Patna

Patna is the capital city of the Indian state of Bihar. The ancient city was earlier known as Pataliputra. It lies on the banks of the river Ganges and is around 35 km long and 17 km wide.

The city is famous for its many pilgrim centers for the Hindus, Buddhists and Jains, which attracts many tourists. Guru Gobind Singh, the last Sikh Guru was born in Patna, making it a sacred place for the Sikhs. Patna was also the ancient capital of the Magadhan Empire.

Patna is known for being the city with the highest population in the state and the second highest in the whole of East-India. This ancient city is famous for being a centre of learning and fine arts, attracting many students. The city is ranked just after Delhi when it comes to the ease of starting a business, according to the World Bank survey of 2009. Patna is an administrative and industrial centre of Bihar.

Stats and Facts

• As per the census report of 2011, the population of Patna Urban Agglomeration stands at 2,046,652.
• According to the same report, the sex ratio in Patna is 881 females per 1000 males, which is below the national average sex ratio of 940 per 1000 males.
• Patna’s literacy rate is 84.05%, according to the census of 2011.
• The per capita gross district domestic product is the highest in Patna compared to other places in Bihar.
• Patna ranks 21st in the list of the fastest growing cities in the world and is at the 5th place in India for the same, according to the City Mayor’s foundation.
• The rivers Gandak, Punpun and Sone run through the city limits of Patna.
• Vaishali, Nalanda, Rajgir, Gaya, Pawapuri and Bodhgaya are the sacred cities for most pilgrims who visit Patna.
• The Lok Nayak Jayaprakash International Airport in Patna is ranked 21st in the list of the busiest airports in India.

Agriculture And Fishing Industry

• The agriculture sector contributes majority of economy in Patna. Patna is the center for agricultural trade, which mainly involves the export of grain, sesame, sugarcane and rice.
• More than one-third area used for sowing is used to grow rice. Other crops like maize, wheat and pulses are also grown. Vegetables and watermelons are grown in the Diara belt, which are also a source of income for the city.
• Patna has many rivers, ponds and streams, which makes it ideal for a fishing industry. Patna therefore is well known for its fishing grounds and is one of the best we have in India. The spawns of cattla, hilsa and rehu are much in demand, contributing significantly to the economy of the city.
• There are sugar mills in and around the city and is an important contributor to Patna’s economy.
• The growth of the FMCG (Fast Moving Consumer Goods) industry and the Green Revolution business has given the economy of Patna a great boost. The city saw sustained economic growth in the year 2011.

Connectivity

• Patna is connected to most of the major cities in India through railways. It has six main stations, which are Patna Junction, Gulzarbagh Station, Patliputra Junction, Rajendranagar Terminal, Danapur Station, and Patna Sahib Station. There are many express and passenger trains plying between Patna and other important surrounding places like Gaya, Biharsharif, Islampur, Jehanabad, and Rajgir.
• The Lok Nayak Jayaprakash Airport is a restricted international airport at Patna. It’s well connected to most major cities like Delhi, Kolkata, Mumbai, Ranchi, Bangalore, Srinagar, Pune, Chennai, Lucknow, Hyderabad, Ahmedabad, and Goa.
• Many major national and state highways pass through the city of Patna, providing good connectivity to other surrounding cities. The national highways NH-19, NH-31, NH-30, and NH-83 surround this city. The Bihar State Tourism Development Corporation and the Bihar State Road Transport Corporation have several luxury buses, which service people who want to travel to the neighboring cities.
• Patna also has connectivity to places like Haldia, Allahabad, and the state of Jharkhand through the National Waterway 1 (NW-1).
• The intra-city transportation in Patna is mainly through auto-rickshaws. There are buses and local trains as well to cater to the needs of the people. BSRTC (Bihar State Road Transport Corporation) runs city buses on all the prominent routes of Patna. There are horse-drawn trams and radio cabs available for travel as well.

Lifestyle
Patna hosts several tourist attractions, which primarily comprises its ancient monuments. The cultural heritage of Bihar is reflected in Kumhrar, Agam Kuan, and Didarganj Yakshi. Takht Sri Patna Sahib consecrates the birthplace of Gobind Singh, the tenth Guru of the Sikhs. There are five other Gurudwaras here which are related to different Sikh Gurus. One can find fine examples of British architecture in Padri Ki Haveli, High Court, Golghar, and Secretariat Building. Other places of interest include the Buddhra Smriti Park, Patan Devi Temple, Mahavir Mandir, Patna Planetarium, etc. Besides housing a number of schools, the city is also home to important government educational institutions such as Central University of Bihar, Patna University, Chanakya National Law University, Indian Institute of Technology Patna, National Institute of Technology Patna, Birla Institute of Technology Patna, Patna Medical College, AIIMS Patna, NIFT Patna, and few others. Pretty good number of malls has also cropped up in the city, giving Patnaites a lifestyle comparable to other major cities.