Bihar is the longest trip among the regions we serve: Patna is about 1,065 km from GS India Defence Academy in Dehradun, a 13-hour drive on a free-flowing road and 20h 55m by the direct train. Two trains share one timing and together cover every day of the week, which makes the journey easier to plan than the distance suggests. This page sets out the Patna-Dehradun trip, the two Bihar UPSC centres, Bihar’s Sainik Schools and what RIMC says about the state, so that a family can judge whether a residential academy this far from home is practical.
How does a Bihar student travel from Patna to Dehradun?
In our timetable data two direct trains leave Patna Junction at 21:15 and reach Dehradun at 18:10 the next day. The 13037 Kumbha Express runs five days a week, every day except Tuesday and Friday, and the 13035 Upasana Express runs on Tuesday and Friday. Read together, they leave Patna every day. Both take 20h 55m. The data was read from erail.in on 12 October 2026, so confirm days and times on IRCTC or NTES before booking.
| Option | What our data shows |
|---|---|
| 13037 Kumbha Express | Patna Jn 21:15 to Dehradun 18:10 (20h 55m), five days a week, not Tuesday or Friday |
| 13035 Upasana Express | Patna Jn 21:15 to Dehradun 18:10 (20h 55m), Tuesday and Friday |
| Road | 1,065 km to the academy, a drive estimate of 13.2 h before stops and traffic |
| UTC bus | UTC, the Uttarakhand Transport Corporation, lists no Patna service in the route list we read |
- Both trains arrive in the evening, so a first visit works best if the family allows for a night in Dehradun or arrives the day before any counselling appointment.
- A parent who travels with the student should check the return trains on IRCTC, because our data covers only the Dehradun-bound direction.
- Dehradun railway station is about 10 km from the academy, by approximate routing.
- Call or WhatsApp +91 70170 31757 for free counselling if you would like help working out dates for a first visit.
Which Bihar cities are UPSC centres?
UPSC’s NDA and Naval Academy Examination (II), 2026 notice lists two Bihar centres, Gaya and Patna, and the CDS (II) 2026 notice lists the same two. Patna is the centre most Bihar candidates choose on distance grounds, and our Patna page has the city-level detail. UPSC allots centres first-apply-first-allot up to a ceiling and will not change a centre on request, so apply early to secure the one you want. A student in the far north of Bihar should check the road to Patna or Gaya before choosing, because neither centre may be near home.
Which Sainik Schools are in Bihar?
The Sainik Schools Society’s list of existing schools includes two in Bihar: Sainik School Gopalganj and Sainik School Nalanda. Nalanda’s own website says Bihar was the first state to have two Sainik Schools. Nalanda is about 59 km from Patna by straight line. Entry to either school is by the All India Sainik Schools Entrance Examination, conducted by NTA, into Class VI or Class IX.
A Ministry of Defence list of 23 partnership approvals, released through PIB in September 2023, names one Bihar school: Ganpatrai Salarpuria Saraswati Vidya Mandir in Bhagalpur. Approval does not mean a school is operating or admitting, so read the Society’s New Schools page and the NTA bulletin first. Our Sainik School coaching page and the AISSEE admission guide cover the entrance.
What does RIMC say about Bihar?
RIMC’s admission page says one vacancy per State is generally allotted, with up to two for States of larger population, and that seats may vary every year. It names no figure for Bihar, so treat any quoted number with caution. For the July 2027 term, applications from the December 2026 examination are online through NTA, the test is at NTA centres and the age window is 12½ to 14 years; RIMC will not issue forms through State Government authorities. RIMC itself is in Dehradun. Read the RIMC admission guide and our RIMC coaching page.
Is a residential academy 1,065 km from home a sensible choice?
For many families the honest answer depends on the age of the child. A student who has finished Class 12 and wants focused NDA or SSB preparation is making a bounded commitment for a defined period. A student who has just passed Class 10 is leaving home for the Classes 11 and 12 years as well, and the NDA Foundation course combines schooling with NDA preparation for that group. The academy teaches in classrooms only, with no online classes, and provides separate hostels for boys and girls, with a mess; see hostel and mess. Girls from Bihar can read the NDA coaching for girls page. Dehradun is also home to the Indian Military Academy.
Which Bihar place has a military name?
The Bihar Regimental Centre is at Danapur Cantonment in Patna. It is a local landmark that many Patna families know, not a partner of the academy.
Questions from Bihar families
FAQs
Questions parents ask us.
Can't find yours? Ask on WhatsApp; a counsellor usually replies within working hours.
Ask on WhatsAppIs there a direct train from Patna to Dehradun?
Yes. Our timetable data shows the 13037 Kumbha Express on five days a week, not Tuesday or Friday, and the 13035 Upasana Express on Tuesday and Friday. Both leave Patna Jn at 21:15 and reach Dehradun at 18:10, taking 20h 55m.
Which Bihar cities are UPSC centres for the NDA?
UPSC's NDA (II) 2026 notice lists Gaya and Patna. The CDS (II) 2026 notice lists the same two. Check each new notice, because lists can change.
How far is Dehradun from Patna by road?
About 1,065 km, with a free-flowing drive estimate of 13.2 hours. Real journeys take longer.
Which Sainik Schools are in Bihar?
The Sainik Schools Society lists Sainik School Gopalganj and Sainik School Nalanda. Entry to Class VI or Class IX is through the AISSEE, conducted by NTA.
How many RIMC seats does Bihar have?
RIMC's admission page does not publish a Bihar figure. It says one vacancy per State is generally allotted, up to two for larger States, and that seats may vary every year.
Can a girl from Bihar live at the academy?
Yes. The academy has separate hostels for boys and girls, with a mess. Call or WhatsApp +91 70170 31757 to ask about a visit.
Sources
UPSC notices: NDA and NA (II) 2026 and CDS (II) 2026, dated 20 May 2026. RIMC: admission page. Sainik Schools Society: existing schools and new schools; each school’s state is taken from its own website. Partnership approvals: Ministry of Defence list of 23 schools, September 2023. Buses: UTC route list. Trains: erail.in, to be re-checked on IRCTC or NTES. Road distances and drive times: OSRM routing over OpenStreetMap, approximate. Regimental centre: Wikipedia page for the Bihar Regiment, as listed in our city research. Facts verified on 12 October 2026.
A Bihar student who has finished Class 12 can start with our NDA coaching in Dehradun, taught in classrooms at the academy; the fee structure page shows how fees are confirmed.
Admissions