Patna Travel Essentials

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Ideal duration: 1-3 days

Best Time: October to March Read More

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"The cradle of Empires"

Patna Tourism

Prospering along the southern banks of river Ganges and set in the backdrop of a glorious historical past, Patna boasts of a dominating presence in history and enjoys the distinction of being one of the oldest cities in the world. In addition to being one of the major and most popular tourist destinations in India, this capital city of Bihar also holds significant religious and spiritual importance as it is a gateway to pilgrimage sites of Hindus, Sikhs, Jains and Buddhists.

Originally called as Pataliputra, Patna is currently a hot-bed for the culminating political fortunes. One of the oldest continuously inhabited places in the world, it is the quintessential North Indian town  - West of the city lies the area called Bankipur, while towards the southwest is the new area with wide roads and swanky buildings. The cultural heritage of Bihar is reflected in the many monuments housed in Patna, the most famous ones being Patna Sahib Gurudwara, Patna Planetarium, the Highcourt, Golghar, Secretariat Building and Padri ki Haveli among numerous other attractions. Typical of an Indian city, the riverside city of Patna is also known for some palatable dishes - litti chokha being the king of all! 

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Historic Venture

Patna boasts of a number of historical monuments depicting the history of the state such as the Maner Sharif, a historical site that houses two tombs, Shah Daulat and Makhdoom Yahya Maneri; Takht SriPatna Sahib, a holy place for Sikhs put up by Maharaja Ranjit Singh; Patthar ki Masjid, a mosque wholly constructed of stones and Mahavir Mandir.

Restaurants and Local Food in Patna

Patna is a land of delectable cuisines most of which are predominantly vegetarian. Litti Chokha is the introduction to the staple diet of the town. It is a savoury wheat and sattu ball dipped in ghee. The ball full of spices and a mix of several flavors, is served with cooked and mashed vegetables.

The regular food consist of seasonal vegetables and pulses, cost of which keep varying depending on their availability. Everyday food regulates around roti, daal, bhaat and sabzi.
In addition to this, local people are extremely fond of mutton, fish and fried chicken dishes. The flavors are inspired from Bengali and North Indian cuisines and are a lip-smacking fusion.

In addition to this, Patna has a special fondness for sweet dishes. Naivedyam is a popular dish made from besan and dry fruits. Other famous sweets are Chandrakala/ Gujjia, Khaja, Kesar Peda, Dal Peda, Malpua, Parwal ki mithai etc.

Local fast food snacks include Chana Ghugni, Samosa, Jhaal Mudi, Choora, Thekua etc. Kalakand is another delicious preparation from condensed milk, which is a must try other than Anarsa. Sattu Pani and Lassi are popular beverages.
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Suggested Itinerary for Patna

Day 1:
Arrive in Patna. Begin by diving in the cultural ruins of the very famous Nalanda University. Patna is the birthplace of the tenth Sikh guru- Guru Gobind Singh. Spend the latter half of the day exploring the Sikh religion, visit Takht Shri Patna Sahib.


Day 2:
Start by visiting Agam Dua which is a famous archaeological site in Patna. Proceed to the popular Hanuman Mandir. Spend a leisure evening on the GandhiGhatt. You can also go boating on the ghat. Stay for the Ganga Aarti which is a spectacular event at the ghat.


Day 3:
Begin your day by going on a tour of the Golghar. It is an ancient large granary famous for its architecture and historical relevance. Not far from here is the Gandhi Maidan where you can proceed next. If you have time at hand, you can choose to visit the Sanjay Gandhi Biological Park or Shahid Smriti Park. End your day with a stroll in the street markets shopping local souvenirs at Patna Market or Ashok Rajpath.


Day 4: (Optional)
Wake up early next day and head to Patna Museum. It is known for its preserved historical artefacts. Next, proceed to Gandhi Sanghralaya. Post lunch, you can spend the evening at the Buddha Smriti Park. End your trip by visiting the P & M mall- the most popular shopping arcade in the city.

Best Time to Visit Patna

How to Reach Patna

How to Reach Overview

Patna is easily accessible by air, road and rail networks and is very well connected to most major cities.

How to reach Patna by flight

Lok Nayak Jayaprakash airport of Patna is well-connected to most cities in India.

How to reach Patna by road

Buses are available from most cities of the country to Patna.

How to reach Patna by train

The city has its own railway station which also serves the state of Bihar.

Local transport in Patna

Car rentals are available in Patna to get around the city. Autorickshaws, taxis and buses are also available for in city travel.

Most frequently searched routes to Patna

Route Name Distance Time
Delhi to Patna 1,083 km 17 hours 40 mins
Mumbai to Patna 1,743 km 1 day 8 hours
Jaipur to Patna 1,105 km 18 hours 57 mins
Ernakulam to Patna 2,617 km 1 day 21 hours
Varanasi to Patna 278 km 6 hours 20 mins
Pune to Patna 1,709 km 1 day 9 hours

Patna Photos

Patna, Bihar
Mahatma Gandhi Setu
Srikrishna Science Centre

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FAQs on Patna

What is the best way to reach Patna?

Patna is easily accessible by air, road and rail networks and is very well connected to most major cities.
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What are the places near Patna?

The top places near to Patna are Nalanda which is 62 km from Patna, Rajgir which is located 70 km from Patna, Vaishali which is located 44 km from Patna, Bodh gaya which is located 102 km from Patna, Varanasi which is located 220 km from Patna

What are the things to do in Patna?

The top things to do in Patna are Gandhi Ghat, Patna Sahib Gurudwara, Srikrishna Science Centre, Revolving Restaurant, Golghar, Bihar Museum. You can see all the places to visit in Patna here

What is the local food in Patna?

Patna is a land of delectable cuisines most of which are predominantly vegetarian. Litti Chokha is the introduction to the staple diet of the town. It is a savoury wheat and sattu ball dipped in ghee. The ball full of spices and a mix of several flavors, is served with cooked and mashed vegetables.

The regular food consist of seasonal vegetables and pulses, cost of which keep varying depending on their availability. Everyday food regulates around roti, daal, bhaat and sabzi.
In addition to this, local people are extremely fond of mutton, fish and fried chicken dishes. The flavors are inspired from Bengali and North Indian cuisines and are a lip-smacking fusion.

In addition to this, Patna has a special fondness for sweet dishes. Naivedyam is a popular dish made from besan and dry fruits. Other famous sweets are Chandrakala/ Gujjia, Khaja, Kesar Peda, Dal Peda, Malpua, Parwal ki mithai etc.

Local fast food snacks include Chana Ghugni, Samosa, Jhaal Mudi, Choora, Thekua etc. Kalakand is another delicious preparation from condensed milk, which is a must try other than Anarsa. Sattu Pani and Lassi are popular beverages.
Read More

What is the best time to visit Patna?

Winters (October-March) is the best time to visit Patna and other parts of Bihar. Summers are extremely hot and sightseeing and activities won't be possible. Even the monsoons should be avoided as it is quite hot and humid out there. A great time to visit Patna is during the Chhatth Festival which is only celebrated by Biharis. It occurs on the 7th day after Diwali and is a festival to pray to the Sun God. This festival is celebrated throughout the state with high enthusiasm and the celebrations are worth seeing and experiencing.
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Who should visit Patna?

Patna is majorly for all the history buffs.

What is not so good about Patna?

Summers can be harsh. The city is very crowded.

What is famous about Patna?

Beautiful historic monuments.

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Popular Questions And Answers on Patna

Q. Which building has the best architecture in Patna?

Kaveesh Nair

6 years ago
The Chhoti Dargah in Maner, 30km from Patna, is what you're looking for. It's truly marvellous.
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Patna Reviews

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himanshu kumar

5 years ago
One of the great place to visit in Patna. Various kind of wild animals, birds and aquatic creature at one place. This place is so large in area that a whole day will be short if you started to see ea (Read More)ch and every part of this zoo. Now battery operated vehicle is available in zoo on which you can see most of it parts without giving stress to your feet. There is also a toy train on which both, adult as well as children can enjoy together while watching the zoo. Bring your children to make them aware about wild life.

Gill Westaway

6 years ago
I have just arrived but I think it is important to point out that alcohol consumption is completely prohibited in Bihar State.

Asif Uzzaman

6 years ago
One or two days are enough for Patna visit. Old museum, the new Bihar museum, Patna zoo, Golghar are must visit places here. If you're looking forward to having some good time with family, then you c (Read More)an visit Kumhrar park, Buddha Smriti Park, or the Water park at the outskirts of the city. Traffic rush is always a problem in Patna in all the roads.
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