October 8th, 2008 | 
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Patna city at one point of time have ruled the entire Indian subcontinent. This is the truth and there are many interesting monuments here that remind you of the rich past of the city. Panic stricken by the devastating famine of 1770, the British ruler Captain John Garstin had built a SILO or Golghar for the storage of foodgrains for British army with the storing capacity of 140000 tons on 20th July 1786, at the east bank of the Ganga where today’s Gandhi Maidan is located. At present it is the Central Granary. First in Asia and largest in the world this SILO has unique qualities in architecture. It is round like a honeycomb.
Golghar or the round house, the huge granary was built in 1786 by Captain John Garstin, at the behest of the then administrator, Warren Hastings. Bihar experienced severe draught that resulted in acute famine in the year 1770. Alarmed by the situation faced by the people, this massive granary was constructed for the British army.
The enormous structure is 29 m high and is 3.6 m wide at the base. Overlooking the river and the plains, it looks like the upper half of a gigantic, decorated Easter egg, with the spiral stairway winding around this monument, adding to its embellishment. It offers a magnificent breathtaking view of the city and the river Ganges, flowing nearby.The spiral staircase was so designed, in order to facilitate the passage of the coolies, who had to carry grain-bags up one flight, deliver their load through a hole at the top, and descend the other stairs.
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