An Encyclopaedia of Indian Archaeology v2.c42.240

v2.c42.240

**Pāṭaliputra** (25°37′; 85°10′), Patna, the capital of Bihar, alternatively known as Kusumapura, Puṣpapura and Kusuma-dhvaja, on the s. bank of the Ganga, where the Gandak and Punpun join the mainstream respectively from the n. and s. There is also evidence that the Son which now meets the Ganga a few km up Patna originally ran for a certain distance parallel to the Ganga to its s. before discharging itself into the latter. Pāṭaliputra was thus situated on the strip of land between the Ganga and the Son, explaining its abnormal length: breadth ratio mentioned by Megasthenes (below). Being on the confluence of so many streams it was an important political and commercial centre but was also exposed to floods as Patna is even now. Steep sections with cultural debris seen on the bank of the Ganga in the old city of Patna indicate that parts of the ancient city have been washed away by floods. And what survives is now mostly buried below the modern city, particularly e. Patna.