![]() After lapsing into obscurity for centuries the city revived under the rule of Sher Shah Suri, who constructed the fort in the year 1541. Under the Mughals it was a provincial capital until the year 1765. With the creation of Orissa and Bihar in the year 1912, Patna was restored as the capital city of Bihar. The new Patna is situated at a distance of two miles to the west of Bankipore and is the headquarters of the government of Bihar. The layout of the new city, which is virtually contemporaneous with New Delhi, is a typical exercise in Imperial town planning, with long, wide avenues flanked by government buildings and vistas terminating in impressive facades. Architecturally, it is an Indian rendition of the style of classical architecture popularized by the Wembley Exhibition of 1923, executed in brick and plaster rather than stone. The new capital was laid out by the architect J. F. Munnings, a partner in Power, Adam & Munnings of Sydney, Australia. The main axis is King George's Avenue, which links the Secretariat with Government House in the grand manner, over one mile long, and 200 ft wide and lined with trees. The secondary roads are 150 ft in width. ![]() The Council Chambers, designed in Free Renaissance style by A. N. Millwood, are located to the east of the Secretariat. The chambers are 60 feet long and 50 feet wide and extend through both floors, with an upper gallery for the public and press. At a distance of about two hundred and twenty eight meters to the east of the eastern gate of the Secretariat is the Martyrs' Memorial, bronze statuary in a heroic manner remembering the seven nationalist students who died on the 9th of August 1942, after being shot by police while they were trying to hoist the national flag on the Secretariat. Between the Secretariat and the railway station is Hardinge Park, which commemorates the visit to Patna in the year 1913 of the Viceroy Lord Hardinge of Penshurst, architect of the province of Orissa and Bihar. A bronze statue of Hardinge, by Herbert Hampton, which once stood in the park, a bust of Lady Hardinge and two plates depicting justice between men and sympathy to suffering humanity, were moved to the Patna Museum in the year 1967. Away from Bayley Road is the High Court, which is a fine exercise in civic Baroque closely-modelled on the High Court at Allahabad by Frank Lishman. Internally, there is a fine marble staircase behind the pedimented entrance portico. ![]() The central sector of Patna lies to east of the Buddha Marg on the edge of Patna University campus. The road from the railway station to the Maidan passes a number of interesting houses. Opposite and beyond the jail is an early nineteenth century bungalow. Further on is a fine Art Deco house of the 1920s. The Gandhi Maidan covers about an area of about 64 acres and is well laid out with trees and footpaths. To the north-east is the Anglican Christ Church. The Gola or Golghar is one of the most extraordinary buildings in India which is worth seeing. It stands by a small park on the west edge of the Maidan and resembles a huge beehive towering over the trees. It was constructed by Colonel John Garstin in the year 1786, as a famine-relief measure but was never used. Over 90 ft high, there is an external staircase to the top, where the grain was unloaded. The flat platforms adjoining the stairs were resting places. It has a theoretical capacity of 137,000 tons and a spectacular internal echo. 137 meter round at the base and about 33 meter in diameter, it is a local landmark. The view from the top across the Ganga River is stunning. It is alleged that Sir Jang Bahadur of Nepal once rode a pony to the summit. There is the plaque commemorating Garstin at the base. The Randfurlie Knox Monument lies close to the river in the compound of the Judge's Court. This tall obelisk recalls the gallant Knox, who marched from Burdwan to relieve the siege of Patna by Shah Alam in the year 1760. ![]() Patna's eastern sector extends from Gandhighat to the eastern limit of the city. Three miles to the east of the Patna College is Gulzarbagh, the old opium quarter, which traded until 1911, when it was closed by the government. The old buildings are now occupied by the Government Press but can be recognized by the high wall around the compound on the river bank. The site is that of the original English factory. The Duchess of Teck Hospital is situated on higher ground about one kilometre to the west. Towards the east of Gulzarbagh is the west gate of Patna city. Near the Chowk is the Har Mandir Takht, one of the Sikh temples in India and it also marks the birthplace of the tenth Guru, Guru Gobind Singh. It is one of the four holy temples of the Sikhs. Jains and Hindu shrines of note are also there which include the Moti Brahma, a contemporary of Ashoka, who lies buried at the Brahmasthan. ![]() Apart from these; there are three Muslim buildings of note in Patna. Sher Shah's Mosque in Haziganj was constructed between 1541 and 1545 in a bold Afghan style. The citadel was in the north-east corner. The Pathar ki Masjid, a rather inelegant stone mosque in Sultanganj, was erected in the year 1626 by Mahabat Khan. Mir Afjal's Mosque, which is located behind the Bihar College of Engineering, is a little gem where the Emperor Farrukhsiyar worshipped. |
More ArticlesMonuments in Patna (4) | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
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Monuments in Patna