Patna City Guide
Image by Sucheta Nanda via unsplash

India

Patna City Guide

Bihar

Patna is the capital of Bihar, located on the Ganges River. It's an old city with lots of history and serves as a center for agriculture and religious tourism. It offers a raw experience of Indian life but has basic infrastructure compared to bigger cities.

Lifestyle🍽️

🍽️
Food Scene
Good
7

Try local foods like Litti Chokha and Sattu Paratha. Mostly vegetarian options. Few international choices. Most places close by 10-11 PM.

Local Dishes:
Litti Chokha, Sattu Paratha, Chana Ghugni
International Cuisine:
Indian Chinese, North Indian
Vegetarian Friendly
🌙
Nightlife
Poor
3

Nightlife is limited, mainly some hotel bars. No real club or pub scene.

Coffee Culture
Limited
5

Coffee culture is growing but basic; specialty shops are rare.

💰
Tipping
Not Required

Tipping isn't mandatory but appreciated. About 5-10% in restaurants, rounding up fares in taxis.

Top Attractions
Mahavir Mandir
Religious
A popular Hindu temple in the city.
Patna Museum
Museum
Museum showcasing local history and artifacts.
Golghar
Historic
Historic granary building with city views.
Takht Sri Patna Sahib
Religious
Important Sikh gurudwara.
Kumhrar Park
Historic
Ancient ruins of Pataliputra nearby.
Bihar Museum
Museum
Modern museum with cultural exhibits.
SIM Cards

Buy SIM cards at authorized stores with ID and photo. Top providers are Jio, Airtel, and Vodafone Idea. eSIMs depend on provider and device.

Available at:
Authorized dealer stores
Recommended Apps
Ola/Uber(Transport)
Zomato/Swiggy(Food)
Google Maps(Travel)
Paytm/Google Pay/PhonePe(Finance)
IRCTC Rail Connect(Travel)
MakeMyTrip/Goibibo(Travel)

Services & Infrastructure

Street Cleanliness
Limited
5

Cleanliness varies; main roads are cleaner than side streets; waste management improving.

24/7 Services
Poor
3

Limited 24/7 services; some pharmacies and minimarts open late.

Groceries
Vishal Mega Mart
Reliance Fresh
Easyday

Local fresh markets are common, with larger supermarkets like Vishal Mega Mart, Reliance Fresh, and Easyday. Shops open 10 AM–9 PM, and bargaining is usual in markets.

Cashless Payments
Cash preferred

Card payments work in bigger stores and restaurants, but cash is needed for smaller shops, local transport, and street food.

ATMs

ATMs from major banks like SBI, HDFC, ICICI, and Axis Bank are common. Local bank ATMs usually don't charge fees; others might.

Schools
Local only

Local schools like St. Michael's and Don Bosco teach mainly in English and Hindi. Few international schools.

Available Schools:
St. Michael's High School
Don Bosco Academy

Work & Digital💻

Coworking Spaces
Available
5
Available Spaces:
The Hive Patna
Flexible plans with meeting rooms.
Workie
Dedicated desks and cabins available.
Startup Bihar Incubation Centre
Startup-focused coworking space.
Work-Friendly Cafés
Limited
Cafe Coffee Day
Multiple locations with Wi-Fi.
Starbucks
Limited outlets, Wi-Fi available.
The Barista Cafe
Comfortable seating with internet.
Alternatives:
Bihar Public Library
Quiet spot, may have Wi-Fi.
Hotel lobbies
Wi-Fi often available for guests or with a fee.
Digital Nomad Community
Poor
2

Very small digital nomad community with no specific meetups or spaces.

Nature & Activities🌿

Green Spaces
Good
6

Parks like Gandhi Maidan and Eco Park offer green areas. Riverfront has walking paths and shaded spots.

Running
Limited
5

Popular spots include Gandhi Maidan and riverfront. Air quality can affect running, especially in winter.

Gyms
Available

Several gyms available with standard facilities.

Available Gyms:
Talwalkars Gym
Gold's Gym
Fitness First
Tennis
Limited
4

Some tennis courts in sports clubs; booking may require membership.

Padel
Poor
1

Padel courts are not common.

Yoga
Limited
5

Yoga studios and meditation centers exist; some English-speaking instructors.

Martial Arts
Limited
4

Facilities for Karate, Taekwondo, and boxing available; fewer for Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu or Muay Thai.

Skiing
Poor
1

No skiing; tropical climate.

Water Sports
Poor
2

Limited water activities like boating on the Ganges; no organized water sports.

Surfing
Poor
1

No surfing; city is inland.

Diving
Poor
1

No diving opportunities.

Health & Safety🏥

Healthcare
Good
6

Private hospitals like Paras HMRI and Ruban Memorial have English-speaking staff. Pharmacies are everywhere and usually open late. Public options are basic.

Hospitals:
Paras HMRI Hospital
Ruban Memorial Hospital
Pharmacies:
Local pharmacies throughout the city
Tap Water Safety
Not recommended

Tap water isn't safe for travelers. Use bottled or filtered water.

Common Scams
Auto-rickshaw overcharging, Fake tourist guides, Overpriced street vendors

Community & Family

Family Friendly
Good
6

Parks like Eco Park and Patna Zoo are good for families. Playgrounds exist but kid-friendly cafes are few.

LGBTQ+ Friendly
Poor
3

Low acceptance and few safe spaces locally; legal protections are developing nationally.

Pet Friendly
Limited
4

Pet services exist, but pet-friendly spots and accommodations are limited.

Communities
Patna Talkies (Social)
Patna Foodies (Food)
Bihar Tourism (Tourism)

Quick Facts

Population
1,684,222
Power Reliability
Good
6/10

Power is mostly reliable but occasional outages happen, especially in hot or monsoon months.

Languages
Hindi(90%)
English(30%)
Emergency
100
Police
102
Ambulance
101
Fire
1090
Women's Helpline

⚠️Natural Disasters Risk

🌊
Tsunami
Very Low Risk
1
🏔️
Earthquake
High Risk
8

🌦️Seasonal Issues

Extreme heat
May, June
Temperatures often go over 40°C.
Monsoon
July, August, September
Heavy rains can cause flooding.
Air pollution/Haze
October, November, December, January, February
Winter air quality worsens due to pollution and crop burning.

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