The Bihar Museum in Patna has ranked ninth in “The World’s 100 Best Museums 2026” list. Worth a Journey, a Germany-based travel guide, published this list. Notably, the museum is first in Asia and the only Asian museum in the top 10. It also ranks above the Metropolitan Museum of Art in New York.
Who Topped the World’s 100 Best Museums 2026?
Mexico City’s Museo Nacional de Antropologia tops the list. Next come the Museo del Prado in Madrid and the Louisiana Museum of Modern Art in Denmark. Then, the State Hermitage Museum in St Petersburg ranks fourth. After that, Vienna’s Kunsthistorisches Museum takes fifth place. Meanwhile, the Metropolitan Museum of Art stands 10th, and the Louvre in Paris ranks 31st. Also, the museum is the only Indian institution on this year’s list. Notably, the guide ranks museums with an algorithm and then verifies results through in-person visits.
Galleries and the Didarganj Yakshi
The museum’s main highlight is the Didarganj Yakshi, a sandstone female figure holding a fly whisk. People found it near Patna in 1917, and scholars link it to the Mauryan period. In addition, the historical galleries trace Bihar’s past from ancient times to the 18th century. Moreover, the museum has a Children’s Gallery with interactive displays. Its Diaspora Gallery covers Bihar’s links beyond the state. Likewise, a visible-storage gallery displays terracotta objects and coins.
About the Bihar Museum
The museum stands on Bailey Road in Patna and spans over 13 acres. Its children’s gallery, orientation gallery and theatre opened in August 2015. Later, the remaining galleries opened in October 2017. Japan’s Maki and Associates, the firm of architect Fumihiko Maki, designed it with Mumbai-based Opolis Architects. Also, Canada’s Lord Cultural Resources planned the exhibitions. The building cost Rs 521 crore.
Bihar Museum: Key Facts for Revision
- Rank: 9th in the world, 1st in Asia (World’s 100 Best Museums 2026)
- Published by: Worth a Journey, a Germany-based travel guide
- Global No. 1: Museo Nacional de Antropologia, Mexico City
- Opening: Partly in August 2015; fully in October 2017
- Architects: Maki and Associates (Japan) with Opolis Architects (Mumbai)
- Star exhibit: Didarganj Yakshi (found near Patna, 1917)
Why Bihar Museum Matters for UPSC and UKPSC
Notably, museums and Mauryan art often feature in art and culture questions. So, remember the rank, the list’s publisher and the Didarganj Yakshi. Also, link it with India’s other heritage recognitions. For official updates, also visit the Bihar Museum website. Next, for a related story, read about Sarnath becoming India’s 45th UNESCO World Heritage Site.
So, are you preparing for the UKPSC Upper PCS 2026 prelims? Then join our UKPSC 2026 Prelims Test Series for regular practice.