bodhgaya and Nalanda. The Tibetan and Chinese sections are also worth appreciating.

Kumrahar : Just outside the city on the Kankarbagh Road is Kumrahar, known as Pataliputra in ancient times. The site has been an important archaeological place with excavations at the place revealing relics of ancient dynasties dating from 600 BC to 600 AD. A huge hall with 80 beautifully carved pillars has also been discovered here.

Martyrs Memorial : Situated at the compound of the old secretariat, the memorial houses seven life like statues of brave men who sacrificed their lives in 1942 in India's struggle for independence.

Sher Shah Suri Mosque : Built in 1545 by the famous Mughal ruler Sher Shah Suri, the beautiful mosque is built in a typical Afghan architectural style and constitutes one of the major landmarks in Patna.

Stay At : While short stay accommodation facilities are also provided at the Gurudwara, a number of quality hotels and lodges are also located across the city. Some of the quality hotels at Patna include Hotel Pataliputra Ashok (6 km from airport, 2.5 km from railway station), Maurya Patna (5 star, South Gandhi Maidan), Hotel Republic (3 star, Exhibition Road), Hotel Samrat International (3 star, Fraser Road) and Hotel President (2 star, Fraser Road).

Getting There

By Air : The capital of Bihar, Patna is known as an important business centre of eastern India as also the gateway to the religious destinations of Vaishali, Rajgir, Nalanda and Bodhgaya. The city has a domestic airport which connects it to other major cities in India. Indian Airlines operates regular flights between Patna and Delhi, Calcutta, Lucknow etc.

By Rail : Patna is well connected by trains from major destinations across the country. Daily trains between Delhi and Patna include the Vikramshila Exp., Shramjevi Exp., Sampoorna Kranti Exp., Magadh Exp., North East Exp., and the Lal Quila Exp. The approximate time taken for the journey is around 14 hours. More information on train schedule and timings can be obtained from the official site of Indian Railways

By Road : Good roads connect Patna with other cities across Bihar. State transport corporation operates regular buses between Patna and other major cities in Bihar.

Local Transport : Cycle rickshaws, auto rickshaws, local buses and local trains are the major means of moving around in the city. Private taxis can also be hired (if you are staying at a hotel, the front desk should be able to arrange a taxi for you). If travelling by any of the local means, it is advisable to get an idea of the prevailing fairs from a localite as the auto rickshaws and taxis are not metered.

Distance from Major Cities
Allahabad : 360 Km
Bhagalpur : 235 Km
Dhanbad : 288 Km
Gaya : 97 Km
Lucknow : 535 Km
Kanpur : 555 Km
Jamshedpur : 427 Km
Varanasi : 235 Km