Why in the News?

• The Chief Minister of Bihar inaugurated the Xavier University located on 36 acres in Patna, Bihar.

Key Points:

About Patna:

⇒It is the capital and largest city of Bihar .

⇒This ancient city is situated on the southern banks of the Ganga .

⇒Patna has been a centre of administration, education, tourism, historical heritage, religion, spirituality, and culture .

⇒Demographics (2011 census):

• Total Population : 58,38,465 (Male – 30,78,512, Female – 27,59,953)
• Population growth rate (2001–2011): 23.73%
• Density: 1,800 km2
• Literacy rate : 70.68% (Male – 78.48%, Female – 61.96%) Official language: Hindi .
• Other spoken languages: English , Urdu , Bengali , Oriya .
• Local dialect: Magahi , Bhojpuri , Maithili .

History:

⇒The old name of Patna was Pataliputra or Patalipattana, which is found in history before 600 BC .

⇒Chandragupta Maurya made his capital here in the 4th century AD.

⇒Ajatashatru laid the foundation of Pataliputra, which later developed as Patna .

⇒In Greek history it was called Patalibothra. Great rulers like Emperor Ashoka , Chandragupta Maurya , and Samudragupta ruled from this city.

⇒The famous travellers Fa-Hien (3rd AD) and Xuanzang (7th AD) visited the city and wrote extensively about its governance and society.

⇒Scholars like Kautilya also lived here and wrote important works like Arthashastra .

⇒In 1703 AD, Prince Azim-e-Shan was made the governor of Patna and he gave it a modern look and named it Azimabad, but among the general public it remained popular by the name Patna .

Major places of interest:

• Bihar Museum
• Patna Planetarium
• Japanese Peace Pagoda
• Sanjay Gandhi Botanical Garden
• Lauria Nandangarh
• Golghar
• potter
• Ajanta Gandhi Museum
• Jalan Museum