Golghar

The capital of Bihar, Patna is situated on the southern bank of the holy river Ganges. It is a tropical city in the northern Gangetic plains known for being the capital of mighty Magadh and Mauryan empires. Panic stricken by the devastating famine of 1770, the British ruler Captain John Garstin had built a SILO or Golghar built for the storage of foodgrains for British army with the storing capacity of 140000 tons on 20th July 1786, at the east bank of the Ganga River where today's Gandhi Maidan is located. At present Golghar is the Central Granary.It is first in Asia and largest in the world this SILO has unique qualities in architecture. Golghar is round like a honeycomb.

Golghar has a foundation of 125m, it is pillarless with the wall of 3.6m width and the height is 29m.If one can climb 145 steps to its top and can have the simple view of Patna city.Golghar's Whispering Gallery is wonderful.The Golghar houses paintings in Mughal and Rajput style, Arabic and Persian manuscripts, the only book replaced from the Spanish University of Cordova, one inch wide Koran and all other books and manuscripts collections worth mentioning. Overlooking the river and the plains, patna's Golghar is look like the upper half of a gigantic, decorated Easter egg, with spiral stairway winding around this monument, adding to its enhancement.Golghar offers a magnificent breathtaking view of the city and the river Ganges, flowing nearby. The spiral staircase was so designed, in order to expedite the passage of the coolies, who had to carry grain-bags up one flight, deliver their load through a hole at the top, and descend the other stairs.