Bihar Museum ranks 9th in world list, ahead of the Met and Louvre (opens the source in a new tab)
- The Bihar Museum in Patna is ninth on German travel guide Worth a Journey's World's 100 Best Museums 2026, ahead of the Met (10th) and the Louvre (31st). Time Out reports Mexico City's anthropology museum tops the list. Bihar's is the only Indian entry.
- YourStory founder Shradha Sharma credits then chief minister Nitish Kumar's backing and IAS officer Chanchal Kumar's execution. The roughly ₹500 crore project, designed by Pritzker winner Fumihiko Maki, fought land disputes and political pressure.
- In 2015 the Patna High Court criticised the spending and contracting, holding the project was not in the public interest, but let construction finish.
- 9th
- World's 100 Best Museums 2026
- ₹500 cr
- Approximate cost of the project
Why it matters A well-built public institution can put a state on the world map and change how people see it. For Bihar, whose ancient history far outshines its modern image, that matters for pride and for tourism.
Other side One travel guide's ranking is a single opinion, not a verdict, and the court's criticism of cost and transparency still stands. The real test is visitors and upkeep over the next decade.