The Bihar Museum ranking has put Patna on the global culture map. The Worth a Journey list of the World’s 100 Best Museums for 2026 places the museum ninth, and first in Asia. Then, it sits ahead of the Met in New York and the Louvre in Paris, according to Time Out India.
Quick answer
- Rank: ninth on Worth a Journey’s World’s 100 Best Museums 2026.
- It is the only Indian and Asian museum in the top 10.
- Built to give Patna Museum artefacts more room, and opened in 2015.
- Open Tuesday to Sunday, 10 am to 5 pm. Closed on Mondays.
- Check the museum’s own site for current ticket rates.
What the Bihar Museum ranking means
The list comes from Worth a Journey, a Germany-based travel guide. Time Out India reports the top five as museums in Mexico City, Madrid, Denmark, Saint Petersburg and Vienna. The Bihar Museum follows at ninth.
The reports do not explain how the list was compiled. So it is best read as one guide’s editorial choice, not an official global index.
Why this museum stands out
The museum opened in 2015 to display objects from the older Patna Museum, which dates to 1928. That older building showed only about a tenth of its collection, according to Swarajya.
The new building was designed by Japanese architect Fumihiko Maki with Mumbai-based Opolis Architects. Then, its corten steel facade draws on the ruins of Nalanda. Inside, galleries trace Bihar’s history from prehistory to 1764, including Maurya, Gupta and Pala periods.
One famous object is the Didarganj Yakshi, a Mauryan-era sculpture found near Patna in 1917. There is also a Children’s Gallery and a Diaspora Gallery.
Planning a visit
Galleries are open from 10 am to 5 pm, Tuesday to Sunday, as per the museum’s website. Also, the Children’s Gallery, shop and library stay open until 7 pm. The museum is closed on Mondays, so plan around that.
Ticket prices are reported differently across sources. Then, for that reason, check the official Bihar Museum website before you go. Also allow at least half a day, because the galleries are spread out.
If you are travelling from elsewhere, check train or flight options into Patna first. Then plan the museum visit for a weekday morning, when galleries tend to be quieter.
FAQ
Which rank did the Bihar Museum get in 2026?
It ranked ninth on Worth a Journey’s World’s 100 Best Museums 2026 list. Then, it is the highest-ranked museum in Asia on that list.
When is the Bihar Museum closed?
It is closed on Mondays. Still, galleries open from 10 am to 5 pm on the other days.
Who designed the Bihar Museum?
Japanese architect Fumihiko Maki’s firm won the design tender. So, mumbai-based Opolis Architects was the Indian partner.