Photo: Nandanupadhyay / Wikimedia Commons, CC BY-SA 3.0
📍 Patna, South Bihar, Bihar
An ancient, unusually deep well believed to date to the Mauryan era and associated in legend with Emperor Ashoka. Its brick-and-wood-ringed shaft descends far below ground and is steeped in folklore. Adjacent stands the popular Shitala Devi temple, making it both an archaeological curiosity and a living place of worship.
Agam Kuan (literally "unfathomable well") is one of Patna's oldest surviving monuments, generally dated to the Mauryan period and traditionally linked with Emperor Ashoka. Local legend, recorded in some Buddhist accounts, associates the well with Ashoka's early cruelty ("Ashoka's hell") before his conversion to Buddhism.
The well is a deep circular shaft, its upper section lined with brick rings and, lower down, with wooden rings — an old construction technique. It never runs dry. Right beside it is the Shitala Devi temple, revered by locals especially for protection against pox and disease, so the site remains busy with worshippers. It is protected as a monument of archaeological importance.
October to March. The nearby Shitala temple is busiest during Navratri and pox season.
Hindu Temples One of the 51 revered Shakti Peethas, where the right thigh of Goddess Sati is believed to have fallen. Located in the Maharajganj area of Old Patna, the temple enshrines three blackstone deities — Mahakali, Mahalakshmi and Mahasaraswati. It is widely held that the very name 'Patna' derives from Patan Devi, making it deeply tied to the city's identity.
Sikh Heritage One of the five Takhts (supreme seats of authority) in Sikhism and the birthplace of Guru Gobind Singh Ji, the tenth Sikh Guru, born here in 1666. A magnificent white marble Gurudwara draws pilgrims from across the world, especially during Prakash Utsav celebrations. A deeply revered spiritual and historical landmark of Patna City.
Rivers & Ghats Patna's long Ganga waterfront strings together historic ghats where the city meets its river. Gandhi Ghat, famed for its evening Ganga Aarti, marks the spot where Mahatma Gandhi's ashes were immersed. The new JP Ganga Path, Patna's 'Marine Drive', now runs for over 20 km along the river, making the ghats, sunsets and Chhath celebrations easy to enjoy.
Historical & Ruins The archaeological remains of ancient Pataliputra, capital of the mighty Mauryan Empire under Chandragupta and Ashoka. The star attraction is the excavated 80pillared hall of polished sandstone from Emperor Ashoka's era. A key site for understanding one of the world's great early cities, set in a peaceful landscaped park.
