Patna is situated on the southern bank of the Ganges. The city also straddles the rivers Kosi, Sone and Gandak and Punpun. Patna is approximately 25 km long and 9 km to 10 km wide. Patna is the 14th most populous city in India with approximately 1.8 million, and the 14th most populous agglomeration in India and 168th in the world. It is the second largest city in eastern India, after Kolkata. Today, all major companies have a base in Patna reflecting the growing importance of the city. The city is growing rapidly with buoyant development in sectors including retail and property. It is also fast emerging as a hub of higher education with institutes of national repute being started in Patna.

Patna is one of the oldest continuously inhabited places in the world. Ancient Patna, known as Pataliputra, was the capital of the Magadha Empire under the Haryanka, Nanda, Mauryan, Sunga, Gupta, Pala and Suri dynasties. Pataliputra was also a famous seat of learning and fine arts. Its population during the Maurya period (around 300 BCE) was about 400,000.The Buddhist, Hindu, and Jain pilgrim centres of Vaishali, Rajgir, Nalanda, Bodhgaya, and Pawapuri are nearby and Patna is also a sacred city for Sikhs. The Sikh Guru, Guru Gobind Singh, was born here.