Photo: Summit Kumar Shaurya / Wikimedia Commons, CC BY-SA 4.0
📍 Patna, South Bihar, Bihar
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.
Patna sits along the southern bank of the Ganga, and its riverfront is dotted with ghats that have long been the setting for the city's daily life, festivals and rituals. The best known is Gandhi Ghat, behind the National Institute of Technology (NIT), where Mahatma Gandhi's ashes were immersed and a soulful Ganga Aarti is performed each evening.
Other landmarks along the waterfront include NIT Ghat, Krishna Ghat, Kangan Ghat and many more. The JP Ganga Path (Loknayak Ganga Path) — often called Patna's Marine Drive — is a four-lane expressway running over 20 km between Digha and Deedarganj, transforming the riverfront into a popular promenade for walks, sunsets and city views.
The ghats are at their liveliest during Chhath Puja, when hundreds of thousands of devotees gather at dawn and dusk to offer prayers to the setting and rising sun.
October to March for pleasant weather; the ghats are especially vibrant during Chhath Puja (October–November) and evening Ganga Aarti.
Historical & Ruins One of the world's most renowned repositories of Oriental manuscripts, opened to the public in 1891. A National Importance institution, it safeguards thousands of rare Arabic and Persian manuscripts and Mughal and Rajputera miniature paintings, making it a treasure house for scholars and history lovers alike.
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.
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.
Historical & Ruins An ancient, unusually deep well believed to date to the Mauryan era and associated in legend with Emperor Ashoka. Its brickandwoodringed 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.
