Building Name: | Visitation of the blessed Virgin Mary |
Location: | Patna |
Geo: | 25.611°N 85.144°W |
Religious Affiliation: | Roman Catholic |
Region: | Magadh |
State: | India |
Province: | Bihar |
Municipality: | Patna Municipal Corporation |
Status: | Cathedral |
Heritage Designation: | Oldest Church of Bihar |
Leadership: | Dr. Victor Alphonse (General Secretary, Parish Council). |
Architecture: | yes |
Architect: | Tirreto |
Architecture Type: | Cathedral |
Architecture Style: | Neoclassical |
Year Completed: | First build – 1713 Major redisgn – 1772 |
Construction Cost: | 700 in 1772 |
Padri-Ki-Haveli ("Mansion of Padre"), also known as the Visitation of the blessed Virgin Mary, is the oldest church in Bihar. When Roman Catholics arrived in Bihar, they built a small church in 1713 at a place now known as Padri-ki-Haveli.[1]
The current church was re-designed by a Venetian architect Tirreto in 1772. He came from Kolkata to design the church. The foundation stone of this church has a dimension of 70 feet of length, 40 feet of width and 50 feet of height.[2]
Nawab Mir Qasim destroyed the church because of the quarrel with the British traders on 25 June 1763. Ancient records were destroyed and burnt consequently. In 1857, during the Great Indian Rebellion, the church was very damaged again.
Today, the monument stands as an architectural wonder with intricate details present in few churches in India.