Khuda Bakhsh Oriental Public Library

Khuda Bakhsh Oriental Public Library in Patna, Bihar, is an autonomous institution under the Ministry of Culture, Government of India, located on Ashok Rajpath along the Ganges. Established in 1891 by Khan Bahadur Khuda Bakhsh, it houses over 21,000 rare manuscripts in Arabic, Persian, Urdu, Turkish and Sanskrit, plus Mughal paintings and historical documents. Declared an Institution of National Importance in 1969, it serves as a major centre for Oriental and Islamic studies and heritage research.

Visitors can expect a historic two-storey library building on Ashok Rajpath housing exhibition galleries and reading rooms. Displays include rare handwritten manuscripts, Mughal and Rajput paintings, calligraphy specimens, and historical documents. The setting is quiet and academic, with manuscript conservation areas, a research reading room, and curated exhibits. Access to rare manuscripts is regulated and primarily for research, while general visitors can view selected exhibits and learn about the collection's preservation.

Founded in 1891 by Khan Bahadur Khuda Bakhsh (1842-1908), building on the collection of his father Maulvi Mohammed Bakhsh. Initially opened as a private library with 1,400 manuscripts, it was opened to the public in October 1891. The Government of India declared it an Institution of National Importance by an Act of Parliament in 1969 and it functions as an autonomous institution under the Ministry of Culture.

The library is a major repository of Indo-Islamic and Oriental heritage, preserving manuscripts in Arabic, Persian, Urdu, Turkish and Sanskrit, as well as Mughal paintings and calligraphic art. It serves as an important centre for scholars of Islamic studies, Persian literature, medieval Indian history and manuscript conservation.