
Patna, the capital of Bihar on the banks of the Ganges, is one of India's oldest continually inhabited cities and a practical base for visiting the Buddhist heritage sites of Bodh Gaya, Nalanda and Vaishali. It's a long trip from Melbourne with no shortcuts, but well-timed connections make it manageable.
No airline flies Melbourne to Patna nonstop. The most direct-feeling option is Air India, connecting through Delhi, though Singapore Airlines via Singapore and other combinations via Kuala Lumpur or Kolkata are also workable depending on your preferred stopover.
With the connection included, total travel time from Melbourne to Patna runs around 0 hours 0 minutes. Routings via Delhi tend to be the quickest; those via Kolkata or Singapore can add several extra hours.
Fares between Melbourne and Patna typically start from around , with Air India generally sitting among the more affordable options on this route.
Avoid India's peak winter tourist season (roughly November-February) and major festival periods like Diwali if you want better fares. The pre-monsoon months of March-April can also bring good value, though Bihar's summer heat is intense.
You'll land at Jay Prakash Narayan Airport (PAT), only about 5 kilometres from central Patna — a quick transfer compared to many Indian cities. The terminal is modest, with the usual mix of taxis and pre-paid cab counters just outside arrivals.
Australians need an e-Visa arranged online before travel — there's no visa-free or visa-on-arrival option for India. On top of the e-Visa, India now requires a mandatory e-Arrival Card (digital only from 1 April 2026) submitted 24-72 hours before arrival, plus an Air Suvidha health self-declaration completed within 24 hours of arrival. Missing any of these three can cause delays, so double-check current requirements well before you fly. Smartraveller advises exercising a high degree of caution in India generally — worth a quick read before you travel, though it's not a reason to avoid the trip.
India doesn't observe daylight saving, so Melbourne is usually around 4.5 hours ahead during Australian standard time and 5.5 hours ahead during daylight saving.
Traveloka makes it easy to compare Air India, Singapore Airlines and other carriers on this multi-leg route, with clear AUD pricing and an Easy Reschedule option if your plans need to shift. For a trip with several moving parts, having it all in one place saves a lot of back-and-forth.
Whether you're tracing Bihar's Buddhist heritage sites or exploring Patna itself, Traveloka helps you book the journey with confidence.
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Airport in Patna |




