Visiting Kolkata for Durga Puja 2026: a traveller's guide

The short answer: come for Shashthi to Navami (Saturday 17 to Tuesday 20 October 2026), stay near a Metro station, book early, and plan your days around the crowds rather than against them. Durga Puja turns Kolkata into one of the world.s great open-air art festivals: thousands of pandals, music from every lane, food stalls till dawn and families out all night. It is also hot, humid and packed. This guide covers the practical side of a trip; for the street-level tactics of seeing pandals, read our pandal hopping tips.

When to come

The festival builds over about two weeks.

If you have only three days, take Saptami to Navami. If you can come a day or two before Shashthi, you will see many famous pandals with far fewer people. Staying for Bijoya Dashami shows you the emotional farewell, though some pandals start immersions that day and others continue over the following days; check locally. Our 2026 dates page has the full calendar.

Getting there

• By air. Kolkata's airport is Netaji Subhas Chandra Bose International Airport, in the north-east of the city near Dum Dum. It has domestic and international flights. From the airport, app cabs, prepaid taxis and the Metro network serve the city; check current Metro connections and the traffic situation before you leave, as roads near pandals can be slow in the evenings.
• By train. Long-distance trains arrive at Howrah (across the Hooghly river, the city's biggest station) and Sealdah (on the Kolkata side, nearer north and central Kolkata). Some trains also use Kolkata station at Chitpur, and Santragachi in Howrah. Puja-week trains sell out early; book as soon as reservations open.
• By road. Buses and cars arrive from across West Bengal and neighbouring states; parking near pandals is hard, so see our parking guide.

Where to stay

Book early. Puja week is peak season, and hotels and guest houses near the popular areas fill quickly. Whatever you choose, the single most useful thing is a short walk to a Metro station.

• North and central Kolkata (Shyambazar, Sovabazar, College Street, Sealdah, Esplanade, Park Street). Best for the heritage pujas of north Kolkata, the idol-makers of Kumartuli, the old family pujas and the giant theme pandals of central Kolkata. Lanes are narrow and busy; rooms range from old hotels to budget lodges.
• South Kolkata (Kalighat, Bhowanipore, Rashbehari, Gariahat, Ballygunge, Tollygunge). Home to the classic neighbourhood heavyweights of Lake Market, Gariahat and Bhowanipore. Good food, plenty of Metro stations on the north–south line, and easy evening walking loops.
• Salt Lake and New Town. Newer, quieter, with wider roads, business hotels and easier access to the airport. Salt Lake has its own block pujas and Lake Town is close by, but reaching north or south Kolkata takes longer. A good choice for families or anyone who wants to sleep.
• Howrah. Handy if you arrive by train, with its own pujas, and connected to central Kolkata by Metro and ferry.

Getting around

• Metro. The fastest way across the city during the pujas. The original north–south line links north Kolkata (Dakshineswar, Shyambazar, Sovabazar) with central (MG Road, Central, Esplanade) and south Kolkata (Kalighat, Rabindra Sarobar, Tollygunge). The East–West line links Howrah station with Esplanade, Sealdah and Salt Lake. Services often run extended hours during the pujas; check the announced puja-time schedule, and expect crowded platforms in the evening.
• App cabs. Widely available, but surge pricing and closed roads are common at peak hours. Set your drop point a few minutes' walk from the pandal, not at its gate.
• Autos and yellow taxis. Shared autos run fixed routes and are handy for short hops; ask locals for the right stand. Agree on taxi fares or confirm the meter before you set off.
• Walking. Many of the best clusters are walkable, and roads near big pandals are often closed to traffic in the evenings. Expect to walk several kilometres a night.
• Ferries. River ferries connect Howrah with ghats on the Kolkata side and make a pleasant break from the roads.

October weather

Durga Puja falls as the monsoon is retreating. Days are usually warm and humid, nights a little more comfortable, and short showers are possible; in some years heavy rain disrupts a puja day. Dress in light, breathable fabrics, carry a small umbrella or rain jacket, and drink more water than you think you need. Our guide to what to wear for Durga Puja has fabric tips.

Also readPandal hopping in Kolkata

Money

• UPI is used almost everywhere: food stalls, small shops, autos and cabs.
• Carry cash in small notes as well. Mobile networks get congested in big crowds, and some stalls and pandal donation counters prefer cash.
• International visitors without an Indian bank account may not be able to use UPI in the usual way; carry cash and a card, and use ATMs inside banks or malls during the day, as street ATMs near pandals can run out or have queues.
• Prices for food, cabs and hotels change from year to year; we don't list them. Check current rates locally.

Safety and crowds

• Keep your phone, wallet and documents in front pockets or a zipped cross-body bag.
• Agree a meeting point at every pandal, and share live location with your group.
• Follow one-way queues and barricades. Kolkata Police and pandal committees set up help desks near major pujas for lost people, lost property and first aid.
• India's national emergency number is 112.
• Avoid the most famous pandals between about 7 pm and midnight on Saptami, Ashtami and Navami unless you are ready for long queues. Early mornings and late nights are much calmer.
• Travelling with children or older relatives? See Durga Puja with kids and elderly visitors.

A 3-day sample itinerary

This plan uses the ready-made trails in our free Kolkata guide; each trail page has the route, the nearest Metro stations, food stops and live crowd check-ins.

Day 1, Saptami (Sunday 18 October): central blockbusters at dawn. Set an alarm. The Central Blockbusters at Dawn trail starts around 5:30 am and covers the giant theme pandals of central Kolkata, such as Md. Ali Park and College Square, before the queues form; by about 9 am you are done. If you would rather see the kola bou (banana-plant bride) bathed at a Ganga ghat, which also happens at dawn on Saptami, do that instead and save the trail for another early morning; see Kola Bou. Rest through the hot afternoon, then spend the evening on College Street's book-lined lanes and the food stalls around Sealdah.

Day 2, Maha Ashtami (Monday 19 October): north Kolkata heritage. Follow the North Kolkata Heritage Trail from about 7 am through Ahiritola and Kumartuli, Kumartuli Park, Bagbazar and old family pujas such as Sovabazar Rajbari. Read about bonedi bari pujas first. Ashtami morning is the time for pushpanjali, the flower offering, so stop and join one along the way if you wish, and stay for the bhog if it is offered to visitors. Sleep in the afternoon, then catch Sandhi Puja at a puja near your hotel; its timing depends on the panjika, so check locally.

Day 3, Maha Navami (Tuesday 20 October): the south Kolkata classics. Follow the South Heavyweights trail through Lake Market, Gariahat and Ballygunge, including pujas such as Chetla Agrani, Deshapriya Park, Maddox Square, Ekdalia Evergreen and Singhi Park. The trail starts at about 2 pm; pace yourself, eat along the way, and stay out late: after about 1 am the queues thin and the city is still awake. Watch for dhunuchi naach at the evening aarti.

Optional Day 4, Bijoya Dashami (Wednesday 21 October). Watch sindoor khela at a neighbourhood or family puja (ask before joining), then see immersion processions heading to the ghats. Learn the greetings in our Bijoya Dashami wishes.

Packing checklist

• Light cotton or linen clothes for the day, one festive outfit per evening
• Comfortable, broken-in walking shoes or sandals that are easy to slip off
• Small umbrella or packable rain jacket
• Refillable water bottle
• Phone, charger and a fully charged power bank
• Some cash in small notes, plus a card
• Photo ID and a printed or offline copy of bookings
• Zipped cross-body bag or money belt
• Personal medicines, plus oral rehydration salts
• Hand sanitiser, tissues and wet wipes
• Earplugs, for sleeping near a loud pandal
• Dupatta or scarf for covering your head at family pujas, if you wish
• Contact cards with your phone number for children in the group
• Offline map and the Pujo Parikrama guide bookmarked

Before you go

Skim the glossary so you recognise protima, bhog and anjali, and keep our Durga Puja FAQ handy. Then let the dhak guide you.