Patna is the capital of the state of Bihar. The city has a long history, established as it was in 490 BC by the king of Magadha. This makes Patna one of the world's oldest and continually inhabited cities. In the olden days, Patna was known as Pataliputra and it was a center for learning and artistic endeavors. The city is also religiously significant and is a pilgrimage center for the Hindus, Buddhists, Jains, and Sikhs.
Bihar recorded a growth rate of 10.2 % of GDP in 2016-20147, higher than India's average GDP growth rate. A large part of this growth is occurring in Patna. This rising affluence has led to a mushrooming of car ownership in the city. Patna is densely populated and well-connected to the rest of the country. It is close to India's Northeast region, which has been recording a high growth rate over the past few years.
State Highway 1 connects Patna to Sadikpur and Masaurhi. State Highway 2 connects Patna to Bihta, Arwal, Paliganj, and Bikram. State Highway 4 connects Patna to Nalanda, Jehanabad and Bodh Gaya. National Highway 19, which passes through the outskirts of Patna, connects Bihar to Uttar Pradesh, Haryana, West Bengal, Jharkhand, and Delhi. National Highway 139 connects Patna to Jharkhand and Bihar.
