Patna Museum
Museum State museum exhibiting Bihar's history and artefacts
Patna Museum on Golambar Hill presents provincial archaeology, Buddhist and Jain artifacts, regional paintings and colonial-era collections that illuminate Bihar’s ancient and medieval history.
Patna Museum is a state-run museum in Patna, Bihar, established in 1917 and known for its archaeological and historical collections. The museum occupies a prominent early 20th-century red-brick building on Buddha Marg.
The collection includes coins, sculptures, paintings, manuscripts, arms and armour, and ethnographic objects that illustrate Bihar’s ancient and medieval history. Exhibits are arranged to show regional art and archaeological finds, with notable stone sculptures among the highlights.
The museum was founded during the British colonial period and expanded over the 20th century to incorporate regional archaeological discoveries and ethnographic material. It has served as the main repository for artefacts recovered from sites across Bihar.
The museum sits in central Patna, on Buddha Marg close to administrative and cultural institutions in the city. It is accessible by road from Patna Junction and other local transport hubs.
- Didarganj Yakshi: Houses the famous Didarganj Yakshi, a polished stone sculpture considered one of the museum's signature objects.
- Location tip: Located on Buddha Marg in Patna, within easy reach of the city centre and other civic museums and offices.
How to Get to Patna Museum #
Patna Museum is in central Patna and is served by the city’s local bus routes and taxis. Patna Junction railway station is the nearest major rail hub and is a short taxi or auto-rickshaw ride (a few kilometres) from the museum; Jay Prakash Narayan Airport is also a short drive from the city centre. Once in central Patna the museum is on well-known roads and easy to reach by local transport.
Tips for Visiting Patna Museum #
- Plan your visit for a weekday morning when the museum is least crowded and you'll have quieter access to the archaeological and regional history displays.
- Check the museum's opening hours before you go (timings and closures can change) and ask at the ticket desk for a map to prioritise the galleries you want to see-many visitors rush and miss smaller but important local collections.
- Spend time with the archaeological section on the ground floor; visitors who only glance at the highlights often miss locally significant artefacts and inscriptions on display.
Best Time to Visit Patna Museum #
Visit in winter (Nov-Feb) for the most comfortable conditions; for the museum itself, weekdays and mornings are best to avoid crowds.
Weather & Climate near Patna Museum #
Patna Museum's climate is classified as Humid Subtropical (Dry Winter) - Humid Subtropical (Dry Winter) climate with very hot summers (peaking in May) and mild winters (coldest in January). Temperatures range from 10°C to 38°C. Abundant rainfall (1045 mm/year), wettest in July with a pronounced dry season.
January
January is the coolest month with highs of 23°C and lows of 10°C. Light rainfall and mostly sunny skies.
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February
February is mild with highs of 27°C and lows of 12°C. Almost no rain and mostly sunny skies.
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March
March is warm with highs of 33°C and lows of 17°C. Light rainfall and clear sunny skies.
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April
April is hot with highs of 38°C and lows of 22°C. Almost no rain and mostly sunny skies.
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May
May is the hottest month with highs of 38°C and lows of 25°C. Moderate rainfall (30 mm) and mostly sunny skies.
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June
June is hot, feeling like 34°C. Significant rainfall (133 mm) and partly cloudy skies.
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July
July is hot, feeling like 35°C due to high humidity. The wettest month with heavy rain (305 mm) and mostly overcast skies.
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August
August is hot, feeling like 37°C with oppressive humidity. Heavy rain (258 mm) and mostly overcast skies.
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September
September is hot, feeling like 35°C with oppressive humidity. Heavy rain (206 mm) and partly cloudy skies.
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October
October is warm with highs of 32°C and lows of 22°C. Moderate rainfall (59 mm) and mostly sunny skies.
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November
November is mild with highs of 29°C and lows of 16°C. Almost no rain and clear sunny skies.
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December
December is cool with highs of 24°C and lows of 11°C. The driest month with just 3 mm and mostly sunny skies.
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