Ancient literature refers Pataliputra as Pataligrama, Patalipura, Kusumapura, Pushpapura or Kusumdhvaj. In the 6th century BC it was a small village where Buddha, before his nirvana, noticed a fort being constructed under the orders of King Ajatasatru of Rajagrih for defence of Magadh kingdom against the Lichchavis. Impressed by the strategic location king Udayin, successor of Ajatasatru, shifted the capital to Pataliputra in the 5th century BC. For the next thousand years it remained the capital of Saisunaga, Nanda, Maurya, Sunga and Gupta dynasties. It was the center of education, commerce, art and religion. During Asoka`s rule the third Buddhist council was held here. Sthulabhadra, Jain ascetic convened a council here during the time of Chandragupta Maurya.
The first account includes the municipal administration at 300 BC from Megasthenese, the Greek ambassador in the court of Chandragupta Maurya, who mentions it as Palibothra in his book Indica. His account says city was spread in parallelogram form, 14 kms east-west along the river Ganges and 3 kms north-south. The circumference was 36 kms. The city was protected by massive timber palisades and defended by a broad and deep moat which also served as a sewer. Kautilya in Arthasastra indicates wide ramparts around the city. Remains of wooden palisades have been discovered in excavations at Lohanipur, Bahadurpur, Sandalpur, Bulandibagh, Kumrahar and other locations in Patna.
The Mauryan 80 pillared hall at Kumrahar was brought to light in 1912-15. In this excavation traces of 72 pillars were found. Further excavations in 1951-55 Patna exposed 8 more pillars of the hall and four others belonging to the entrance or porch. All the pillars were made of black spotted buff sandstone monoliths with a lustrous shine typical of the period.
This hall has been assigned as the palace of Asoka, audience hall, throne room of Mauryas, a pleasure hall or the conference hall for the third Buddhist council in 3rd Century BC during the reign of Asoka.
Excavations unearthed brick structures from the Gupta period were identified as Arogya Vihara or hospital-cum-monastery with the help of terracotta sealing discovered from the place which bears the inscription reading `Sri Arogya Vihare Bhikshusanghasya`. Another red potsherd found here was inscribed with Dhanvantareh, possibly referring to a name or title of the presiding physician of Arogya Vihar. It is concluded that this hospital was run by Dhanvantari, the famous physician of Gupta period.
The excavation revealed copper coins, ornaments, antimony rods, beads of terracotta and stone, dices of terracotta and ivory, terracotta seals, toy carts, skin rubbers, terracotta figurines of human, bird and animals and some earthen utensils. An exhibition hall tells the story of Kumrahar through antiquities, photographs, dioramas and illustrations.
Made in wood, it was destroyed by fire. Enclosed by a brick wall, with a immense pillared hall three storey high and 250 feet high. Pillars were fifteen feet apart, and the ceiling is said to have stone images and was supported by horizontal wooden beams.
Remains of wooden foundations and ancient Mauryan walls, Sandalpur, Patna
Mounds known as the five stupas or "Panch Pahari", Paharidih, Patna
Ablution Tank and Mir Ashraf`s Jama Mosque, Patna
