Patna Getting there & around

Getting there & away

Land

Bus

The new main bus station (Mithapur Bus Station) occupies a large, dusty space about 2km south of the train station, and is simply referred to as ‘the new bus stand’. Services include buses to Gaya (Rs 50, three hours, hourly), Rajgir (Rs 50, four hours, hourly), Ranchi (Rs 180, 10 hours, 8pm and 9pm) and Raxaul (Rs 100, eight hours).

From the Gandhi Maidan bus stand government bus services go to Ranchi (Rs 170, 10 hours, four daily) and the Nepal border at Raxaul (Rs 109, eight hours, daily at 9.15am and 10pm).

Car

Hiring a car and driver is a convenient option for visiting Kesariya, Vaishali or Nalanda for the day. Most hotels and the India tourism office can arrange this service for Rs 6.5 per kilometre (minimum 200km). Arrange an early start as few drivers will operate after dark.

Train

Patna Junction is a chaotic station but there’s a foreign-tourist ticket counter at window No 7 in the 1st-floor reservation office.

Although a little way off the main Delhi–Kolkata line, there are around eight daily trains to Kolkata (sleeper/3AC Rs 218/615, eight to 11 hours), 10 to Delhi (sleeper/3AC Rs 321/905 12 to 16 hours) and four to New Jalpaiguri (Siliguri, for Darjeeling and Sikkim; sleeper/3AC Rs 195/549, nine to 12 hours). Several daily services run to Varanasi (2nd class/sleeper Rs 65/112, five hours), Gaya (sleeper/chair Rs 101/142, 3½ hours, 11.30am and 9.35pm) and Ranchi (sleeper/chair Rs 170/370, 10 hours, 11.30am, 3.30pm and 9.35pm).

^ Back to top

Air

Indian Airlines (2222554; Gandhi Maidan) flies daily to Delhi (US$124), Mumbai (US$172) and Ranchi (US$73). Air Deccan (www.airdeccan.net) offers cheaper internet fares to Delhi and Kolkata.

^ Back to top