About us

Situated in the fertile valley of the great river Ganges… the ancient land of revered temples, stupas and viharas…. the erstwhile Magadh empire and the modern state of Bihar boasts of thousands of years of history, culture and tradition. Bihar Museum showcases this rich heritage under its state of the art facility, spread over an area of more than 13 acres. Having inaugurated in 2015 in the capital city of Patna, this world class museum has the pride of place amongst the tourist attractions of the state and the nation. A vast collection of historical artifacts from the earliest of civilisation upto the year 1764 are housed here. Also on display are the finest traditional, folk and contemporary art forms. There is a special Children’s Gallery and an in-house souvenir shop as well for visitors to take back and cherish a slice of Bihar’s soul.

  • Showcase of vast expanse of collection

    Showcase of vast expanse of collection

  • World class architecture by Maki & Associates

    World class architecture by Maki & Associates

  • Growing network of curators and artists

    Growing network of curators and artists

  • Gateway to the past, portal to the future

    Gateway to the past, portal to the future

  • Travel through history with guided tours

    Travel through history with guided tours

Showcase of vast expanse of collection

World class architecture by Maki & Associates

Growing network of curators and artists

Gateway to the past, portal to the future

Travel through history with guided tours

Our story

The circumstances and turn of events leading to the inception and establishment of the present day marvel called Bihar Museum is quite mention-worthy. The need for a much larger space to put on display all the available artifacts stacked in the older and much revered Patna Museum was the driving force behind the conception of Bihar Museum. Established in the year 1917, the Patna Museum had forty thousand displayable artifacts collected over this long period of time, only a fraction of which could be made available for public viewing. This situation prompted recommendation for the construction of two additional annexes in the existing structure of the Patna Museum. However, this proposal could not satisfy the much larger vision of the Hon’ble Chief Minister of Bihar, Shri Nitish Kumar, who himself coined the idea of a separate, modern, state-of- the-art facility to showcase the rich heritage of our great state to the world. The present facility of Bihar Museum is a fruit of labour and vision of the great people and leaders of our beloved state. This museum is a vast rear-view mirror to cherish our glorious past and get motivation to stride ahead with greater resolve.


The driving factor or vision behind the establishment of the Bihar Museum has been to create a facility to showcase the rich heritage of the state with the same extravagant level of grandeur and class it represents. It must and it does reflect our glorious past with all the aplomb it deserves. The mission of this grand endeavour is to bring every resident and nonresident Bihari to its vicinity and to cherish and take pride in our roots. The mission also is to enamour the whole world with the rich prospects our state has to offer. Also this is an endeavour to claim our rightful place in the present and future of the world by showcasing our glorious past.


Bihar museum actively engages in the topics of art, history and culture. The museum is a pioneer in promoting and conserving India's rich history and culture and consistently takes initiatives with notable partners. The museum regularly organises events, exhibitions and has an impressive resource collection and in-house publications.


Patna, the capital city of Bihar is the modern-day face of Patliputra, the ancient capital of the mighty Magadh Empire. It proudly holds an exceptionally long and rich history of heritage and culture to showcase before the world. There are a number of historical sites, educational centres and recreational facilities around the city to include in your itinerary while on a visit to the Bihar Museum.


Leadership

Words from Nitish Kumar, Chief Minister of Bihar and Anjani Kumar, Director General of Bihar Museum


Our team

The Museum is organized in five departments:

  • Executive – Policy and strategy development and overall oversight.
  • Administration, Finance and Facility Management Department – Policy and systems advisory, accounting, payroll, human resources/benefits management, staff training, facility management, maintenance and security.
  • Exhibitions and Collections Department – Exhibition planning and development, utilization of collections.
  • Education and Public Programs Department - Public and educational programs, including curriculum planning.
  • Marketing, Revenue Generation and Visitor Services Department – Marketing strategy and packaging opportunities, media purchasing, website management, visitor services.
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We’re looking for talented people to join us!

Join the team of Bihar Museum and become a part of a dynamic community that values creativity, innovation and preservation of our rich heritage.

Go forward

We’re looking for talented people to join us!

Join the team of Bihar Museum and become a part of a dynamic community that values creativity, innovation and preservation of our rich heritage.

Forward
News & Updates

The Bihar Museum Biennale 2023 offers a truly international cultural experience
Bihar Biennale and spaces beyond antiquity
G20 art project at Bihar Museum Biennale highlights climate crisis

FAQs

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