In Kolkata for Durga Puja 2026? Here is a detailed guide on the key pandals to visit, where to eat, local specialities, heritage houses, and more travel tips
As Bengalis say, “Dhakey kathi porechhe”, loosely meaning the dhaks (Bengal drums) have started beating—essentially signifying that Durga Puja is imminent. After all, it’s Maha Shashthi tomorrow, the first day of Durga Puja for all practical purposes, though the rituals begin a day later, on Maha Saptami.
The otherwise-sluggish Kolkata wakes up from year-round slumber to celebrate this festival with an unmatched gusto, pandals popping up around every nook and cranny, the music changing every few metres, the decorative lights dazzling, the aroma of mouth-watering food, mixed with the scent of incense and flowers, perpetually wafting in the air.
As crores of people descend on the streets—it is estimated that nearly 3 crore people visit the city’s pandals, while the state-wide estimate exceeds 4 crore—it’s easy to get lost trying to enjoy this humongous sensory experience and cultural marvel. So, here is a five-day guide to help you drop in at the most famous pandals of the city, have your meals at the best places the city has to offer, and know exactly what to do and where to be.
Also read: Kolkata Durga Puja 2026 top 10 theme pandals: Lotus, SP Mookerjee, Partition and more
So, gear up for a tour of Kolkata Durga Puja 2026.
Day 1. Maha Shashthi (October 16): Pandal-hopping in north-central Kolkata
Your Kolkata Durga Puja experience cannot be complete without pandal-hopping, but that can also be quite an intimidating exercise. The city is hosting a record 3,319 puja pandals this year, of which 247 have been marked as big-budget ones.
Unfortunately, getting into one of the “big” pandals essentially means jostling in serpentine queues with lakhs of fellow pandal-hoppers (which can be an interesting experience in itself), but if that does not sound like your cup of tea, we suggest you do the pandal hopping in the morning. However, that would mean missing out on the famed illumination done by Chandernagore craftsmen. So, another option is to go pandal-hopping overnight.
Do not worry about your safety because Kolkata does not sleep during Durga Puja. The pandals will be open, the cops will be out on the streets, Metro and public transport will run, and lakhs will give you company as you go around the city.
On Day 1, make a sweet beginning with a famous name, Ahiritola Sarbojanin. This year, they are showcasing Bengal’s rich cultural legacy, the mishti or sweets. Go a little further north to visit Kumartuli Park, which has chosen the Ganga as its theme this year and promises an immersive experience.
Next, go further north to visit Bagbazar Sarbojanin, which is famous for its traditional “sholar saaj” idol, and Jagat Mukherjee Park, which has chosen Pt Uday Shankar as its theme this year. While in this area, you can drop in at Sovabazar Rajbari, one of the most famous heritage houses of Kolkata.
Come slightly south from there to cover Kashi Bose Lane, Hatibagan Sarbojanin, Hatibagan Nabinpally, and Nalin Sarkar Street. Your next stop will be at Chaltabagan Lohapatty, a little further to the south. Chaltabagan, which picks some of the best themes, has chosen the Ramnami Samaj as its theme this year. If you want a taste of Kolkata’s famed mishti, do not forget to stop at the nearby Girish Chandra Dey & Nakur Chandra Nandy, an iconic mishti shop in north Kolkata.
Come further south to visit Chorbagan Sarbojin and then two of the biggies of central Kolkata, College Square and Md Ali Park. We suggest you visit College Square at night because its USP is its illumination and their reflection in the waterbody next to which the pandal is erected. Md Ali Park is only about 500 metres form there. End your pandal-hopping in this stretch with Santosh Mitra Square in Bowbazar, which has chosen “Vande Mataram” as its theme this year.
Also read: Durga Puja 2026: 10 fascinating facts about Bengal’s biggest festival
If you are doing this in the morning, it should be time for lunch by now. You will be spoilt for choice in this area. The nearby Chitpur area is famed for its Mughlai restaurants. If you are looking for a Bengali lunch, The Bhoj Company or Bhojohori Manna in BBD Bag area are good options. Kasturi on Marquis Street also serves Bengali food. Or, you can come further south to eat at one of the many restaurants on Park Street. But be prepared to queue up for a couple of hours!
And if you are doing this at night and wish for a midnight snack, trust us, you won’t have to look much beyond your nose for a chicken roll or fish fry!
The Chorbagan Sarbojanin Durgotsab Samity Durga Puja idol. PTI Photo
Day 2. Maha Saptami (October 17): Pandal-hopping in north and north-eastern Kolkata
Today, you can begin your pandal-hopping in the extreme north of Dum Dum area. Dum Dum Park itself has around five big pujas: Dum Dum Park Sarbojonin, Tarun Dal, Tarun Sangha, Bharat Chakra, and Jubak Brinda.
Come south from there and cover the Tala Barowari and Tala Prattay pujas in Belgachia area. Come further south to Ultadanga area and cover Telengabagan, Karbagan, Kabiraj Bagan, Gouribari, and Ultadanga Pallyshree pujas.
From there, go eastwards to Sreebhumi Sporting Club at Lake Town in the north-eastern flanks of the city. It is known for its drop-dead gorgeous decoration and idol every year. This time, they are replicating Jaipur’s Hawa Mahal and it should be a sight to behold.
There are three or four other big pandals in this zone, namely FD Block, AE Block, and New Town Sarbojonin. It should be lunchtime by now. City Centre 2 is close by and you can eat at one of its many restaurants.
Crowds throng the Thakurpukur SB Park Sarbojanin Durga Puja pandal themed on coal mines on Maha Panchami, in Kolkata, on Thursday. PTI Photo
Day 3. Maha Saptami (October 18): Visit Bonedi Barir Pujas
Yes! This year, Saptami is covering two days in Bengal, and so you have an extra day to enjoy Durga Puja in Kolkata!
Use this day to catch the traditional pujas and rituals at some of the heritage houses of Kolkata. Some of them have very interesting idols, with the Goddess’s lion looking like a horse at Pathuriaghata Khelat Ghosh’s house because the idol makers in those days had no idea what a lion looked like! They have continued with the tradition.
The Goddess’s images are also unique, with the Thanthania Dutta Bari idol having Durga seated on her husband Lord Shiva’s lap. Here, too, the ride is a horse.
Also read: How Tagores of Pathuriaghata, Kolkata, replaced ritualistic worship of Durga with cultural festival
There are many such interesting heritage house pujas, and you can cover Rani Rashmonir Bari in Janbazar, Bhowanipore Mallick Bari, Hatkhola Dutta Bari, Chhatubabu Latubabur Bari, Khelat Ghosher Bari, and Sabarna Roychowdhury Bari besides Sovabazar Rajbari. You can book a taxi and cover these using Google Maps.
Try to eat the puja bhog prasad at one of these places or one of the community pandals.
Day 4. Maha Ashtami (October 19): Pandal-hopping in south Kolkata
In the south, start with Alipore Sarbojoni, which has chosen the epic Ramayana as its theme this year. One of the most famous names in this area, Suruchi Sangha, in New Alipore is not too far, and that can be your next stop. Their theme this year is Lotus.
Come eastwards from there to Chetla Agrani Club, followed by Badamtala Ashar Sangha and 66 Pally near Rashbehari crossing. Most of these pujas have focused on the Goddess herself as their themes.
Move further south to cover Mudiali Club and Shib Mandir. The former has folklore as its theme while the latter has chosen Rajasthan’s folk festival Gangaur as its theme.
Return to Rashbehari Avenue to cover Deshapriya Park, Tridhara Sammilani, Ballygunge Cultural, Samaj Sebi Sangha, Ekdalia Evergreen, Singhi Park, and Bosepukur Sitala Mandir as you keep moving east. Ekdalia is replicating the Somnath temple this year, while Samaj Sebi is focusing on Bengal’s greatest matinee idol Uttam Kumar.
Have lunch at one of the many restaurants around Gariahat crossing (near Ekdalia and Singhi Park). 6 Ballygunge Place, Bhojohori Manna, and Kasturi restaurants are close by. To check out how Bengal’s iconic mishti has got a fusion twist, drop in at Balaram Mullick and Radharaman Mullick near the crossing.
After lunch, venture further south to visit Babubagan, Selimpur, and Jodhpur Park, and turn west to go all the way up to Naktala Udayan Sangha.
Pandal-hoppers throng the Tridhara Sammilani Durga Puja pandal on Maha Panchami in Kolkata, on Thursday. PTI Photo
Day 5. Maha Nabami (October 20): Visit Pujas around Kolkata
Still left with energy to go pandal-hopping? You can take a leisurely day today and soak in the festive spirit at one or two pandals instead of hopping between them. Maddox Square in south Kolkata is a famed hub of the young crowd where they just chill out.
Another option can be to venture towards the nearby districts to check out the serene village vibes of Durga Puja. Many house pujas observe interesting customs during Ashtami and Nabami and experiencing those can make your Nabami.
Day 6. Bijoya Dashami (October 21): Catch Sindoor Khela and head for the ghats
While the rest of India is observing Vijaya Dashami on October 20, Bengal is doing so a day later, on October 21. In the morning, catch the colourful sight of women smearing each other and the Goddess with sindoor (vermillion) at every puja pandal. In the evening, head for the Hooghly ghats to watch visarjan (immersion) rituals. Try to book a boat so that you can enjoy the rituals from the river itself. Many private operators conduct river tours.
Also read: Visiting Kolkata for Durga Puja? Try these 10 traditional dishes of Bengal
Where to stay
From basic stay around Rs 1,000 per night to ultra-luxury hotels upwards of Rs 50,000 per night, you will find all kinds of accommodation in Kolkata. Try to book your stay in central Kolkata — around Esplanade or Park Street — to minimize commuting time.
How to travel
You can book a cab for an entire day or night of pandal-hopping. You can also seek the services of private tour operators. However, parking is a huge issue during Durga Puja and parking spaces are usually arranged a mile from the big pandals. So, be prepared for long walks and also massive traffic jams.
Metro runs extra trains during Durga Puja and also operates extra hours. This year, it will run services from 1 pm to 4 am from October 17 to 20 on the main north-south Blue line. On October 16, trains will operate from 6 am to 11 pm. Other lines have different schedules (follow Kolkata Metro app).
Buses and autos are also available on key routes round the clock.