Patna travel guide
Capital city of Bihar with rich historical and political heritage.
Patna, situated on the banks of the Ganges River, is the capital of Bihar. It's a historic city known for its ancient structures, museums, and religious sites. Patna also serves as a major administrative and educational center in Eastern India.
Best time to visit Patna
Oct–Mar is the season, best Nov–Feb; skip the Apr–Jun heat and Jul–Aug, when heavy rain waterlogs streets. Chhath (Oct–Nov) is the big festival.
| Month | Verdict | Temperature | Rain | Crowds | What to expect |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| January | best | 9–22 °C | 10 mm | medium | Cool days, chilly nights; dense fog can delay trains and flights |
| February | best | 12–26 °C | 15 mm | low | Pleasant, dry days and cool nights |
| March | good | 17–32 °C | 10 mm | low | Warm and dry; afternoons hot by the end of the month |
| April | mixed | 22–37 °C | 10 mm | low | Hot, dry afternoons; plan sightseeing for mornings |
| May | mixed | 25–38 °C | 50 mm | low | Very hot, with hot winds; storms some evenings |
| June | mixed | 27–36 °C | 160 mm | low | Humid heat until the monsoon arrives mid-month |
| July | avoid | 26–33 °C | 290 mm | low | Heavy downpours; low-lying neighbourhoods waterlog quickly |
| August | avoid | 26–33 °C | 270 mm | low | Wet and humid; waterlogged streets slow traffic after heavy rain |
| September | mixed | 26–33 °C | 210 mm | low | Rain easing but humid; the Ganga runs high |
| October | good | 22–32 °C | 50 mm | medium | Warm days, humid early on; Durga Puja and festival travel |
| November | best | 15–29 °C | 5 mm | high | Dry, pleasant days; Chhath on the ghats (Oct or Nov) and the Sonepur Mela |
| December | best | 11–24 °C | 5 mm | medium | Cool, dry days; fog late in the month can delay trains and flights |
How many days to spend in Patna
Two days cover the Bihar Museum, Golghar, Takht Sri Patna Sahib and Kumhrar; a third allows a long day trip to the Nalanda ruins and Rajgir.
How to reach Patna
- By air: Patna (PAT) — 8 km, about 10–25 min by road
- By train: Patna Junction (PNBE) — 1 km, about 5–15 min by road. Some trains start at Rajendra Nagar, Patliputra or Danapur instead
Getting around
App cabs and autos are the easiest way around; shared autos run along the main roads. Allow extra time for Takht Sri Patna Sahib in the congested old city, about 9 km east.
Things to do in Patna
- Gurudwara — Holy shrine (1 h · Free entry)
- Takhat Shri Harimandir Ji Patna Sahib — Sacred Takht (1.5 h · Free entry)
- Ruins of Nalanda Mahavihara — Ancient ruins (2 h · ₹40)
- Bihar Museum — Modern museum (3 h · ₹100)
- Golghar — Colonial dome (1 h · Free entry)
- Sanjay Gandhi Biological Park — City zoo (4 h · ₹50)
- Mahavir Mandir Patna — Hanuman temple (1 h · Free entry)
- Shri Vishnupad Temple, Gaya Ji — Footprint shrine (1 h · Free entry)
- Kundalpur Digamber Jain Temple Bihar — Water temple (1 h · Free entry)
- Viswa Shanti Stupa Rajgir — Peace Pagoda (1.5 h · Free entry)
- Pind Daan Gaya ji — Ritual ghats (4 h · Free entry)
- Patna Museum — Historic museum (2 h · Rs 30)
- Buddha Smriti Park — Peaceful park (2.5 h · Rs 20)
- Eco Park [ Rajdhani Vatika ] — Urban green (2.5 h · Paid entry)
- Gandhi Maidan Bus Stand — City ground
- Griddhakuta (Vulture's Peak) — Buddha site (1.5 h · Free entry)
- Darbhanga Fort — Royal fort (1.5 h)
- Shrikrishna Science Centre — Science museum (2.5 h · Paid entry)
- Rajgir Hotspring (Saptdhara Kund) — Thermal baths (1 h · Free entry)
- Babu Veer Kunwar Singh Fort — Historic Fort (1 h)
- Pragbodhi Cave — Cave shrine (2.5 h · Free entry)
- Barabar Caves — Ancient caves (2.5 h · Free entry)
- Shri Garib Nath Mandir — Shiva Temple (1 h · Free entry)
- Khuda Bakhsh Oriental Public Library — Rare manuscripts (1.5 h)
- Buddhasikkhalay Monastery — Tibetan style (1 h · Free entry)
- Vishwa Shanti Stupa — Peace stupa (2 h · Free entry)
- Rajgir Ropeway — Cable lift (2 h · ₹120)
- Anand Bagh Palace (Lakshmeshwar Vilas) — Historic palace (1 h)
- Kumhrar Park — Ancient ruins (1.5 h · Paid entry)
- Bihar Legislative Assembly — Govt. building
- Nalanda Archaeological Museum — Artifacts (1.5 h · ₹5)
- Phra Ovadapatimokkha Dhammacetiya — Bamboo grove (1 h)
- Vishwa Shanti Stup — Pagoda (1 h · Free entry)
- Xuan Zang ( Hsuen Tsang ) Memorial — Chinese monk (1 h)
- Cyclopean Wall — Stone wall (45 min · Free entry)
- Shyama Mai Temple — Goddess temple (1 h · Free entry)
- Shariputra Stupa — Stupa shrine (1.5 h · Paid entry)
- Ajatshatru Fort — Ancient fort (1 h · Free entry)
- Baba Brahmeshwar Nath Temple Bihar — Old temple (1 h · Free entry)
- Bimbisar Jail — King’s cell (30 min · Free entry)
- Buddha's Relic Stupa — Relic mound (1 h · Paid entry)
- Chandradhari Museum — Art museum (1.5 h · Free entry)
- Dewakund — Holy pond (1 h · Free entry)
- Budhwa Mahadev Mandir, Ara — Shiva Temple (45 min · Free entry)
- Ruins of The Fort of Lichhavi King Vishal — Ancient fort (45 min · Free entry)
- Saptaparni Cave — Sacred cave (2 h · Free entry)
- Ghora Katora lake — Scenic lake (1.5 h)
- Ramchandra Shahi Museum — Local Museum (1 h)
- Naulakha Temple - Rajgir city Jain Temple — Jain shrine (45 min · Free entry)
- Baraila Lake — Serene lake (2.5 h)
- Nargona Palace — Historic palace (30 min)
- Nava Nalanda Mahavihara (Deemed University) — New campus
- Japani mandir — Zen shrine (45 min · Free entry)
- Litchi Garden — Fruit Farms (1.5 h)
- Maa Kankali Mandir, Darbhanga Fort — Goddess temple (45 min · Free entry)
- Veer Kunwar Singh Park — Memorial Park (1 h · ₹10)
- Collectorate Pond — Old Office
- Veerayatan Jain Museum, Rajgir — Jain museum (1.5 h)
- Manokamna Mandir — Wish temple (45 min · Free entry)
- Hieun Tsang Memorial Hall — Scholar tribute (1 h)
- Ramchaura Temple — Ancient temple (45 min · Free entry)
- Harahi Pond, Darbhanga — Scenic pond (1 h · Free entry)
- Bihari Ji Temple — Holy shrine (45 min · Free entry)
- Khaja Shop — Khaja sweet
- BRAHM KUND,Rajgir — Holy bath (1 h · Free entry)
- Jubba Sahni Park — City Park (1 h)
- Maniyar Math — Relic shrine (45 min)
- Radha Krishna Mandir — Vaishnav Site (1 h · Free entry)
- Holy Rosary Church — Colonial church (30 min · Free entry)
- Black Buddha Nalanda — Buddhist site (30 min · Free entry)
- Jagdamba Sthan, Narauli, Karauta — Devoted site (45 min · Free entry)
Food to try in Patna
- Litti chokha — Wheat balls stuffed with spiced sattu, roasted and served with smoky mashed brinjal or tomato
- Sattu sharbat — Roasted gram flour stirred into water with lemon and salt or sugar; a summer cooler
- Anarsa — Rice-flour shell with a khoya filling, coated with white sesame
Frequently asked questions
What is the best time to visit Patna?
Oct–Mar is the season, best Nov–Feb; skip the Apr–Jun heat and Jul–Aug, when heavy rain waterlogs streets. Chhath (Oct–Nov) is the big festival.
How many days are enough for Patna?
2–3 days. Two days cover the Bihar Museum, Golghar, Takht Sri Patna Sahib and Kumhrar; a third allows a long day trip to the Nalanda ruins and Rajgir.
How do I reach Patna?
By air: Patna (PAT) — 8 km, about 10–25 min by road. By train: Patna Junction (PNBE) — 1 km, about 5–15 min by road. Some trains start at Rajendra Nagar, Patliputra or Danapur instead.
What are the top things to do in Patna?
Gurudwara, Takhat Shri Harimandir Ji Patna Sahib, Ruins of Nalanda Mahavihara, Bihar Museum, Golghar, Sanjay Gandhi Biological Park.
Plan your Patna trip
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Guide checked on 2026-10-06.