Mahendru Ghat of Patna is a Mauryanary Heritage. Mahendra, the son of Ashoka went to Sri Lanka to spread Buddhism through this Ghat. From this Ghat, he also took a twig of blessed Bodhi Tree, which is still flowing in Sri Lanka. However, the original Bodhi Tree of BodhGaya was cut by the Buddhist Shashank.
Though, it was mentioned in Megasthanij’s Indica that the width of Patliputra Town was three miles. The distance from Kumharar is also three miles. It assures that Mahendru Ghat situated on the Outskirts of Patliputra has been on the Gangetic Coast since the Maurayan Period. Ramji Mishra Manohar and Omprakash Prasad have mentioned about such details in Buddhist texts. Well, there were some discussions in Historical texts that Mahendru Muhalla was named after Yuvraj Mahindra, who was initially known as the Mahendrapur. Just like Kumar Vihar, it became Kumharar, in the same way Mahendrapur transformed into Mahendru.
These days, there have been perennial and other factions among the Mahindru Ghat and Mahindru Muhalla, but the Ghats and the Muhalla were the same area during the Maurya Period. Being situated on the main waterway, Mahindru Ghat was a busy river Ghat in ancient times. During that period, there was no expected development of roads. So, the waterways were chosen for long journeys as they do not make the forest, mountains, desert or bush blockage like the roads. It was considered best not only for national tours but also for international tours.
To go from Patliputra to Sri Lanka, first we go to Tamralipti via Ganga River. Then we go through Bay of Bengal to reach Sri Lanka. Since the development of road communication in the middle ages, there has been a slight decrease in the importance of Mahindru Ghat.
When the railway was developed during the British era, the British government laid the foundation for steamship service from Mahindru Ghat to the Pahleja Ghat of Sonpur, to connect Patna’s railway network to the railway network of North Bihar. With this, once gain the importance of Mahendru Ghat increased and thousands of pilgrims from all over the country travel around here. Even after independence the Ghat was used for many years.
After becoming a Mahatma Gandhi bridge on the Ganga River, the significance of this ghat became subordinate and the railway stopped the steamer service here. These days the Railway Recruitment Board’s office is run here.
Regards
Khushi Anand
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