The museum holds a 200-million-year-old fossilized tree trunk displayed in the garden.
The Didarganj Yakshi, a life-sized sculpture carved from a single piece of Chunar sandstone, is over 2,000 years old.
The main building design combines Mughal-style domes with Rajput-inspired archways, typical of the colonial Indo-Saracenic architectural style.
The museum was originally established in 1917 to house historical artifacts discovered in the Patna region during British excavations.
Patna Museum, locally known as Jadu Ghar, houses an extensive collection of Indian historical artifacts dating from the Mauryan to the Mughal periods. The institution is housed in a distinct Indo-Saracenic building completed in 1917, featuring Mughal and Rajput architectural elements. Its collection includes the world-famous Didarganj Yakshi, a polished Mauryan-era sandstone sculpture. The museum grounds feature a rare fossilized tree estimated to be approximately 200 million years old. Galleries are organized to display terracotta figures, thangkas, and Buddhist sculptures found in the Bihar region. It also maintains a collection of weapons, paintings, and personal items belonging to former local colonial administrators.
The main entrance facade, showcasing the signature Indo-Saracenic dome and red-sandstone architecture.
Focus on the main gallery for the Mauryan period sculptures as they represent the museum's most significant historical assets.
Verify the current status of specific galleries, as parts of the collection are occasionally rotated between this facility and the Bihar Museum.
Do not confuse this museum with the newer Bihar Museum located nearby; they are two separate institutions.
Closed on Mondays and national public holidays.
Maintain silence in the galleries; photography of specific artifacts may be prohibited or require an additional fee.