It is difficult to believe that this dusty and crowded city could at any point of time have ruled the entire Indian subcontinent. This is, however, the truth and there are many interesting monuments here that remind you of the rich past of the city. The capital of Bihar, Patna is situated on the southern bank of the holy river Ganges. It is a typical 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 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 where today's Gandhi Maidan is located. At present it is the Central Granary. First in Asia and largest in the world this SILO has unique qualities in architecture. It is round like a honeycomb.

It has a foundation of 125m, it is pillarless with the wall of 3.6m width and the height is 29m. One can climb 145 steps to its top and can have the view of Patna city. Its Whispering Gallery is wonderful. Arrangements are on to show Son-et Lumiere at the compound. National Library or Khudabox Oriental Public Library founded in 1900. It houses paintings in Mughal and Rajput style, Arabic and Persian manuscripts, the only book recovered from the Spanish University of Cordova, one inch wide Koran and other books and manuscripts collections worth mentioning. Overlooking the river and the plains, it looks like the upper half of a gigantic, decorated Easter egg, with the spiral stairway winding around this monument, adding to its embellishment. It offers a magnificent breathtaking view of the city and the river Ganges, flowing nearby. The spiral staircase was so designed, in order to facilitate 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.