Bihar Museum: Timings, Ticket, Entry Fee, Location

A 1,700-year-old sandstone sculpture of a woman holding a fly-whisk, unearthed from the banks of the Ganges, now stands as the single most photographed object inside Patna’s Bihar Museum — the Didarganj Yakshi, one of the finest surviving pieces of Mauryan-era art anywhere in India. Opened in 2015 as one of South Asia’s most architecturally ambitious museum projects, the Bihar Museum was built to house artefacts spanning from the Indus Valley civilisation through the Mauryan, Gupta, and Pala empires, right up to contemporary Indian art. If you’re planning a visit, here’s a complete guide to the Bihar Museum’s timings, ticket price, entry fee, and location.

Quick Facts: Bihar Museum

Why This Museum Stands Out

Unlike many state museums built decades ago, Bihar Museum was purpose-designed as a modern, world-class facility, developed with international architectural and museological expertise. It exists in tandem with the older Patna Museum nearby, but Bihar Museum houses most of the state’s headline artefacts, including pieces that were relocated after its opening. The building itself, centrally air-conditioned throughout, is organised around a clear gallery-by-gallery historical journey rather than a scattered display of objects.

Some of what makes the visit genuinely worthwhile:

• The Didarganj Yakshi, widely regarded as one of the finest examples of Mauryan polish and sculpture
• A dedicated Orientation Gallery with a short film explaining how archaeologists and historians interpret the past
• A Visible Storage gallery tracing coinage from early punch-marked coins through the medieval period
• A full Children’s Gallery designed to spark curiosity through stories, folk art, and science
• A Contemporary Art Gallery showcasing living Indian artists alongside the historical collections
• A rotating calendar of special exhibitions, often in collaboration with institutions like the National Gallery of Modern Art

Galleries Worth Planning Around

The museum’s ten sections are organised roughly in chronological and thematic order, which makes it easier to plan your route:

• Orientation Gallery – Introductory film on archaeological and historical methods
• Gallery A – Indus Valley civilisation through the Mauryan dynasty and Ashoka’s reign, including Buddhism and Jainism
• Gallery B – The Sungas, Kushanas, Guptas, Mahaviras, and Palas
• Gallery C – Bengal Nawabs, the Patna School of Painting, and Sufi and Sikh influences during the Delhi and Bengal Sultanate period
• History Art Gallery – Home to the Didarganj Yakshi, Daniell prints, and medieval miniature paintings
• Regional Art Gallery – Bihar’s own artistic traditions passed down through generations
• Diaspora Gallery – Bihar’s growing global footprint and influence
• Visible Storage – Coins, terracotta artefacts, and sculpture spanning centuries
• Children’s Gallery – Interactive, story-driven exhibits for younger visitors
• Contemporary Art Gallery – Works by prominent modern and contemporary Indian artists

Bihar Museum Timings

The museum runs slightly staggered hours depending on which section you’re visiting, which is worth noting before you plan your day:

• Main galleries: 10:00 AM to 5:00 PM
• Children’s Gallery, Café, Museum Shop, Library: 10:00 AM to 7:00 PM
• Restaurant: 10:00 AM to 9:00 PM
• Weekly closure: Every Monday
• Other closures: Select religious and national holidays

Because the galleries close earlier than the café and restaurant, arriving by early afternoon gives you the most comfortable window to see everything before the 5 PM cut-off.

Entry Fee and Ticket Price Breakdown

Bihar Museum offers both a regular daytime rate and a discounted evening slot:

• Regular visit (10 AM–5 PM), Indian adult: ₹100
• Regular visit, Indian child: ₹50
• Regular visit, international adult: ₹500
• Regular visit, international child: ₹250
• Evening tickets (5 PM–7 PM), Indian adult: ₹50
• Evening tickets, Indian child: ₹25
• School group tour: ₹25 per student

The evening ticket is worth knowing about if you’re short on time or budget — it gives access at half the regular Indian adult price, though naturally with less time before closing.

Location and How to Reach

Bihar Museum’s Nehru Path address places it firmly in the heart of Patna, making it one of the more convenient heritage stops in the city.

• Address: Nehru Path, Patna, Bihar 800001
• From Patna Airport: Approximately 10 minutes by road
• From Patna Railway Station: Approximately 10 minutes by road
• By road: Well connected by autos, cabs, and city buses; parking for two- and four-wheelers is available on the museum premises

Its short distance from both the airport and railway station makes it an easy stop whether you’re arriving in Patna for a single day or a longer trip.

Tips for a Smoother Visit

• Arrive by early afternoon to leave enough time before the 5 PM gallery closure
• Use the evening ticket window if you’re visiting after 5 PM or want a lower-cost, shorter visit
• Wheelchairs are available free of charge on a first-come, first-served basis
• Audio guides are currently unavailable, so consider a guided tactile tour if you want in-depth context
• Carry ID for group or school bookings, since school tours are priced separately

Frequently Asked Questions

Q1. Is the Didarganj Yakshi always on display, or does it rotate with other exhibitions?

The Didarganj Yakshi is a permanent fixture of the History Art Gallery and isn’t part of the museum’s rotating special exhibitions. You can expect to see it on any regular visit, regardless of what temporary exhibitions are running.

Q2. Can I visit the Children’s Gallery separately without paying for the full museum?

No, the Children’s Gallery is included within the same entry ticket as the main galleries, just with extended hours until 7 PM. There isn’t a separate reduced ticket for only the children’s section.

Q3. Are online tickets available, or do I need to buy them at the counter?

Tickets are sold at the physical counter near the entrance. It’s best to plan for in-person purchase rather than assuming online booking is available.

Q4. Is Bihar Museum different from Patna Museum, and should I visit both?

Yes, they’re two separate museums about 2 km apart — Bihar Museum is the newer, larger complex housing most headline artefacts including the Didarganj Yakshi, while Patna Museum is the older colonial-era building with its own distinct collection. If time allows, both can comfortably be covered in a single day.