DongXqz408 at 13:26, 31 March 2026

2026-03-31T13:26:18Z

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{{Short description|Park in Patna, India}}
{{Use dmy dates|date=June 2018}}
{{Use Indian English|date=November 2017}}
{{Infobox park
| name = Shaheed Veer Kunwar Singh Azadi Park
| alt_name = Hardinge Park
| photo =
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| type = Public Park
| location = [[Patna]], [[Bihar]], [[India]]
| map =
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| coords =
| area = 22 acres
| created = {{Start date and age|df=yes|1916|01|31}}
| operator =
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| status = Open year round
| website =
}}

'''Hardinge Park'''<ref>{{Cite news|url=https://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/city/patna/hardinge-park-to-get-a-facelift/articleshow/57226371.cms|title=Hardinge Park to get a facelift - Times of India|work=The Times of India|access-date=2017-12-04|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20171206064413/https://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/city/patna/hardinge-park-to-get-a-facelift/articleshow/57226371.cms|archive-date=6 December 2017|url-status=live}}</ref><ref>{{Cite news|url=https://www.telegraphindia.com/1151204/jsp/bihar/story_56522.jsp|title=Joggers' paradise opens gate|work=The Telegraph|access-date=2017-12-04|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20171206005956/https://www.telegraphindia.com/1151204/jsp/bihar/story_56522.jsp|archive-date=6 December 2017|url-status=dead}}</ref> officially known as '''Shaheed Veer Kunwar Singh Azadi Park'''<ref name="Business Standard">{{Cite news|url=http://www.business-standard.com/article/pti-stories/patna-s-historic-hardinge-park-turns-101-117013100622_1.html|title=Patna's historic Hardinge Park turns 101|agency=Press Trust of India|date=2017-01-31|work=Business Standard India|access-date=2017-12-04|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20171206074555/http://www.business-standard.com/article/pti-stories/patna-s-historic-hardinge-park-turns-101-117013100622_1.html|archive-date=6 December 2017|url-status=live}}</ref> is a public park in the city of [[Patna]] built by [[British Raj]] in 1916.<ref name="Business Standard" /> The park was initially named after [[Charles Hardinge, 1st Baron Hardinge of Penshurst|Viceroy Charles Hardinge]] and was built in his honour as he was instrumental in the creation of [[Bihar]] as a separate province.<ref name="Business Standard" /> It was built as Patna's first public park.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.tribuneindia.com/news/schools/original-plan-of-patnas-hardinge-park-included-statue-of-lady-hardinge-too-archives-147951|title=Original plan of Patna's Hardinge Park included statue of Lady Hardinge too: Archives}}</ref> The park is located midway between [[Patna Junction railway station|Patna Junction]] and the [[Patna Secretariat|Bihar Secretariat]]. The name was changed to Shaheed Veer Kunwar Singh Azadi Park post [[Indian independence movement|independence]]. The park also hosted a garden party for then [[Prince of Wales]] - [[Edward VIII]] - in 1921 on his visit to Patna.<ref>{{Cite web|url=http://www.deccanherald.com/content/538186/breathing-life-century-old-park.html|title=Breathing life into century-old park in Bihar capital|website=Deccan Herald|access-date=2017-12-04|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20171206135805/http://www.deccanherald.com/content/538186/breathing-life-century-old-park.html|archive-date=6 December 2017|url-status=live}}</ref> The park completed its centenary in 2016.<ref name="The Economic Times">{{Cite news|url=https://economictimes.indiatimes.com/news/politics-and-nation/at-100-hardinge-park-gets-new-lease-of-life/articleshow/50794061.cms|title=At 100, Hardinge Park gets new lease of life|date=2016|work=The Economic Times|access-date=2017-12-04|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20171206144341/https://economictimes.indiatimes.com/news/politics-and-nation/at-100-hardinge-park-gets-new-lease-of-life/articleshow/50794061.cms|archive-date=6 December 2017|url-status=live}}</ref> It is known as the old bus stand. [[Indian Railways]] is soon going to construct Suburban Rail Terminal at Hardinge Park which is barely 900 metres west from [[Patna Junction railway station|Patna Junction]].

==History==
On 28 September 1913, the Hardinge Memorial Committee was constituted by the state authorities to design and set up a park in Patna. A deed of grant was signed between the [[Patna Collectorate|Patna collector]] and the Hardinge Memorial Committee on 8 September 1915 for development of a public park as Hardinge Park to be maintained by the committee.<ref name="telegraph">{{Cite news|url=https://www.telegraphindia.com/1130902/jsp/bihar/story_17276092.jsp|title=Garbage garb for key park|date=2 September 2013|first=Piyush Kumar|last=Tripathi|newspaper=The Telegraph|access-date=17 June 2018|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180618052443/https://www.telegraphindia.com/1130902/jsp/bihar/story_17276092.jsp|archive-date=18 June 2018|url-status=dead}}</ref> The Park was officially opened to the public on 31 January 1916 by the then [[Lieutenant-Governor]] of [[Bihar and Orissa Province|Bihar and Orissa]], [[Edward Albert Gait]].<ref name="Business Standard" /> It was built in honour of [[Charles Hardinge, 1st Baron Hardinge of Penshurst]] and was named after him.

At the opening of the Park Lt Governor had also unveiled a 5 tonne life-size bronze statue of Lord Hardinge.<ref name="Business Standard" /> The statue was created by renowned British sculptor [[Herbert Hampton]] in [[London]].<ref name="Business Standard" /> After protests in late 1960s the statue was removed from the park and placed in [[Patna Museum]]. It was installed again in the 1990s on a platform in a corner of the [[Patna Museum]]'s lawns. In late 2017, one of the last remnants of the [[British Raj]]-era landmark - the pedestal on which the Hardinge's iconic bronze statue once stood, was also demolished.<ref name="Business Standard" />

The park was also the location of [[Party#Garden party|Garden party]] for then Prince of Wales - Edward VIII - during his Patna visit in 1921. The party was hosted by Bihar Landholders' Association led by [[Raj Darbhanga|Maharaja of Darbhanga]].<ref>{{Cite book|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=BSceVSL-3C8C&q=hardinge+park+patna+garden+party&pg=PA111|title=Government and Politics in Colonial Bihar, 1921-1937|last=Alam|first=Jawaid|date=2004-01-01|publisher=Mittal Publications|isbn=9788170999799|language=en}}</ref>

The park is one of the oldest parks in the city of Patna. The name of the park was changed to ''Shaheed Veer Kunwar Singh Azadi Park'' after [[Kunwar Singh]] who was a notable leader during the [[Indian Rebellion of 1857]]. The park used to be the location of Flower Shows in Patna for many years.<ref name="Business Standard" />

==Design and Location==
The park is located on north of Hardinge Road and [[Howrah–Delhi main line|Delhi-Howrah railway line]] in east–west direction.<ref name="telegraph" /> It is spread over an area of 22 acres<ref name="Business Standard" /> and is somewhat triangular in shape. The park is dotted with ornamental fountains and perpendicular pathways are present across the area of the park.

==Suburban Rail Terminal==
The park was not well maintained by the government and was in a state of neglect.<ref name="telegraph" /> It was being used as a land fill and garbage dump by the [[Patna Municipal Corporation| Patna Municipal corporation]]<ref name="telegraph" /> since years. The [[Bihar government]] driven by High Court directives, redeveloped the space to convert the former landfill into a modern public park. The renovated park includes landscaped green areas, a jogging track, musical fountains, and a small boating area.<ref name="telegraph"/>

[[Indian Railways]] is also going to build four platforms on the Hardinge Park side of [[Patna Junction railway station|Patna junction]] to facilitate smooth running of mainline-electric-multiple-unit ([[MEMU]]) trains.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.hindustantimes.com/cities/patna-news/patnas-hardinge-park-to-have-new-rail-terminal-101628584280416.html|title=Patna's Hardinge Park to have new rail terminal}}</ref> There will be two pairs of double-discharge (DD) platform.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/railways-intends-to-build-a-double-discharge-dd-platform-at-hardinge-park-vacant-land-in-patna-on-the-pattern-of-mumbai-however-railways-is-likely-to-approach-the-state-government-for-the-final-take-over-of-the-land-incidentally-railways-has-agreed-to-hand-over-seven-km-long-r-block-digha-gat-railway-route-to-state-government-for-converting-it-into-a-four-lane-road-/articleshow/7211366.cms?from=mdr|title=Railways intends to build a double discharge( DD ) platform at Hardinge Park vacant land in Patna on the pattern of Mumbai . However, railways is likely to approach the state government for the final take over of the land . Incidentally railways has agreed to hand over seven km long R-Block - Digha Gat railway route to state government for converting it into a four -lane road.}}</ref> [[Indian Railways]] has proposed to terminate and originate all its local passenger trains from the DD platforms. [[Indian Railways]] got around {{convert|4.8|acre|adj=on|order=flip}} of land on Hardinge Road from [[Bihar government]] in lieu of the 7 km long [[Patna–Digha Ghat line]] land it offered to the latter for the construction of R-Block-Digha Road.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/city/patna/double-discharge-platforms-to-come-up-in-city-soon-ecr/articleshow/73562392.cms|title=Double-discharge platforms to come up in Patna soon: East Central Railway}}</ref>

==See also==
*[[Patna–Digha Ghat line]]
*Mithapur, Patna
*[[Moore Market Complex railway station|Chennai Suburban Terminal]]
*[[Patna Junction railway station]]
*[[Coronation Park, Delhi]]

==References==
{{reflist|2}}

{{Patna}}
{{Tourist attractions in Patna}}

{{Coord|25.60135|85.12921|dim:200_region:APAC-Patna_type:landmark|format=dms|display=title}}

[[Category:Gardens in India]]
[[Category:Parks in Patna]]
[[Category:Urban public parks]]
[[Category:1916 establishments in India]]
[[Category:History of Patna]]

Hardinge Park - Revision history

DongXqz408 at 13:26, 31 March 2026