Patna, Capital city in Bihar, India
Patna is the capital of Bihar and stretches along the southern bank of the Ganges, where wide roads alternate with narrow lanes. Modern apartment blocks stand beside low houses with flat roofs, while open-air markets spread between government buildings.
The settlement began in the 5th century before Christ as a capital under King Ajatashatru, who made it the power base of his kingdom. Later it became one of the largest centers of the ancient world under the Mauryan Empire.
Every evening families gather along the ghats to perform aarti ceremonies, where oil lamps float on the water. Street vendors offer sweets and prayer materials while pilgrims prepare for ritual baths in the river.
The main railway station sits in the center and connects the city to the rest of the country through multiple tracks. Rickshaws and auto-rickshaws move through most neighborhoods, while the summer months can become very hot.
Archaeologists have found remains of wooden fortifications from the 3rd century before Christ that belong to the oldest surviving urban structures in India. The palisades show how the city was protected by massive timber walls back then.
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