Patna, India – My Budget‑Student Travel Mess

i haven't slept more than three hours in the past 48 hours, which means my brain is currently running on a mix of caffeine, cheap street chai, and the absurd optimism that every city feels like an adventure when you're a budget‑student dragging a backpack that looks like it survived a monsoon. the first thing i did was pull out my weather widget and peek at the forecast - it says 16.7°C and a pressure of about 1010 hPa, humidity at 45%, making the air feel a bit thin like a cheap coffee filter. i haven't seen rain yet, which is good news if you hate the soggy sensation that makes your shoes squeak louder than your landlord's complaints.

i tried the *Saffron Café on Patna Street for the first time; the barista gave me a free cinnamon shot because i pretended to understand the menu in Hindi. that free shot turned into a night of jittery typing, because you know how it goes when you mix three coffees, a chai, and a half‑baked plan. if the vibe gets stale, you can hop onto a bus and be in Ranchi or Guwahati by lunchtime, just a short drive away. the Patna Metro is still a rumor, so you’re stuck with auto‑rickshaws that drive like they’re auditioning for a stunt‑bike video. i heard a local rumor that the meter on the rickshaw is as trustworthy as a candy‑floss vendor’s promise of health, so i always carry a small change and a cheat‑sheet of the routes that are actually cheaper. someone told me that the best street food is in the alley behind Khandak, but the locals warned me the vendor’s oil is as greasy as my old laptop fan. i decided to risk it anyway and found a steaming plate of litti chokha that made my stomach do a happy dance - maybe the oil wasn’t that bad after all.

Patna College is a sprawling campus that feels more like a mini‑city, with students in every corner selling second‑hand books at ridiculous prices. i bought a battered copy of The Odyssey for 30 bucks; the cover is missing but the story still holds. Patna Museum is another classic - i heard that the ancient artifacts are displayed with more care than the city’s potholes, but a drunk guide told me the museum actually sells the real relics to private collectors for a quick profit. i’m not sure if that’s true, but the rumor gave me a good excuse to skip the official tour and wander the outdoor Hajipur sculptures instead.

night market near Patna Railway Station is where the magic happens. Vendor Sharma claims his kebabs are cooked over a “real” flame from a temple altar, which i take as a sign to try them. the kebabs are salty, smoky, and surprisingly fresh - i swear the onions were crying a little bit because they finally got some love. i snapped a photo of the glowing grill and posted it on Instagram (no point in hiding my love for cheap eats).

if you’re looking for something quieter, i saw a post on the r/Patna subreddit that suggested a hike up Bihar Hill - a modest climb that offers panoramic views of the river and a whole lot of misty vibes. the local board Patna Travel Forum also warns that the hill gets crowded on weekends, so early morning is the best time if you want to avoid the human tide.

the weather today is gentle enough that i could actually wear my favorite t‑shirt without feeling like i’m melting. the pressure’s holding steady at around 1010 hPa, the humidity’s low enough that my hair isn’t turning into a static‑clad disaster, and the temperature is hovering in the mid‑teens. i heard a rumor that the Patna Meteorological Department updates its forecast only when a politician shows up, which explains why the numbers feel a bit off. but if you’re okay with that, you’ll enjoy a clear sky that lets the unsplash photos of the night sky look extra dreamy.

Here’s a map to help you navigate without getting lost (and without spending too much on a GPS):

If the visuals help, check out these random shots:

And here’s a vibe for the night‑time walk:

Finally, a daytime glimpse of the rail tracks that criss‑cross the city - they look like a lazy zebra crossing the concrete:

anyway, i’m still trying to figure out whether the Patna Museum is a legit cultural hub or a hidden boutique selling ancient artifacts on the black market. i’m also still battling the ever‑present question: “how many cheap hostels can i stay in before my backpack decides it’s a moving van?” the answer, as of today, is at least three, and i’ve already logged enough stories to fill a cheap diary. thanks for reading - if you have more gossip about Patna or want to swap cheap hostel tips, drop a comment below. i’ll be the first one to reply, probably after i’ve finished my budget‑student coffee and a litti chokha* bite.

[Patna Riverside] (https://www.tripadvisor.com/Attraction_Review-g-2492419-d20184987-Reviews-Patna_India.html)
[Saffron Café] (https://www.yelp.com/biz/saffron-cafe-patna)
[r/Patna] (https://www.reddit.com/r/Patna/)
[Patna Travel Forum] (https://www.patnaforums.com/travel-guide)