Khuda Baksh Oriental Library


The Khuda Baksh Oriental Library is one of the oldest libraries in India. This place stands near the bank of river Ganga in Patna. The Khuda Baksh Oriental Library has a unique collection of about 21000 oriental manuscripts and 2.5 lakh printed books.

This library was opened to public in the year 1891 by the Bihar Maulavi Khuda Baksh Khan. Initially the library contained 4000 manuscripts from Khuda Baksh's personal collection, among which 1400 were inherited from his father Maulvi Muhammad Baksh.


Khuda Baksh Oriental Library was declared an institute of national importance in the year 1969 by an act of the parliament. It is now managed by an administrative board headed by the governor of Bihar. The library is now fully funded by the Ministry of Culture as an acknowledgment of its historical and intellectual value. The regular managerial responsibilities regarding the functioning of the library are fulfilled by its director.


The Khuda Baksh Library of Patna has a huge collection of more than 18000 Arabic and Persian manuscripts and over 2000 rare paintings belonging to the Mugal and Rajput era. More over there are 850 audio and 550 video tapes on many prominent and important personalities have been made by the library. The Khuda Baksh Oriental Library also publishes a quarterly research journal. Apart from all these another major attraction of the library is the wide collection of letters from eminent personalities that are preserved there.


Some fellowships are also instituted by the Khuda Baksh Oriental Library. It has been recognized as a center for research and has the power of awarding the Ph.D and D.Lit degrees.


You can find the rarest of manuscripts that are required for research on the orient at the Khuda Baksh Library in Patna.



Last Updated on 29/05/2013