Best places to visit in Bihar
15 curated destinations in Bihar, each with its honest season window: when to go, when it is merely fine, and when to stay away.
When to visit Bihar
Curated places in Bihar that are in peak season, by month. Tap a month for the whole country.
January, February, November and December put the most of Bihar in peak season. March the fewest, with 0.
All 15 destinations in Bihar
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Barabar Caves
Bihar
India's oldest rock-cut caves, mirror-polished by Mauryan masons
Peak: Nov to Feb
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Bodh Gaya
Bihar
Where the Buddha attained enlightenment - Mahabodhi Temple
Peak: Nov to Feb
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Kakolat Falls
Bihar
Forest waterfall with a cold bathing kund under Nawada's hills
Peak: Sep to Nov
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Kanwar Lake (Kabar Taal)
Bihar
Asia's largest oxbow lake, a Ramsar wetland of winter ducks near Begusarai
Peak: Dec to Feb
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Kesaria Stupa
Bihar
Hundred-foot brick stupa rising out of empty Champaran fields
Peak: Nov to Feb
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Lauriya Nandangarh
Bihar
Ashoka's best-kept lion pillar beside a 25 m brick stupa mound in Champaran
Peak: Nov to Feb
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Madhubani (Mithila art villages)
Bihar
Painters' courtyards at Jitwarpur and Ranti in the Mithila plain
Peak: Nov to Feb
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Mandar Hill (Bounsi)
Bihar
Granite churning-myth hill with a Jain summit shrine and a lotus tank below
Peak: Nov to Feb
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Mundeshwari Hill (Kaimur)
Bihar
Octagonal hilltop shrine in worship for 1400 years, Kaimur falls beyond
Peak: Nov to Feb
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Munger
Bihar
Fort town on a Ganga bend and home of the Bihar School of Yoga
Peak: Nov to Feb
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Rajgir (with Nalanda)
Bihar
Ancient hills and hot springs, Nalanda ruins 12km away
Peak: Nov to Feb
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Sasaram & Rohtasgarh Fort
Bihar
Sher Shah's tomb on a lake, and a lost fort up on the plateau
Peak: Nov to Feb
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Vaishali
Bihar
Ashokan lion pillar standing where the Buddha last preached
Peak: Nov to Feb
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Valmiki Nagar (Valmiki Tiger Reserve)
Bihar
Bihar's only tiger reserve, on the Gandak at the Nepal border
Peak: Nov to Feb
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Vikramshila (Antichak)
Bihar
Excavated Pala monastic university above the dolphin Ganga
Peak: Nov to Feb
By theme in Bihar
Common questions
When is the best time to visit Bihar?
Across the 15 curated destinations in Bihar, January, February, November and December are the months with the most places in peak season. March has the fewest, at 0.
How many places are worth visiting in Bihar?
This catalogue lists 15 in Bihar, chosen for the landscape or the heritage rather than for size. Plain cities are deliberately left out unless the trip is the heritage itself. The strongest themes here are offbeat (13), heritage (12), spiritual (6), trek (3) and wildlife (2).
What kind of places are in Bihar?
13 offbeat, 12 heritage, 6 spiritual, 3 trek and 2 wildlife. Every entry carries its own peak, shoulder and avoid months, so nothing is recommended in a month it should not be.
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