Eclipse Expedition to Patna (TSE2009)
Bihar’s antiquity is evident from its name, which is derived from the ancient word "VIHARA" (monastery). It is indeed a land of monasteries. Hindu, Buddhist, Jain, Muslim and Sikh shrines abound in this ancient land where India’s first major empires rose and fell. Where the ruins of the worlds’ earliest university slumbers in the void of time. Imagine, soon after sunrise darkness falls again. Birds stop singing. The sun’s corona pops out and shimmers across the sky. For a few strangely-silent minutes, while the moon completely covers the sun, you’re spellbound inside the moon’s cool shadow. Then, suddenly, reluctantly, you’re free again--free for the rest of your life to jet around the world trying to catch another total solar eclipse.

20th July 09 : Depart Delhi (By train - 8:00 PM)

21st July 09 : Arrive in Patna
On arrival at railway station in Patna get transferred to your hotel of stay. In the afternoon proceed to Patna planetarium and spend time with Space experts on various experiments. SPACE is working to popularize science amongst masses through astronomy. It is a team of dedicated and eminent Astronomers, Science Communicators and Educators whose aim is to spread science through experimentation and by encouraging rationale questioning by school children.

22nd July 09: Eclipse Day
The day that you have all been anxiously waiting for, amidst much fanfare the eclipse shall follow sunrise in the early hours of the day. You will witness the eclipse from the terrace of the Patna Planetarium. It’s an opportunity to experiment with the team of astronomers on the

study of the movement of the Sun and various phases of the eclipse. Experience the eclipse. Enjoy your time under the lunar shadow. Later proceed on a city tour of Patna visiting the huge beehive-shaped Golghar, built in 1786 as a granary to store surpluses against possible famines. It stands about 25m high and steps wind around the outside to the top where you have a fine view over the town and the Ganges; Shri Krishna Science Centre - Patna’s premier science museum; Patna Museum, containing metal and stone sculptures dating to the Mauryan and Gupta periods, terracotta figures and archaeological finds from various sites in Bihar. It also houses the 16m long and 200 million years old, world’s longest fossilized tree. The museum consists of a fine collection of Chinese paintings and thangkas. (Open between 1030 - 1630 hrs and is closed on Monday). Also visit the Martyrs’ Memorial at the Old Secretariat and Kumhrar, the site of the ancient city of Pataliputra, as Patna was known in the days of the old. Finally visit the Takht Har Mandir Sahib, the birthplace of Guru Gobind Singh, the 10th Guru of the Sikhs. This is amongst the holiest of the Sikh shrines built by Maharaja Ranjit Singh. On the bottom floor of this dome shaped structure there are holy Sikh scriptures and personal belongings of the Guru. Time permitting, shop in the local market.

23rd July 09: Depart Patna
This morning visit Sanjay Gandhi Biological Park, amongst the largest Biological park in India. Within the Park grow more tha n 300 species of trees, herbs and shrubs and has a nursery of medicinal plants, an orchid house, a fern house, a glass house and a rose garden. The zoo within the park has more than 70 species of animals including tiger, lion, leopard, clouded leopard, rhi no, hippo, crocodile, Himalayan bear, lion tailed macaque, leopard cat, hog deer, zebra, emu, white peacock to name a few. The park also houses an aquarium and a snake house. Transfer to railway station to get train for Delhi at 10:30 PM

24th July 09: Reach Delhi by 5:15 AM