The granary (golghar) at Bankipur, near Patna (Bihar) seen from the river; European officials' houses near by

Watercolour by Robert Smith (1787-1873) of the granary ('gola') at Bankipur, near Patna in Bihar, seen from the river with European officials' houses near by, dated 1814-15. The image is inscribed on the original mount in pencil: 'Grain Golah at Bankipoore near Patana'. Throughout the 1770s and early 1780s there had been a number of years during which crops failed and led to disastrous periods of famine. This huge granary was built by Captain John Garstin in 1786 and was intended to store grain for those times, but unfortunately the building was found to be unsuitable for its purpose. The design, based on indigenous storehouses for grain and salt, consists of a series of concentric circles forming the thick walls of the large globe, which has two symmetrical spiral staircases winding around it leading to the central opening at the top.

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