Spiritual5 days
Buddhist circuit
Core Buddhist sites: enlightenment, university, peak and first republic.
- Patna
- Rajgir
- Nalanda
- Bodh Gaya
- Vaishali
State · East
Bihar
Where the Buddha woke and ancient universities rose
Cradle of Buddhism and Jainism: Bodh Gaya's Mahabodhi Temple, Nalanda's university ruins, Vaishali, Rajgir's hot springs and Patna's Sikh shrines, with the Ganga, Kosi and Mithila's folk art.
- Best time
- October to March
- Allow
- 5–8 days
- Getting there
- Patna (PAT) airport and rail hub; Gaya (GAY) airport for Bodh Gaya; Darbhanga airport; Gaya, Patna, Danapur rail
- Permits
- None for Indians; forest entry tickets for Valmiki Tiger Reserve
- Capital
- Patna
- At a glance
- 38 districts · 82 places · 27 off the beaten track
Must-see
The unmissable Bihar
01
Mahabodhi Temple, Bodh Gaya
UNESCO shrine where the Buddha attained enlightenment under the Bodhi tree.
02
Nalanda Mahavihara
Ruins of the world's oldest residential university, with museum.
03
Rajgir
Hilltop stupa, hot springs and ancient Magadhan capital.
04
Vaishali
Ashokan pillar and site of one of the earliest republics.
05
Patna Sahib Gurdwara
Birthplace of the tenth Sikh guru, a major Sikh shrine.
06
Valmiki Tiger Reserve
Himalayan foothill forest with tigers and rhinos on the Nepal border.
07
Vikramshila ruins
Pala-era university site near Bhagalpur.
08
Madhubani painting villages
Mithila folk art villages around Madhubani and Ranti.
Tourist circuits
Ready-made routes
Join the dots: each circuit links places that make sense together.
Spiritual3 days
Jain circuit
Birthplace and nirvana sites of Lord Mahavira.
- Pawapuri
- Rajgir
- Kundalpur
- Vaishali
Spiritual2 days
Sikh heritage
Guru Gobind Singh's birthplace and associated shrines in Patna.
- Patna Sahib
- Patna Sahib
- Gai Ghat Gurdwara
Wildlife3 days
Wildlife and jungle
Tiger reserve, Gandak bird life and Tharu villages.
- Valmiki Nagar
- Bagaha
- Gandak Barrage
Culture3 days
Mithila culture
Folk painting, Mithila cuisine and royal heritage.
- Madhubani
- Darbhanga
- Janakpur border
Heritage3 days
Ganga and Mughal trail
Sher Shah's tomb, Munger fort and Ganga river scenes.
- Patna
- Bhagalpur
- Munger
- Sasaram
District by district
Every district, place by place
38 districts. Open any to see what's worth your time — gold tags mark lesser-known places.
ArariaHQ Araria · 1 place · 1 offbeat
Seemanchal district near Nepal.
- CultureRenu's birthplace Aurahi HingnaOffbeatHome of writer Phanishwar Nath Renu.
ArwalHQ Arwal · 2 places · 2 offbeat
Small Sone river district.
- NatureSone river banksOffbeatQuiet riverside spots.
- SpiritualKaler SharifOffbeatDargah and shrine.
AurangabadHQ Aurangabad · 2 places · 1 offbeat
Home to the Deo Sun Temple.
- SpiritualDeo Sun TempleRare west-facing sun temple of Chhath fame.
- OffbeatUmga hillsOffbeatJain-Hindu temples on a hilltop.
BankaHQ Banka · 2 places · 1 offbeat
Jharkhand-border district.
- SpiritualMandar HillMythic churning mountain with Jain temple.
- SpiritualVasuki NathOffbeatHilltop Shiva shrine.
BegusaraiHQ Begusarai · 2 places · 1 offbeat
Ganga plains district.
- WildlifeKabar TaalAsia's largest freshwater oxbow lake and bird sanctuary.
- SpiritualSimaria GhatOffbeatGanga ghat with fairs.
BhagalpurHQ Bhagalpur · 3 places
Silk city on the Ganga.
- HeritageVikramshila ruinsPala university remains.
- CultureBhagalpur silkTussar silk looms.
- WildlifeVikramshila Dolphin SanctuaryGangetic dolphin habitat.
BhojpurHQ Arrah · 2 places · 2 offbeat
Bhojpuri heartland.
- HeritageJagdishpur fortOffbeatHome of freedom fighter Kunwar Singh.
- HeritageArrah houseOffbeatSite of the Arrah siege 1857.
BuxarHQ Buxar · 2 places
Historic battlefield on the Ganga.
- HeritageBattle of Buxar site1764 battlefield.
- SpiritualRamrekha GhatGanga ghat on the Ramayana trail.
DarbhangaHQ Darbhanga · 3 places
Mithila capital with palace.
- HeritageDarbhanga FortRoyal palace and library.
- SpiritualShyama Mai TempleKali temple on a cremation ground.
- CultureMithila painting centreFolk-art studios.
East ChamparanHQ Motihari · 2 places · 1 offbeat
Gandhi's first satyagraha district.
- HeritageKesaria StupaGiant ancient stupa.
- SpiritualArerajOffbeatAshokan pillar and Someshwar Shiva temple.
GayaHQ Gaya · 4 places
Land of Bodh Gaya and Pind Daan.
- Must-seeMahabodhi TempleUNESCO shrine of the Buddha's enlightenment.
- SpiritualVishnupad TemplePilgrim site for ancestral rites.
- HeritageBarabar CavesRock-cut caves of Mauryan age.
- CultureGreat Buddha StatueHuge sculpture in Bodh Gaya.
GopalganjHQ Gopalganj · 2 places · 1 offbeat
Gandak river district.
- SpiritualThaweThawe Mata temple.
- NatureGandak banksOffbeatRural river landscape.
JamuiHQ Jamui · 2 places
Hilly south with Jain heritage.
- SpiritualKshatriyakundBirthplace of Mahavira per Jain tradition.
- SpiritualLachhuarJain temple on the hill.
JehanabadHQ Jehanabad · 2 places · 1 offbeat
Barabar Hills gateway.
- HeritageBarabar cavesOldest rock-cut caves in India.
- OffbeatKakoOffbeatQuiet village and Sufi shrine.
KaimurHQ Bhabua · 3 places · 1 offbeat
Forested plateau and temple hill.
- SpiritualMundeshwari TempleAncient hill temple.
- NatureKarkat WaterfallSeasonal cascade.
- WildlifeKaimur Wildlife SanctuaryOffbeatForest with chinkara and wolves.
KatiharHQ Katihar · 2 places · 2 offbeat
Eastern district with rivers.
- NatureKosi-Mahananda confluenceOffbeatLarge rivers with birds.
- SpiritualManihari GhatOffbeatGanga crossing.
KhagariaHQ Khagaria · 1 place · 1 offbeat
Kosi river district.
- NatureKosi river banksOffbeatFloodplain landscape.
KishanganjHQ Kishanganj · 1 place
Tea gardens and borderlands.
- NatureKishanganj tea gardensBihar's own tea country.
LakhisaraiHQ Lakhisarai · 2 places · 1 offbeat
Pala-era temples and hills.
- NatureLakhisarai hillsOffbeatQuiet hills.
- SpiritualAshokdhamShiva temple in Lakhisarai.
MadhepuraHQ Madhepura · 2 places · 1 offbeat
Kosi-side district.
- SpiritualSingheshwar TempleRevered Shiva temple.
- NatureKosi banksOffbeatFloodplain.
MadhubaniHQ Madhubani · 3 places
Home of Mithila painting.
- CultureRantiPainting villages of Mithila art.
- CultureJitwarpurArtist village of Madhubani paintings.
- SpiritualKapileshwar TempleShiva shrine.
MungerHQ Munger · 3 places · 1 offbeat
Fort town on the Ganga.
- HeritageMunger FortRiverfront fort with Mir Qasim legends.
- SpiritualBihar School of YogaFamed yoga ashram.
- SpiritualSita KundOffbeatHot spring with Ramayana lore.
MuzaffarpurHQ Muzaffarpur · 1 place
Litchi capital of India.
- CultureLitchi orchardsSummer orchard visits.
NalandaHQ Bihar Sharif · 4 places
Cradle of learning and Rajgir.
- Must-seeNalanda RuinsAncient university site.
- SpiritualRajgir Vishwa Shanti StupaHilltop stupa reached by ropeway.
- NatureRajgir hot springsSacred tanks.
- SpiritualPawapuriJain Jal Mandir where Mahavira attained moksha.
NawadaHQ Nawada · 2 places · 1 offbeat
Hilly district with caves.
- NatureKakolat FallsWaterfall in monsoon.
- SpiritualPakri Barawan Jain templeOffbeatRemote ancient Jain site.
PatnaHQ Patna · 4 places
Ancient Pataliputra on the Ganga.
- SpiritualPatna Sahib GurdwaraBirth place of Guru Gobind Singh.
- HeritageGolgharBeehive granary with city views.
- CulturePatna MuseumYakshi and relics.
- HeritageKumhrarMauryan ruins of Pataliputra.
PurniaHQ Purnia · 1 place · 1 offbeat
Seemanchal hub.
- NatureKosi plainsOffbeatBirdlife.
RohtasHQ Sasaram · 3 places · 1 offbeat
Son valley with Sher Shah's tomb.
- HeritageSher Shah Suri TombTomb in a lake.
- HeritageRohtasgarh FortHuge hill fort.
- NatureDhua KundOffbeatWaterfall near Tilauthu.
SaharsaHQ Saharsa · 2 places · 1 offbeat
Kosi river district.
- SpiritualMahishi Ugra TaraTantric Tara shrine.
- NatureMatsyagandha lakeOffbeatWetland.
SamastipurHQ Samastipur · 1 place
Mithila border district.
- CultureVidyapati DhamMemorial to Maithili poet.
SaranHQ Chhapra · 1 place
Ganga-Gandak district.
- SpiritualAmbika Bhawani TempleAamnaur village shrine.
SheikhpuraHQ Sheikhpura · 1 place · 1 offbeat
Small district north of Gaya.
- OffbeatSheikhpura townOffbeatQuiet rural.
SheoharHQ Sheohar · 2 places · 2 offbeat
Bihar's smallest district.
- NatureBagmati banksOffbeatQuiet river.
- OffbeatSheohar townOffbeatSmall town and farms.
SitamarhiHQ Sitamarhi · 3 places
Sita's birthplace.
- SpiritualJanaki MandirSita's birthplace shrine.
- SpiritualPunaura DhamMythic site of Sita's birth.
- SpiritualHaleshwar SthanShiva temple.
SiwanHQ Siwan · 1 place
Western district on the UP border.
- HeritageZiradeiBirthplace village of India's first President, Dr Rajendra Prasad.
SupaulHQ Supaul · 2 places · 2 offbeat
Kosi river district near Nepal.
- NatureKosi barrageOffbeatWide river views.
- OffbeatBirpurOffbeatFrontier market.
VaishaliHQ Hajipur · 3 places
First republic and Buddhist/Jain sites.
- HeritageAshokan Pillar KolhuaMonolithic lion pillar.
- SpiritualVishwa Shanti StupaPeace pagoda.
- CultureVaishali MuseumArchaeological relics.
West ChamparanHQ Bettiah · 3 places
Valmiki forest and Tharu belt.
- WildlifeValmiki Tiger ReserveTigers and rhinos in the Terai.
- HeritageLauriya NandangarhMauryan pillar and mounds.
- SpiritualValmiki AshramSage's hermitage.
Nothing matches — try a different word.
Eat
Signature flavours
- Litti-chokha
- Sattu paratha
- Khaja
- Champaran mutton
- Tilkut and anarsa
Monastery guesthouses in Bodh Gaya, heritage hotels in Patna, jungle lodges at Valmiki.
Festivals
When to time your visit
- Chhath Puja — October-November
- Sonepur Mela — November
- Rajgir Mahotsav — December
- Buddha Purnima, Bodh Gaya — May
Insider tip
Combine Rajgir-Nalanda-Bodh Gaya in one trip from Patna or Gaya; Bodh Gaya is best in winter and the Chhath ghat scenes in Patna are unforgettable.
Plan Bihar with us
Tell us the circuit, the season and your pace — we'll shape it into a private itinerary. Permits, stays and transfers handled.
Start planning Free trip plannerCompiled from public tourism information and our own knowledge; permits, entry rules, district boundaries, timings and prices change — approximate, verify before travelling. Last reviewed 2026-11-09.