Photo: Poet artist Himanshu / Wikimedia Commons, CC BY-SA 4.0
📍 Patna, South Bihar, Bihar
A striking beehive-shaped granary built by the British in 1786 as a state grain store to guard against famine. Its two external spiral staircases of 145 steps each lead to the top, offering sweeping views of the Ganga and the Patna skyline. One of the city's most recognisable colonial-era landmarks.
Golghar (literally "round house") was built in 1786 by Captain John Garstin of the British East India Company, following the devastating famine of 1770. It was designed as a massive granary to store grain for the army and the population in case of future shortages.
The structure is a solid, dome-shaped brick building about 29 m high with walls up to 3.6 m thick at the base. Curiously, it was never filled to capacity. Two spiral staircases wind around the outside, allowing labourers to carry sacks up one side and down the other. Today it is a popular spot to climb for panoramic views over the river and the city, set within a well-kept lawn near Gandhi Maidan.
October to March. Sunset offers the best views from the top.
Cities & Towns Sabhyata Dwar, or 'Civilization Gate', is a striking 32metre sandstone arch on the banks of the Ganga, built to celebrate Bihar's ancient heritage and civilizational legacy. Set beside the Samrat Ashok Convention Centre and the developing Ganga riverfront (Marine Drive), it is a favourite spot for evening strolls and photographs.
Memorials Gandhi Maidan is one of India's largest public grounds, a historic stage for freedommovement rallies and public gatherings in the heart of Patna. On its edge stands the Gandhi Sangrahalaya, a museum that tells the story of Mahatma Gandhi's life and his deep connection with Bihar through photographs, documents and models.
Memorials A moving memorial to seven young students who were shot dead by British police on 11 August 1942 while trying to hoist the national flag over the Secretariat during the Quit India Movement. The bronze statues, sculpted by Devi Prasad Roychoudhury, stand outside the Bihar Secretariat as an enduring tribute to their sacrifice.
Museums One of India's oldest museums, established in 1917, and affectionately called 'Jadu Ghar' (House of Magic) by locals. Built in a graceful IndoSaracenic style, it holds tens of thousands of artefacts spanning Bihar's ancient, medieval and modern past, including a Buddha relic casket and rare stone and bronze sculptures.
