If you are searching for a new temple in Patna or a new mandir in Bihar, the honest answer is that most of the big new projects are still being built or are only plans. Inside Patna district, the newest large project is a Tirupati-style Sri Venkateswara temple at Mokama, and its land was cleared only in 2026. Elsewhere in Bihar, a Bhutanese Buddhist temple opened at Rajgir in September 2025, the Viraat Ramayan Mandir in East Champaran is under construction, and a large Janaki temple at Punaura Dham in Sitamarhi has a 2028 target. The proposed Modi Mandir in Patna is a proposal only, with no land or building.

This guide lists each project, says what stage it has reached, and names the report behind every fact. Dates and figures change, so check the latest news before you plan a trip.

Key takeaways

  • Open now: the Royal Bhutan Buddhist Temple in Rajgir, consecrated on 4 September 2025.
  • Being built: the Viraat Ramayan Mandir near Chakia in East Champaran. Its giant Shivling was installed on 17 January 2026, but the temple is not finished.
  • Foundation laid: the Janaki temple at Punaura Dham, Sitamarhi, on 8 August 2025. Bihar Tourism has given 31 December 2028 as its target.
  • Land cleared, building not started: the Sri Venkateswara (Tirupati Balaji) temple at Mokama in Patna district. No start date has been reported.
  • Proposal only: the Modi Mandir in Patna. No land, budget or design has been approved.

Is there a new temple in Patna city?

Not a large one that has just opened, as far as we could find in news reports up to November 2026. The temples most visitors go to in the city, such as Mahavir Mandir, Patan Devi and ISKCON Patna, are long established. ISKCON's temple on Budh Marg is one of the newer large ones. ISKCON News reported on its foundation stone ceremony, and the temple is now open and holding festivals. For opening hours and tips on all of these, read our guide to temples to visit in Patna and the Mahavir Mandir visitor guide.

The new projects people talk about are mostly outside the city centre. The one closest to Patna is the planned Tirupati-style temple at Mokama, which is inside Patna district but some distance east of the city, on the Ganga.

Many searches for "new mandir in Patna" are really about the proposed Modi temple. That temple does not exist. See our page on its location for the full status.

All the new temple projects in Bihar at a glance

TemplePlaceStage, as reportedWho is building it
Royal Bhutan Buddhist TempleRajgir, Nalanda districtOpen. Consecrated 4 September 2025Bhutan. Consecrated by its chief abbot
Viraat Ramayan MandirKaithwalia, East ChamparanUnder construction. Shivling installed 17 January 2026Mahavir Mandir Trust, Patna
Janaki temple, Punaura DhamSitamarhiFoundation laid 8 August 2025. Target 31 December 2028Bihar government (Tourism department)
Sri Venkateswara templeMokama Khas, Patna districtLand lease cleared by the cabinet in June 2026. Not startedTirumala Tirupati Devasthanams (TTD)
Vishnupad area redevelopmentGayaApproved by the state. Redevelopment of an old temple area, not a new templeBihar government agencies
Modi Mandir (proposed)PatnaProposal only. No land or money approvedProposed by the Bihar State Transgender Welfare Board

Sri Venkateswara (Tirupati Balaji) temple at Mokama, Patna district

This is the new temple project that is actually inside Patna district. Tirumala Tirupati Devasthanams, the body that runs the famous Tirumala temple in Andhra Pradesh, plans to build a temple to Lord Venkateswara, also called Balaji, at Mokama Khas.

  • December 2025: Deccan Chronicle reported on 6 December 2025 that Bihar had allotted 10.11 acres to TTD on a 99-year lease at a token rent of Rs 1 a year. The paper says Bihar's Chief Secretary sent the allotment letter to TTD chairman B.R. Naidu.
  • June 2026: Patna Press reported on 25 June 2026 that the Bihar cabinet had approved the lease under a memorandum of understanding, and had relaxed some land rules to allow it.
  • What is planned: According to Patna Press, a main shrine, a Kalyana Mandapam (a hall for wedding ceremonies of the deity), a Pushkarini (a sacred water tank) and facilities for pilgrims.

No design, cost or construction start date has been published that we could find. TTD has said it will speed up work once the remaining paperwork is done. One older report gave the land as 15 acres, but most reports, including the cabinet news, say 10.11 acres.

This project is a useful comparison with the proposed Modi Mandir. Here, a named body has asked for land, the cabinet has approved a lease, and the terms are public. None of those steps has been reported for the Modi temple. Our article on when the Modi Mandir could be built explains which steps are missing.

Viraat Ramayan Mandir, East Champaran

The Viraat Ramayan Mandir is the biggest new temple being built in Bihar. It is near Kaithwalia (also spelled Kathwalia) in the Kalyanpur block of East Champaran district, roughly 120 km from Patna. The Mahavir Mandir Trust of Patna, which runs the well-known Hanuman temple near Patna Junction, is building it.

Patna Press reported in July 2024 that the first phase, which began on 20 June 2023, put 3,200 piles about 100 feet into the ground. The same report gave the planned size as 1,080 feet long and 540 feet wide, with a main spire of 270 feet and 22 shrines for figures from the Ramayana and for Lord Krishna. It said the trust was paying from its own funds, with Suntech Infra Solutions as the contractor and Tata Consulting Engineers overseeing the work.

The giant Shivling

On 17 January 2026, a Shivling carved from a single block of black granite was installed at the site. Organiser reported it as 33 feet tall and about 210 tonnes. Free Press Journal gave the weight as 200 tonnes, so reports differ slightly. It was carved near Mahabalipuram in Tamil Nadu and moved to Bihar by road. Reports said the full consecration ceremony would be held later. If that word is new to you, our page on prana pratishtha explains what it involves.

Earlier reports said the temple would be complete by the end of 2025. That did not happen. We found no confirmed new completion date, so treat any date you see online with care.

Janaki temple at Punaura Dham, Sitamarhi

Punaura Dham in Sitamarhi is believed by many devotees to be the birthplace of Goddess Sita. The Bihar government is rebuilding the temple area on a much larger scale.

  1. 1 July 2025: the state cabinet sanctioned Rs 882.87 crore, as PTI reported.
  2. 8 August 2025: Union Home Minister Amit Shah laid the foundation stone, with Chief Minister Nitish Kumar present, according to ETV Bharat.
  3. The plan: ETV Bharat describes a 67-acre campus, pink sandstone from Rajasthan, Nagara-style design, and a promise to keep the old sanctum. It puts the full cost, including land, at over Rs 1,048 crore.
  4. Target date: Indian Masterminds reported on 19 September 2026 that Bihar Tourism has set 31 December 2028 for completion.

The existing temple at Punaura Dham stays open to pilgrims, but the new complex is years away. For how this budget compares with the Rs 112 crore asked for the Modi temple, read our comparison of Bihar temple spending.

Royal Bhutan Buddhist Temple, Rajgir

This is the one new temple on this list that is already open. Organiser reported that the Royal Bhutan Buddhist Temple in Rajgir was consecrated on 4 September 2025 by the Je Khenpo, the chief abbot of Bhutan. Bhutan's Prime Minister Tshering Tobgay and Union Minister Kiren Rijiju attended. Mr Tobgay called it a symbol of trust and friendship between the two countries.

Rajgir is an old Buddhist and Jain centre, and it is easy to combine with Nalanda. If you are planning a trip, our guide to heritage day trips from Patna and the overview of Bihar pilgrimage circuits cover the route. We could not find official visiting hours for the new temple, so check locally before you go.

What about Vishnupad in Gaya and the Modi Mandir?

Two other projects often appear in the same searches, but neither is a new temple you can visit.

  • Vishnupad, Gaya: the Vishnupad temple is centuries old. What is new is a large redevelopment plan for the area around it, which the state has approved. It is a makeover, not a new temple.
  • Modi Mandir, Patna: on 29 July 2026 the Bihar State Transgender Welfare Board approved a proposal for a temple to Prime Minister Narendra Modi. A board member later said it had asked for five acres and Rs 112 crore. No land has been named and no money approved, according to every report we found. There is nothing to visit.

How to tell if a "new temple" is really open

Social media often shows grand pictures of temples that are only planned. Before you travel, ask four questions:

  1. Has a news outlet reported an opening, consecration or inauguration with a date?
  2. Is the picture a real photo of the site, or a drawing or AI image? Many project pictures are artists' impressions.
  3. Does the temple or its trust publish visiting hours?
  4. Is the "temple" in the post actually a foundation stone or a land allotment? Those are early steps, not a finished building.

If you want to understand what you are looking at when you do visit, our explainer on the parts of a Hindu temple is a good start.

Common questions

Which new temple is being built in Patna?

The only large new temple project in Patna district we found is the Sri Venkateswara (Tirupati Balaji) temple planned by TTD at Mokama. Its land lease was approved in June 2026. Building has not been reported as started.

Is the Viraat Ramayan Mandir open?

Not fully. The giant Shivling was installed on 17 January 2026, but the temple building is still under construction and no confirmed completion date has been reported.

When will the Sitamarhi Janaki temple be ready?

Bihar Tourism has given 31 December 2028 as the target, according to a September 2026 report. The foundation stone was laid on 8 August 2025.

Is the Modi Mandir a new temple in Patna?

No. It is a proposal approved by a state welfare board in July 2026. There is no land, no building and nothing to visit.

Sources

Last checked on 3 November 2026. Spotted a mistake or a temple we missed? Tell us through our contact page.