Patna
Patna | |
|---|---|
 Anticlockwise from top: South-West Gandhi Maidan Marg, Stupa of Buddha Smriti Park, Skyline near Biscomaun Bhawan, Patna Museum, river Ganges, Mithapur Flyover and Statue of Mahatma Gandhi in Gandhi Maidan | |
  Patna Location in Patna | |
| Coordinates: 25°36′N 85°06′E / 25.6°N 85.1°ECoordinates: 25°36′N 85°06′E / 25.6°N 85.1°E | |
| Country |  India |
| State | Bihar |
| Division | Patna |
| District | Patna |
| Pataliputra | 490BC |
| Founded by | Udayin |
| Government | |
| • Type | Mayor–Council |
| • Body | Patna Municipal Corporation |
| • Mayor | Sita Sahu[2] |
| • Municipal Commissioner | Himanshu Sharma (IAS) |
| • District Magistrate | Sri Kumar Ravi (IAS) |
| Area | |
| • City | 250 km2 (100 sq mi) |
| • Urban | 600 km2 (200 sq mi) |
| • Metro | 1,167 km2 (451 sq mi) |
| Area rank | 18 |
| Elevation | 53 m (174 ft) |
| Population (2011)[5] | |
| • City | 1,683,200 (IN: 19th)[1] |
| • Urban | 2,046,652 (IN: 18th) |
| • Metro | 3,874,000 (IN: 12th) |
| Demonym(s) | Patnaite |
| Language | |
| • Official | Hindi[6] |
| • Additional official | Urdu[6] |
| • Regional | Magahi[7] |
| Time zone | UTC+5:30 (IST) |
| Pincode(s) | 8000xx |
| Area Code(s) | +91-(0)612 |
| ISO 3166 code | IN-BR-PA IN PAT |
| Vehicle registration | BR-01 |
| Literacy (2011) | 83.37%[8] |
| Sex ratio (2011) | 980 ♀/1000 ♂[5] |
| HDI (2016) |  0.549[9] (High) |
| Metro GDP | $27 billion[10] |
| Website | patna patnanagarnigam |
Patna (/ˈpætnə, ˈpʌt-/[11] Hindi: [ˈpəʈnaː] (
listen)), historically known as Pataliputra, is the capital and largest city of the state of Bihar in India.[1] According to the United Nations, as of 2018, Patna had a population of 2.35 million,[12] making it the 19th largest city in India.[1] Covering 250 square kilometres (97 sq mi) and over 2.5 million people, its urban agglomeration is the 18th largest in India. Patna serves as the seat of Patna High Court. The Buddhist, Hindu and Jain pilgrimage centres of Vaishali, Rajgir, Nalanda, Bodh Gaya and Pawapuri are nearby and Patna City is a sacred city for Sikhs as the tenth Sikh Guru, Guru Gobind Singh was born here.[13] The modern city of Patna is mainly on the southern bank of the river Ganges. The city also straddles the rivers Sone, Gandak and Punpun. The city is approximately 35 kilometres (22 mi) in length and 16 to 18 kilometres (9.9 to 11.2 mi) wide.
One of the oldest continuously inhabited places in the world,[14] Patna was founded in 490 BCE by the king of Magadha. Ancient Patna, known as Pataliputra, was the capital of the Magadh Empire through Haryanka, Nanda, Mauryan, Shunga, Gupta and Pala dynasties. Pataliputra was a seat of learning and fine arts. It was home to many astronomers and scholars including Aryabhata, Vātsyāyana and Chanakya.[15][16] During the Maurya period (around 300 BCE) its population was about 400,000.[17] Patna served as the seat of power, and political and cultural centre of the Indian subcontinent during the Maurya and Gupta empires.[18] With the fall of the Gupta Empire, Patna lost its glory. It was revived again in the 17th century by the British as a centre of international trade. Following the partition of Bengal presidency in 1912, Patna became the capital of Bihar and Orissa Province.[19]
Until the 19th century it was a major trading and commercial hub in India.[20] After independence there were a few downturns but its economy was still stable.[21] After the separation of Jharkhand from Bihar, it lost its glory.[22] Now trials are made to develop the city.[23] GDP of Patna is 27 billion dollars (26% of state's GDP) in 2020.[10] As of 2015, Patna's per capita gross domestic product is ₹1,06,000 ($1581).[24] Using figures for assumed average annual growth, Patna is the 21st fastest growing city in the world and 5th fastest growing city in India according to a study by the City Mayors Foundation. Patna registered an average annual growth of 3.72% during 2006–2010.[25] As of 2015, GDP per capita of Patna is ₹1,06,000 and its GDP growth rate is 7.29 per cent. In June 2009, the World Bank ranked Patna second in India (after Delhi) for ease of starting a business.[26]
Etymology[]
The name of this city has changed with time. One of the oldest cities of India, there are several theories regarding the origin of the modern name Patna (Devanagari: पटना; Kaithi: