Patna Sahibਪਟਨਾ ਸਾਹਿਬ

Patna is the capital of Bihar, India — one of the oldest continuously inhabited cities in the world, and the birthplace of Guru Gobind Singh Ji. The house where the tenth Sikh Guru was born on 22 December 1666 is marked by Takht Sri Harmandir Sahib, one of the five seats of Sikh religious authority. Sikhs honour the city as Patna Sahib.

A 2,500-year-old city: Pataliputra

Ancient Patna was Pataliputra, founded in 490 BCE by the king of Magadha. It became the capital of the Magadha Empire under the Haryanka, Nanda, Mauryan, Shunga, Gupta and Pala dynasties — the political and cultural centre of the Indian subcontinent for centuries. Scholars such as Aryabhata and Chanakya lived here, and during the Maurya period, around 300 BCE, the city's population was about 400,000. Renamed Azimabad in 1704 under the Mughals, it became the capital of Bihar and Orissa in 1912, and is the capital of the state of Bihar today.

Birthplace of Guru Gobind Singh Ji

Guru Gobind Singh Ji was born here as Gobind Rai on 22 December 1666, to Guru Tegh Bahadur Ji and Mata Gujri. He spent his early years in Patna before the family moved to Anandpur Sahib. The city was also honoured by the visits of Guru Gobind Singh Ji. On the site of the house of his birth stands the sacred shrine of Takht Sri Harmandir Sahib.

The Takht today

Takht Sri Harmandir Sahib, also called Takhat Sri Harimandir Ji, is one of the five takhts of the Sikhs. The shrine was burnt down in a fire and rebuilt in the early 19th century by Maharaja Ranjit Singh. Damaged by the 1934 earthquake, it was rebuilt between 1948 and 1957. It is managed by the Takhat Sri Harimandir Ji, Patna Sahib Prabandhak Committee and draws pilgrims from across the world.

Patna beyond the Takht

The modern city stretches along the southern bank of the Ganges, between the Son, Gandak and Punpun rivers, about 35 kilometres long. Its landmarks include the Golghar granary, the Bihar Museum and the Patan Devi temples. The Buddhist, Hindu and Jain pilgrimage centres of Vaishali, Rajgir, Nalanda, Bodh Gaya and Pawapuri all lie nearby.

Why do Sikhs call it Patna Sahib?

Because the city holds one of Sikhism's five takhts — Takht Sri Harmandir Sahib marks the birthplace of Guru Gobind Singh Ji, making Patna one of the most sacred pilgrimage sites for Sikhs.

Is Patna one of the oldest cities in the world?

Patna is counted among the oldest continuously inhabited places in the world. Founded as Pataliputra in 490 BCE, it has been a capital city for more than 2,500 years, through the Mauryan and Gupta empires and into the present day.