Patna’s Bihar Museum has secured the ninth position on the World’s 100 Best Museums 2026 list published by Munich-based travel guide Worth a Journey. The recognition places the Indian institution ahead of prominent museums including the Metropolitan Museum of Art in New York and the Louvre in Paris.
Bihar Museum is the only Indian institution featured in the 2026 top 100 and the only Asian museum in the top 10, according to the published ranking. The result has brought renewed international attention to Patna’s cultural attractions and Bihar’s historical heritage.
Bihar Museum Ahead of The Met and the Louvre
The 2026 ranking places Mexico City’s Museo Nacional de Antropología at number one, followed by Madrid’s Museo del Prado and Denmark’s Louisiana Museum of Modern Art.
Bihar Museum occupies ninth place, while New York’s Metropolitan Museum of Art is ranked tenth. The Louvre in Paris appears at 31st.
The list is published by Worth a Journey, which assesses museums using data analysis and on-site evaluations. Its ranking methodology combines algorithm-based analysis of information from institutions around the world with in-person assessments.
A Museum Dedicated to Bihar’s History and Heritage
Inaugurated in 2015, Bihar Museum was developed to provide additional space for displaying the state’s extensive collection of historical artefacts, including objects previously housed at the older Patna Museum.
Located on Bailey Road in Patna, the museum covers more than 13 acres. Its collections include archaeological discoveries, sculptures, coins, manuscripts and examples of traditional, folk and contemporary art. The galleries trace Bihar’s history through different periods, including the Mauryan, Sur and Mughal eras.
The museum’s building was designed by Japanese architect Fumihiko Maki in collaboration with Mumbai-based Opolis Architects. Its campus-style layout incorporates exhibition spaces, courtyards and educational facilities.
Didarganj Yakshi: One of the Museum’s Major Attractions
One of the best-known objects in the collection is the Didarganj Yakshi, a celebrated example of ancient Indian sculpture dating to the Mauryan period. Discovered near Patna in 1917, the life-sized sculpture is carved from polished Chunar sandstone and depicts a female figure holding a fly-whisk.
Other notable exhibits include a Kushan-period sculpture depicting the birth of the Buddha, bronze sculptures associated with the Pala period and historical coins and manuscripts. Together, these collections offer visitors an insight into the artistic, religious and cultural traditions that shaped the region.
Children’s Gallery and Diaspora Gallery
The museum also caters to visitors interested in experiences beyond traditional historical displays.
Its Children’s Gallery introduces younger visitors to subjects such as wildlife, folk art, science and culture. The Diaspora Gallery explores Bihar’s connections with communities beyond the state’s geographical boundaries, highlighting the wider influence of its people and traditions.
The museum also has visitor facilities, including a restaurant and a souvenir shop, adding to its appeal as a cultural destination.
A New Reason to Explore Patna
The international ranking has placed Bihar Museum in the spotlight and offers travellers another reason to include Patna in their cultural itineraries. Alongside the city’s historical landmarks and religious sites, the museum provides an opportunity to explore Bihar’s heritage through archaeological collections, sculpture and contemporary museum design.
Its ninth-place position is a notable recognition for an Indian museum, although global rankings reflect the methodology and assessment criteria of the organisation publishing them.
