Bihar Museum: Take An Educational Trip Through Bihar’s Culture And Heritage

The front view of Bihar museum from a distance while a man on a bicycle passes by

The Bihar Museum is located in Patna city, which is the capital of the Bihar state. It was inaugurated in 2017 and serves its purpose as a world-class museum that showcases the rich cultural heritage of the state. The museum expands over 13.9 acres and exhibits around 7,000 objects, which include paintings, archaeological artefacts, textiles, sculptures, and historical documents. The museum has many collections, such as the famous Didarganj Yakshi sculpture, making it an important educational and cultural destination to explore.

Quick Details About Bihar Museum

Location: Bailey Road in Patna
Timings: 10 AM-5 PM (Tuesday to Sunday)
How To Reach: By Taxi, autorickshaws, and buses within Patna.
Nearest Airport: Jay Prakash Narayan International Airport, Patna (around 8 km away)
Nearest Railway Station: Patna Junction Railway Station (almost 6 km away)
Best Time To Visit: October to March

Location

View Inside the galleries of the museum with exhibitions in display

Photo: Pulakit Singh / Wikimedia Commons

The Bihar Museum is located on the side of Bailey Road in the largest city of Bihar state, Patna. It is situated near notable landmarks like the Patna Secretariat and the Patna High Court. Its proximity to other cultural and historical sites makes it a key destination for both tourists and locals.

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How To Reach Bihar Museum

Wide angle view of the building of Bihar museum from the road
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Photo: Shivamsetu / Wikimedia Commons

By Train: The Patna Junction is the nearest railway station, located almost 6 km from the Bihar Museum. From there people can take a rickshaw or a cab to reach the museum.

By Air: The nearest airport is Jay Prakash Narayan International Airport, which is 7 km away from the Bihar Museum.

By Road: The Bihar museum is well connected by buses, rickshaws, and taxis; therefore, the visitors can opt for public transport or hire a private vehicle.

Things To Do In Bihar Museum

Here is a list of the best things to do in Bihar museum to experience the galleries completely immersing into the history:

1. Explore Galleries And Learn About Didarganj Yakshi Sculpture

People walking through the halls of the museum

Photo: Pulakit Singh / Wikimedia Commons / Image For Representation Only

At the Bihar Museum, the galleries give a peek into Bihar’s rich history, from the prehistoric period to the early 20th century. The exhibit covers ancient civilisations such as Vaishali, Magadha and the rise of the Mauryan Empire. There are many highlights in the museum, but among them, the Didarganj Yakshi is the most prized one. Visitors can learn about the tools, pottery, and coins used from the Neolithic age to the Gupta period.

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2. Attend Special Exhibitions About Independence

Entrance to the galleries of Bihar museum with people observing historical artefacts
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Photo: Pulakit Singh / Wikimedia Commons

The Bihar museum often hosts temporary exhibitions, which focus on a variety of Bihar’s artistic, cultural, and historical aspects. The exhibition may feature objects from the international collection that are rare, or a display can be showcased on subjects like the Independence movement or Buddhist pilgrimage in Bihar. Various workshops (led by artists, historians, and scholars), cultural programs, and lectures are organised by the museum.

Places To Visit Near Bihar Museum

Here is a curated list of the best places to explore nearby while visiting the Bihar museum:

1. Patna Museum

The diagnol view of the Patna Museum, Bihar, along with a canon placed in the park
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Photo: Photo Dharma / Wikimedia Commons

The Patna museum is also known as Jadu Ghar and is one of the oldest museums in the country. It was built in the year 1917 during the British occupation of India and houses a wide range of coins, paintings, archaeological artefacts, textiles, and sculptures from ancient times. The museum exhibits a holy artefact of Gautam Buddha along with many sculptures from the Mauryan Empire.

Distance From Bihar Museum: 2 kilometres
Things To Do: View the Gautama Buddha relic, discover the Mauryan and Gupta sculptures, explore the coin collections, and admire the British-era artefacts

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2. Golghar

The pathway leading towards the Golghar, a dome-shaped building surrounded by gardens

Photo: कवि कलाकार हिमांशु मान्ने / Wikimedia Commons

The Golghar was built in 1786 by Britishers to combat the famines. It stands tall at the height of 29 metres, offering a panoramic view of the capital city and river Ganges. The monument has no pillars and was made to store grain during an emergency period. There are 145 steps in the Golghar, which is equipped with spiralling stairs through which you can reach the top of the monument. The architectural structure of the Golghar is dome-shaped, which has thick walls with a base of 3.6 metres.

Distance From Bihar Museum: 3 kilometres
Things To Do: Enjoy a scenic view of Patna and the river Ganges, explore the architectural design, and learn about the history of Golghar

3. Kumhrar Park

People visiting Kumhrar Park and observing the ruins of Patliputra placed in an alter
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Photo; Sumitsurai / Wikimedia Commons

The Kumhrar Park is where the ancient Pataliputra ruins are, Pataliputra used to be the name of Patna during pre-colonial times. Patliputra was the capital city during the Mauryan Empire, which lasted from 321 BCE to 181 BCE. The Kumhrar Park reveals significant structures from King Ashoka’s reign, including remains of the Mauryan Pillared Hall. The Mauryan Empire was the first empire that covered a vast majority of the Indian region and was stated to be the strongest empire of that time.

Distance From Bihar Museum: 6 kilometres
Things To Do: Explore the ancient ruins of Pataliputra, learn about Buddhist and Mauryan architecture, and visit the museum (on-site) to see the archaeological findings

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4. Jalan Museum

Inside the courtyard of the museum, one of the educational places to see near Bihar museum

Photo: Shivamsetu / Wikimedia Commons / Image For Representation Only

The Jalan Museum, also famously known as Quila House, is a private property of the Jalan family that was built in 1919. The museum houses a diverse collection of antiques, such as artefacts from the Mughal and Rajput eras. It is built on the Sher Shah Suri’s fort and exhibits ivory, porcelain statues, paintings, and rare coins. It also contains an impressive range of European and Chinese antiques. The museum provides a glimpse of colonial history with its ancient artefacts, making it an offbeat experience for history lovers.

Distance From Bihar Museum: 7 kilometres

Things To Do: Explore the private collection of antiquities, View rare European and Chinese objects and paintings, and discover ancient coins, manuscripts, and jewellery

5. Mahavir Mandir

The view of the Shikhsra of Mahavir Mandir from the Buddha Smriti Park, Bihar

Photo: Shivamsetu / Wikimedia Commons

The Mahavir Temple is one of the most famous temples dedicated to Lord Hanuman. This holy place attracts a lot of tourists and locals (devotees) every day, especially on Tuesdays. The temple has been in existence since ancient times but gained prominence after 1947. It is renowned among visitors for selling a sweet known as Naivedyam, which is offered to Lord Hanuman.

Distance From Bihar Museum: 6 kilometres
Things To Do: Offer prayers to Lord Hanuman, participate in the distribution of Prasad,
and visit the charitable hospital and orphanage (run by the temple trust)

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Where To Stay

Accommodations near the Bihar museum offer a diverse range of facilities ensuring a comfortable stay

Photo: Pixabay / Pexels / Image For Representation Only

The area around the Bihar museum offers a variety of accommodations depending on your budget and need. Some of the options nearby include Hotel Crown Palace, The Clovers Inn, Hotel Chanakya, The Red Velvet Hotel, Hotel Patliputra and Hotel Vista Palace. It is advised to make your bookings in advance to get the best offers.

Where To Eat

Litti chokha served at an eatery nearby the Bihar museum, offering local flavours

Photo: RASHMITHAKURSHARMA / Wikimedia Commons

Restaurants and eateries nearby offer the authentic flavours of Patna as well as your go to comfort meals. Some Of these options available nearby are The Pot Belly, Foresto Paradise, 17 Degrees, Barbeque Nation and Pukhtaan and Aasman restaurant.

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Other Factors To Consider

Tourist wandering inside the children and wildlife section of the Bihar museum

Photo: Pulakit Singh / Wikimedia Commons

Bihar Museum Ticket Cost

The Bihar museum ticket price varies depending on the time you visit the museum. The details about the ticket price for Indian and international visitors are given below:

Regular Ticket Costs (10 AM to 5 PM)

  • Indian adult: ₹100
  • Indian children: ₹50
  • International adult: ₹500
  • International children: ₹250
  • School group tour: ₹25 per student

Evening Ticket Costs (5 PM to 7 PM)

  • Indian adult: ₹50
  • Indian children: ₹25
  • International adult: ₹500
  • International children: ₹250

Weather

The time around October and March is considered ideal for visiting the museum. The weather stays pleasant between 10°C and 25°C, whereas in summers the temperature can reach up to 40°C. In July to September, there is heavy rainfall, which could highly increase the water level of the Ganges River, near which the museum is situated.

Visiting the Bihar Museum offers a deep dive into the rich cultural and historical heritage of Bihar, showcasing the region’s glorious past. The museum houses an impressive collection of ancient artefacts, including the famous Didarganj Yakshi, alongside immersive interactive exhibits that bring the history of Buddhism, Jainism, and the Mauryan Empire to life. Plan your trip with TripXL and enjoy various cultural attractions this city has to offer!

Cover Photo: Shivamsetu / Wikimedia Commons

Frequently Asked Questions

The complete Bihar museum address is Jawahar Lal Nehru Marg, Bailey Road, Patna, Bihar (800001).
The following are some of the amenities available at the Bihar museum: Cafeteria, Museum shop, Audio guides,Wheelchair accessibility, Restrooms, Parking facility, Visitor’s information desk
The Bihar museum timings are as follows: The museum opens at 10 AM and closes around 7 PM for the visitors. The galleries open at 10 AM and close by 5 PM. The children’s gallery, museum shop, and library are open from 10 AM to 7 PM. The restaurant opens at 10 AM and closes by 9 PM.
In Bihar museum photos and videos are allowed to be taken in general, but in certain galleries it is not allowed.
The tailored tour for the children between the age groups of 13 and 15 is paid. The online guide, which educates about the highlights of the museum, is available free of charge.

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