Patna :A historic riverine city 2013

Thesis Synopsis- Patna A historic riverine city with major Colonial Influences

Patna has been one of the oldest continuously inhabited riverine cities in the world situated at the
southern bank of river Ganga1.The Colonial Institutional area which is the focus of the thesis
extends from the western side of the old Fort Gate to the Bankipur Gola linearly along the Ganga
and in between the River Ganga and the Ashokraj Path.

Legend ascribes the origin of Patna to a mythological King Putraka who created Patna by
magic for his queen Patali, literally "trumpet flower", which gives it its ancient name
Pataligrama. It is said that in honour of the queen's first-born, the city was named Pataliputra.
Gram is Sanskrit for village and Putra means son.

Ancient Patna, known as Pataliputra, was the capital of the Magadha Empire under the Haryanka,
Nanda, Mauryan, Sunga, Gupta, and Pala dynasties. In the middle of 16 th century, Sher Shah Suri
built a fort on the banks of the Ganga understanding the strategic location of the city and
importance of the port(fig-4). The place has continued to be a significant trading centre during
Sultanate period and flourished during the rule of Mughals and Nawabs of Bengal.

Patna became a centre of international trade in the seventeenth century. The European trading
countries—British, French, Danes, Dutch and Portuguese started to come to Patna for trading
purposes. They mainly traded in cloth, opium, saltpeter and indigo. After the decisive Battle of
Buxar (1764), Patna was with East India Company. Patna became the capital of the provinces of
Orissa and Bihar when the Bengal Presidency was partitioned.

It was a walled city and the European trading companies settled outside the fort area all along the
river front. The city developed in three phases during the European influence and the British rule:
First along the river front, Next on the southern side of Maidan to railway station and Third after
being made the capital of the province of Bihar along the Bailey road, the new capital area 2 (fig-
5).They developed the area to the west of the fort area for their use and inhibited the area further
till the Bankipur area. They built their residences and residential quarters, churches, schools,
clubs, institutions and official buildings. One of the major intervention in the city was development
of the Race course the present day Gandhi Maidan, in the central part of the city. These are
significant heritage components of the Institutional area along the river front today. They are not
only historically important but also form the prominent Institutional, Public-Semi-Public space of the
city continuous in use from more than 200 years.
Amongst these institutes Patna College is the oldest in the state. It has been the temple of learning
during the last 148 years and is the 2nd oldest Educational Institution in the entire Eastern region
of India.

1
The city is approximately 25 km long and 9 km to 10 km wide. The urban settlement covers roughly an area of 210 sq. km. PMC
area (175.00 Sq. km.)
2
When the Bengal Presidency was partitioned in 1912 to carve out a separate province, Patna was made the capital of the new
province of Bihar and Orissa .The city limits were stretched westwards to accommodate the administrative base, and the township
of Bankipore took shape along the Bailey Road.

1 Ar. Nancy (Conservator)

 Patna :A historic riverine city 2013

LOCATION OF PATNA

FIG-1: Map of India FIG-2: Map of Bihar

(source-www.arcgis.com//national geography) (source-www.bihartourism.org)

FIG-3: Map of Patna Showing PRDA Boundary and Municipal Boundary (Prospective Master Plan
2021)

2 Ar. Nancy (Conservator)

 Patna :A historic riverine city 2013

FIG-4: Map of Patna Showing The Historic old site were Mauryan remains are
found and the Fort Built by Sher Shah Suri along the river front.

3
A

Fig-5: On the Map of Patna is shown the three phases of development of the city.
The City Development During British Rule in 3 Phases.
1- Along The River Front
2-On The Southern Side Of Maidan To Railway Station
3-The New Capital Area.
A-Fort Area.

3 Ar. Nancy (Conservator)

 Patna :A historic riverine city 2013

BIBLIOGRAPHY

 Splendours of the Raj, British Architecture in India, 1660-1947 by Philips David ,UBS Publication,1985.
 European Architecture in India 1750-1850 by Sten Nisson Published by The University Press Glasgow,
1968.
 Thesis of Mrs. Kamini Sinha on Conservation Plan for Colonial Patna(2003);submitted in requirement of
completion of her Masters Degree in Architectural Conservation from S.P.A. Delhi.
 Gazetter of Patna by O Malley(2005 Reprint) and N. Kumar (1970) and Images of Patna by N.Kumar
1970
 Patna; a journey through the Ages by Ram Kumar published by Janki Prakasnan in 1998.
 Patna through the Ages - Qyanuddin Ahmad published by Janki Prakasnan in 1988.
 Other Government Record :-
 Master Plan 1964 by Bihar Improvement Trust
 Master Plan 2021 by Development Consultants Private Limited (DCPL)
 CDP by JNNURM Infrastructure Professional Enterprise (P) Ltd

4 Ar. Nancy (Conservator)