The granary (Golghar) at Bankipur, near Patna (Bihar) seen from the river; European officials’ houses near by; a watercolor by Robert Smith, 1814-15
Bihar has a deep historical legacy dating back to ancient times. It was an important center of political power during the Maurya and Gupta empires, with Pataliputra (modern-day Patna) serving as a major capital city.