පැට්නා
Patna (, ) is the capital and largest city of the state of Bihar in India.It had an estimated city population of 2.48 million in 2021, making it the 19th largest city in India.Covering  and over 2.5 million people, its urban agglomeration is the 18th largest in India. Patna serves as the seat of Patna High Court. One of the oldest continuously inhabited places in the world, 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. During the Maurya period (around 300 BCE) its population was about 400,000. Patna served as the seat of power, and political and cultural centre of the Indian subcontinent during the Maurya and Gupta empires. 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.

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  in length and  wide. In June 2009, the World Bank ranked Patna second in India (after Delhi) for ease of starting a business. As of 2015, Patna's per capita gross domestic product is 1,06,000 ($1581). 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. As of 2015, GDP per capita of Patna is ₹1,06,000 and its GDP growth rate is 7.29 per cent.

See also

 List of cities in India by area

References

Further reading
 
 
 
 
 
 
Nas Margens do Hindustão : o estado da India e a expansão mongol ca.1570-1640 . Por Jorge Flores

External links

 Official website of Patna district
 Official website of the Municipal Corporation of Patna
 The Portuguese on the Bay of Bengal

 
5th-century BC establishments
Cities and towns in Patna district
Cities and towns in Bihar
Indian capital cities
Holy cities
Metropolitan cities in India
Populated places established in the 5th century BC