Places to visit in Patna

• Operating hours: Galleries are open from 10:00 AM to 5:00 PM, Tuesday through Sunday. The Children’s Gallery, museum shop, library, and café remain open until 7:00 PM.
• Weekly closure: The museum is strictly closed on Mondays, as well as on major national holidays (Republic Day, Independence Day, Gandhi Jayanti) and during the Holi festival.
• Entry fees: ₹100 per Indian adult; ₹50 for children (below 12 years) and students with valid institutional identification. International tourists: ₹500 per adult; ₹250 per child. A discounted evening pass of ₹50 is available after 5:00 PM for access to the grounds and evening events.
• Note: Operational timings, photography fees, and ticket pricing can be revised by the Department of Art, Culture and Youth, Government of Bihar; verify same-day notices at the official counter or portal.

The museum is located centrally on Jawaharlal Nehru Marg (Bailey Road) in Patna. It lies approximately 3.5 km west of Patna Junction railway station, 4 km southwest of Gandhi Maidan, and 4.5 km east of Jay Prakash Narayan International Airport. The main visitor entry is accessible directly from the service lane of Bailey Road, featuring a dedicated underground and surface parking facility for two-wheelers and private cars. App-based taxis, auto-rickshaws, and city electric buses operate continuously along the Bailey Road arterial corridor.

• Operating hours: 10:30 AM to 4:30 PM (ticket counter closes around 4:00 PM), Tuesday through Sunday.
• Weekly closure: The museum is closed every Monday, as well as on gazetted government holidays (Republic Day, Independence Day, Mahatma Gandhi Jayanti, and Chhath Puja).
• General admission: Approximately ₹15 to ₹20 per Indian adult; ₹250 to ₹300 for foreign nationals.
• Special Buddha Relic Vault Viewing: Viewing the authenticated Buddha Relic Casket requires a separate high-security admission ticket (typically ₹100 for Indian nationals and ₹250 to ₹500 for foreign visitors), accompanied by a security marshal.
• Camera charges: Nominal fee (approx. ₹20 - ₹50) for mobile/still cameras in general halls; video cameras require specific permissions.
• Operational note: Tariffs and timings are determined by the Directorate of Museums, Government of Bihar; confirm details at the physical ticket window upon arrival.

Patna Museum is situated prominently on Buddh Marg in the Lodipur quarter of central Patna. It is exceptionally well-located: barely 1 km north of Patna Junction railway station, 1.5 km southwest of Gandhi Maidan, and 4 km east of Patna Airport. Taxis, shared and reserved auto-rickshaws, and cycle rickshaws reach the main gate within 5 to 10 minutes from Patna Junction. Secure parking space is provided inside the compound gates for private vehicles and tour buses.

Check the current visiting hours and permitted access with the site operator before departure; ceremonies, closures and visitor sessions can affect access. Main morning prayers and Parkash begin at 4:00 AM, with evening prayers and Sukh Asan concluding around 9:30 PM.

• Entry fee: Entry is completely free for all people; donations (sewa) are purely voluntary.
• Langar timings: The community kitchen operates almost continuously from early morning (around 5:30 AM) until late night (around 10:00 PM).
• Protocol note: Smoking, alcohol, chewing tobacco, paan, and gutkha are strictly forbidden within a wide perimeter of the sacred shrine.

Takht Sri Patna Sahib is situated in Harmandir Gali in the Patna City (Old Patna) locality, approximately 10 km east of central Patna (Gandhi Maidan and Patna Junction) and 18 km east of Patna Airport. The nearest railway station is Patna Sahib Railway Station (approx. 1.5 km south), where many express trains make scheduled halts. From central Patna, visitors can reach the Gurdwara via Ashok Rajpath or the newer Ganga Pathway (Marine Drive), taking 25 to 45 minutes by taxi or auto-rickshaw. The surrounding lanes of Patna City are narrow and congested; vehicles usually drop passengers near the main arched gateway on Ashok Rajpath, followed by a short 200-metre walk down the market lane.

• Operating hours: The complex and gardens are open from 9:30 AM to 6:00 PM, Tuesday through Sunday.
• Weekly closure: The monument grounds are closed on Mondays for maintenance.
• Admission fee: Entry to the garden complex is nominal, typically ₹10 per person, while children below 5 years enter free; some periods offer free general campus entry while ticketing the evening laser show (approx. ₹20 - ₹30).
• Staircase climbing permissions: Access to the spiral staircase to climb to the summit is subject to prevailing structural safety guidelines by the Directorate of Archaeology; check the physical status board at the entrance gate upon arrival.
• Note: Operating schedules and conservation closures can change based on ongoing heritage restoration work.

Golghar is situated on Ashok Rajpath, just off the northwestern corner of Gandhi Maidan in central Patna. It is approximately 2.5 km north of Patna Junction railway station and 6 km northeast of Patna Airport. Taxis, shared and auto-rickshaws, and cycle rickshaws operate continuously along Ashok Rajpath and around Gandhi Maidan, reaching the site in under 10 minutes from the station. The complex has a roadside ticket counter and limited surface parking for two-wheelers and cars outside the main gates.

• Operating hours:
  • Gandhi Maidan: Open daily from 5:00 AM to 9:00 PM.
  • Sabhyata Dwar campus: Open daily from 11:00 AM to 6:00 PM (open areas and lighting visible from outside until late evening).
• Admission fees: Both Gandhi Maidan and Sabhyata Dwar are completely free to enter and enjoy.
• Note: Access to portions of Gandhi Maidan may be temporarily restricted or cordoned off during major state government ceremonies (such as Republic Day or Independence Day parade rehearsals) or mega-exhibitions.

Gandhi Maidan forms the central geographic hub of Patna. It lies 2 km north of Patna Junction railway station, 6 km northeast of Patna Airport, and immediately adjacent to the primary inter-state and city bus stands. The northern perimeter connects directly to Ashok Rajpath and the new JP Ganga Pathway (Marine Drive). Shared auto-rickshaws, city electric buses, cycle rickshaws, and app-based cabs converge from all corners of Patna onto the ring road surrounding the maidan. Secure parking is available near Gate No. 1, Gate No. 5, and the underground parking plaza at the Gyan Bhawan/Convention Centre.

• Operating hours: The archaeological park and ruins are open daily from 9:00 AM to 5:00 PM (some seasonal notices indicate 8:30 AM to 5:30 PM). The site museum is open during daylight hours (typically closed on gazetted public holidays).
• Entry fees: Standard ASI ticket pricing applies: ₹25 per Indian adult; ₹300 for foreign tourists. Children below 15 years enter free.
• Ticketing method: Tickets can be purchased directly at the physical counter or via the official ASI online monument ticketing portal (QR codes displayed at the gate).
• Regulations: Outside food items, plastics, and non-biodegradable packaging are strictly barred; bag screening is conducted at the security turnstile.

Kumhrar is located in the Kumhrar neighborhood along the Kankarbagh Main Road in eastern Patna. It is approximately 5 km east of Patna Junction railway station, 4.5 km south of Gandhi Maidan, and 10 km east of Patna Airport. Taxis, auto-rickshaws, and e-rickshaws easily reach the site via the Kankarbagh or Bypass road corridors in 15 to 25 minutes. Ample vehicle parking is available just outside the main Archaeological Survey of India (ASI) ticket booth.

• Operating hours: The park is open from 9:00 AM to 7:00 PM, Tuesday through Sunday.
• Weekly closure: The park and all indoor facilities are strictly closed on Mondays for maintenance.
• Laser show timings: Typically held daily at 6:30 PM (subject to daylight and weather conditions).
• Ticketing structure: The park uses a modular ticketing system:
  • General Park Admission: ₹20 per person.
  • Karuna Stupa Relic Viewing: ₹50 per person.
  • Buddhist Museum and Library: ₹40 per person.
  • Laser and Fountain Show: ₹50 per person.
  • Combined Package Ticket: Approximately ₹100 to ₹120 covering all attractions.
• Note: Ticket pricing and show times are managed by the Bihar Urban Development Agency and Department of Tourism; verify same-day schedules at the entry counters.

Buddha Smriti Park is situated on Frazer Road in the heart of downtown Patna, directly opposite the main concourse of Patna Junction railway station (barely a 3-minute walk from the station exit). It lies 1.5 km south of Gandhi Maidan and 5.5 km east of Patna Airport. Given its central station-side location, it is served continuously by city buses, auto-rickshaws, e-rickshaws, and taxis. The park complex has a dedicated underground parking facility accessed from Frazer Road for visitors arriving by private vehicle.

• Operating hours: General visitor entry is open from 8:30 AM to 5:30 PM (last entry at 5:00 PM), Tuesday through Sunday.
• Morning walker hours: 5:30 AM to 9:00 AM (requires a special monthly/annual morning walk pass).
• Weekly closure: The zoo is strictly closed on Mondays for animal rest, feeding management, and campus sanitization.
• Entry fees: ₹50 per adult (18 years and older); ₹20 per child (3 to 12 years); children below 3 years enter free.
• Concessions: Free entry is provided for persons with disabilities and institutional groups of orphans.
• Separate services: Toy train rides (approx. ₹20 - ₹30), pedal boating (approx. ₹50 - ₹100), and battery cart rides are charged separately.
• Note: On major public holidays such as New Year's Day (January 1), the zoo operates under special holiday pricing (₹150 adult / ₹60 child) to manage extreme crowd volumes.

The zoo is situated along Jawaharlal Nehru Marg (Bailey Road) in western-central Patna, directly adjacent to the Raj Bhavan and High Court residential areas. It is approximately 5 km west of Patna Junction railway station, 2 km east of Jay Prakash Narayan International Airport, and 6 km southwest of Gandhi Maidan. The main public entrance (Gate No. 1) is located directly on Bailey Road, featuring a massive surface parking plaza for cars and two-wheelers. City electric buses, auto-rickshaws, and app-based taxis stop directly outside the gate.

• Operating hours: The complex is open daily from dawn to dusk, approximately 6:00 AM to 7:30 PM (sanctum access is generally available from early morning prayers until nightfall).
• Entry fees: Admission is completely free for all visitors; donations to the shrine trust (khadim) are voluntary.
• Photography: Still photography of the monument exterior, stone carvings, gardens, and stepwell is permitted; photography inside the inner tomb chamber directly over the grave should be done respectfully or avoided during ongoing prayer rituals.
• Important note: As an active place of pilgrimage, visitors should observe respectful silence and avoid disturbing devotees performing prayers.

Maner Sharif is situated in the historic town of Maner within Patna district, approximately 30 km west of Gandhi Maidan (central Patna) and 24 km west of Patna Airport along National Highway 922 (Patna - Ara - Buxar highway). The drive takes approximately 45 to 60 minutes by private taxi or personal vehicle via Danapur and Bihta. Regular state transport buses, shared auto-rickshaws, and mini-buses ply continuously between Patna (Gandhi Maidan and Mithapur bus stands) and Maner. The nearest railway station is Bihta (approx. 9 km south), which has frequent suburban local train connections with Patna Junction. Ample parking space is available near the entrance plaza.