Patna Airport serves the capital of Bihar, one of the world's oldest cities still inhabited, approximately 5 km from the city centre.
It is the most convenient access point to Bodh Gaya, where the Buddha attained enlightenment, among the most sacred Buddhist sites worldwide.
How to get to Lok Nayak Jayaprakash Airport
By Car
By Train
By Bus
Average travel time to PAT
Parking near Lok Nayak Jayaprakash Airport
Opposite the terminal stands the airport-recognized parking lot.
Video surveillance is active; costs remain reasonable.
How to get to Patna from PAT
By Train
By Bus
By Taxi
Need an airport transfer?
Compare taxis and shuttles on Booking.com
Car rental at Lok Nayak Jayaprakash Airport
Some car rental operators have desks in the arrivals area, useful for reaching Bodh Gaya.
Driver's license, passport, and credit card are the basics; the IDP is added in most cases.
Hotels near Lok Nayak Jayaprakash Airport
Near the airport, in Raja Bazar
Both hotels are less than 10 minutes by car from the terminal, on BMP Road in Raja Bazar.
Best for: Short layovers and off-hours arrivals or departures, when all that matters is shortening the trip from the terminal.
- Just minutes from check-in, useful with early-morning flights
- Lower rates than the Exhibition Road area
- An area with not much to do on foot in the evening
- For Gandhi Maidan or the centre, a 20-25 minute taxi is still needed
Recommended hotels
- Hotel Buddha Sunrise-Nxt to Paras Hospital & Patna Airport On BMP Road in Raja Bazar, next to Paras Hospital, about 1 km and 7-8 minutes from the terminal. View availability
- Treebo Taj Square, 10 Mins From Airport A hotel of the Treebo group, with no connection to the Taj chain, about 10 minutes from the terminal. View availability
Exhibition Road and Gandhi Maidan, the centre
About 7-14 minutes more by car than the airport area, 7-20 minutes depending on the hotel.
Best for: One or more nights for Gandhi Maidan, the historic centre and shopping on Exhibition Road.
- The Lemon Tree Premier is a few steps from Gandhi Maidan and the main railway station
- The Taj City Centre is inside a shopping mall on Buddha Marg, convenient for shopping and restaurants without going outside
- Traffic on Exhibition Road and Buddha Marg gets worse during rush hour
- Farther from the airport than the Raja Bazar area
Recommended hotels
- Lemon Tree Premier, Patna On Exhibition Road, about 1.6 km from the main railway station and a few steps from Gandhi Maidan; 7.2 km from the terminal. View availability
- Taj City Centre, Patna Inside the City Centre Mall on Buddha Marg, the first Taj hotel in Bihar; about 14-20 minutes from the terminal. View availability
Airport services
Shopping & Duty Free
Lounges & relaxation
Connectivity & Wi-Fi
Families & Children
Terminal guide
The terminal is compact, consistent with its role as a regional hub with heavy Buddhist religious tourism traffic to Bodh Gaya.
Before flights, it's wise to arrive with 2 hours' margin.
Map of Lok Nayak Jayaprakash Airport
Frequently asked questions
Q. How far is Bodh Gaya from Patna Airport?
About 2-2.5 hours by road: it's among the holiest sites in world Buddhism, where tradition says the Buddha attained enlightenment under the Bodhi tree.
Q. Is Patna among the oldest cities in the world?
Yes, with a history dating back over 2,500 years, it was the capital of major ancient empires such as the Maurya Empire.
Q. Do you need a specific visa to visit the Buddhist sites near Patna?
No, it falls under the normal Indian tourist e-visa, with no additional permits: Bodh Gaya and Nalanda draw Buddhist pilgrims from across Asia every year thanks to this ease of access.
Q. Is it worth hiring a local driver to reach Bodh Gaya?
Yes, it's generally the most practical solution for the road transfer from Patna Airport.
Flight board
Real-time status of arriving and departing flights