Hotel prices rise in Patna due to Bihar election season, room rates reach Rs 20,000 per night

As election fever rises in Bihar, demand for hotel rooms in the state capital has reached an all-time high. Almost all major hotels in Patna – from the decades-old Hotel Maurya and Hotel Chanakya to the newly opened Taj Hotel – are fully booked, and their corridors are dominated by political activity.

Conference halls and lobbies that once hosted corporate meetings are now buzzing with politicians, journalists and election strategists.

At the Hotel Maurya, which has about 80 rooms, the “Housefull” sign has become a permanent fixture. According to listings on Booking.com, room rates at Hotel Maurya typically range between ₹8,000 and ₹12,000 per night during regular months.

Online travel portals show similar trends in other hotels.

“Sold out” message is displayed on Hotel Chanakya bookings, while room rates across the city are skyrocketing. Nightly rates at premium properties like Taj hotels now range between ₹18,000 and ₹20,000.

Travel sites including MakeMyTrip and agoda show that standard rooms at Taj City Center Patna are typically listed between ₹14,000 and ₹17,000 per night.

According to a report in Times of India, budget options under the IHCL group are also reporting full occupancy.

Travel aggregators point out that budget hotels and mid-range properties in Patna – which usually cost between ₹ 2,500 and ₹ 4,000 per night – are now bidding between ₹ 6,000 and ₹ 8,000 due to the election rush.

However, Patna’s hospitality infrastructure is struggling to keep pace with demand.

Many of Patna’s historic hotels – including the Maurya and the Chanakya – are more than four decades old, with little new investment since then. A major government property is undergoing renovation, leaving the city with a shortage of quality rooms.

The hospitality sector still feels the legacy of the law-and-order challenges of the 1990s and 2000s, which have scared off investors, while the state’s prohibition policy has further reduced demand from corporate events and wedding groups, many of whom now prefer venues outside Bihar.

This shortage is not limited to Patna only. Other cities including Gaya, Muzaffarpur and Bhagalpur also face a similar housing crisis.

The lack of quality hotels compared to neighboring states has long been a hindrance for Bihar. Despite this, according to several news reports, the state’s growing economy and investment potential is attracting the attention of international hotel chains.

For example, ITC Hotels Ltd’s Welcomhotels has signed a deal for a 98-room resort in Bodhgaya, Bihar. Meanwhile, Radisson has signed its first hotel in Bihar – a 120-room hotel in Patna, which is expected to open by Q4 2027. And Ramada by Wyndham is also entering Bihar with an 80-room hotel in Darbhanga in September 2027.

For now, Bihar’s election fervor has proved a windfall for Patna’s hotel industry – turning deficit into profit, and giving hoteliers a reason to smile amid the political turmoil.