Patna — Near Glamour Palace, Bodh Gaya

Patna — ancient Pataliputra, once the largest city in the world — is the capital of Bihar and the main gateway to Bodh Gaya. Most international visitors arrive via Patna airport before making the 115 km journey to Bodh Gaya. The city has several significant historical and religious sites worth visiting if you have a day to spare.

History & Significance

Patna has one of the longest continuous histories of any city in the world, dating back over 2,500 years. As Pataliputra, it was the capital of the Mauryan Empire under Chandragupta Maurya and Ashoka — at its peak it was the largest city on earth with a population of 400,000. The Greek ambassador Megasthenes described it in detail in his Indica. The city declined after the fall of the Gupta Empire and was later revived under the Mughal Empire as Azimabad. Today Patna is a bustling modern city of 2 million people and the administrative capital of Bihar. Key attractions include: Patna Sahib Gurudwara (birthplace of Guru Gobind Singh, the 10th Sikh Guru), Golghar (a 1786 granary with spiral staircases), Patna Museum (excellent Buddhist and Mauryan artefacts), and the Kumhrar archaeological site (Mauryan palace remains).

Key Facts & Figures

Ancient namePataliputra

Founded490 BCE by Ajatashatru

Mauryan capitalCapital of the Mauryan Empire under Ashoka

AirportLok Nayak Jayaprakash Airport (PAT) — international flights

Railway stationPatna Junction — well connected to all major Indian cities

Key sitesPatna Sahib Gurudwara, Golghar, Patna Museum, Kumhrar

Distance from Bodh Gaya115 km · ~2.5 hours

Best time to visitOctober to March

Visitor Tips

If flying into Patna, consider spending a morning at Patna Sahib Gurudwara before driving to Bodh Gaya — it is a magnificent Sikh shrine and the birthplace of Guru Gobind Singh. The Patna Museum has the best collection of Mauryan artefacts outside of the National Museum in Delhi.