Patna Travel Guide: Things to Do & Best Time to Visit

Patna is one of the world’s oldest continuously inhabited cities, and its sights span more than two thousand years of history.

• Bihar Museum — A striking modern museum tracing the region’s history from ancient times, with excellent galleries.
• Golghar — A huge beehive-shaped granary from the colonial era, with steps to the top for views over the Ganges.
• Takht Sri Patna Sahib — One of the most sacred Sikh shrines, marking the birthplace of Guru Gobind Singh.
• Patna Museum — A long-established museum with archaeological finds and sculpture, in an Indo-Saracenic building.
• Kumhrar — Excavated remains of ancient Pataliputra, including traces of a pillared hall.
• Ganges ghats and Gandhi Maidan — Watch daily life along the river and visit the city’s historic open ground.
• Nalanda and Rajgir — Day-trip to the UNESCO-listed ruins of Nalanda university and the hills of Rajgir, important in Buddhist history.

Patna has a humid subtropical climate. Summers, from about April to June, are very hot, and the monsoon brings heavy rain between late June and September. Winters, from November to February, are dry and pleasant by day, though nights can be cold and mornings foggy.

October to March is the best time to visit, offering comfortable weather for city sightseeing and excursions to Nalanda, Rajgir and Bodh Gaya. Chhath Puja, celebrated in October or November with offerings to the setting and rising sun on the banks of the Ganges, is Bihar’s most distinctive festival and a remarkable sight.

Jay Prakash Narayan International Airport lies on the south-western side of the city, close to the centre, so the drive to most hotels is relatively short depending on traffic. It handles domestic flights connecting Patna with major Indian cities.

Prepaid taxis and app-based cabs are the most convenient ways into town, and many hotels arrange pick-ups on request. Auto-rickshaws and e-rickshaws are common for short journeys. Traffic in central Patna can be heavy, especially at peak hours, so allow extra time when heading to the airport.

Most hotels are in the central and western parts of the city, close to the airport and main roads.

• Fraser Road and Dak Bungalow area — Central and busy, with many hotels and restaurants; convenient for first-time visitors.
• Bailey Road — A major thoroughfare with business hotels, close to government offices and the airport.
• Boring Road — A lively commercial area with shops, cafés and mid-range hotels.
• Near Gandhi Maidan — Close to the river, museums and central sights.

• Money: Cards and mobile payments work in hotels and larger shops; carry cash for rickshaws, street food and markets.
• Getting around: Ride-hailing apps are the simplest option; for day trips to Nalanda and Rajgir, hire a car with driver.
• Etiquette: At gurdwaras, cover your head and remove shoes; dress modestly at all religious sites.
• Alcohol: Bihar has prohibited alcohol for several years, so it is not available in hotels or restaurants.
• Health: Drink bottled or filtered water and carry warm layers in winter, when evenings can be cold and foggy.