Ready-made routes

Durga Puja pandal-hopping routes

Seeing Durga Puja properly is a marathon, not a sprint. Pick a route in advance and spend the evening enjoying pandals instead of working out where to walk next.

There are 30 curated circuits, each with the station to start from, the metro nearby and where to leave early, plus 81 shorter neighbourhood loops of pandals close enough to walk between. Filter by area, and the routes visitors like most are listed first.

An illustrated map of Kolkata at dusk with four short dotted walking routes, each looping between a cluster of lit pandals, and Howrah Bridge over the Hooghly in the corner.
ready-made routes
111
curated circuits
30
pandal stops
809

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South Kolkata

Curated circuit

Dhakuria → Gariahat → Kalighat → New Alipore

The long South Kolkata day: the Dhakuria pujas by the station, then Gariahat and the Lakes, down through Kalighat and Chetla, ending at Suruchi Sangha in New Alipore.

Nearest stations:
Dhakuria station · Kalighat and Rabindra Sarobar metro
Start:
Dhakuria railway station
Finish:
New Alipore. A cab or auto back to Kalighat metro.
Leave early:
Gariahat after stop 8, Kalighat after stop 10, Rabindra Sarobar metro after stop 14.
19
Stops
10.5 km
On foot
8h 41m
Time
  1. Dhakuria
  2. 1Babubagan Sarbojonin
  3. 2Selimpur Pally
  4. 3Jodhpur Park Saradiya Utsab
  5. 495 Pally Jodhpur Park
  6. Gariahat
  7. 5Ekdalia Evergreen Club
  8. 6Singhi Park

South Kolkata

Curated circuit

Ballygunge → South Kolkata favourites → Behala edge

From the Gariahat side of Ballygunge station through the big Gariahat and Lake pujas, then Kalighat and Chetla, out to the Behala edge. The last two stops need a short ride.

Nearest stations:
Ballygunge station · Kalighat metro
Start:
Ballygunge railway station, Gariahat side
Finish:
Buroshibtala, near New Alipore. A cab or auto towards Taratala or Kalighat.
Leave early:
Rabindra Sarobar metro after stop 10. Stops 15 and 16 are optional.
16
Stops
8.6 km
On foot
7h 15m
Time
  1. Gariahat and the Lakes
  2. 1Ekdalia Evergreen Club
  3. 2Singhi Park
  4. 3Gariahat Hindusthan Club
  5. 4Hindustan Park Sarbojanin
  6. 5Tridhara Sammilani
  7. 6Deshapriya Park

North Kolkata

Curated circuit

Howrah arrival → Riverside North Kolkata → Hatibagan

The old riverside north on foot: Ahiritola, the Kumartuli idol-makers’ lanes, Bagbazar and Sovabazar, then Hatibagan and south to Simla. Haldar Bari (stop 6), Sovabazar Rajbari (stop 8) and the Chhatu Babu Latu Babu house (stop 18) are family pujas, so check their visiting hours.

Nearest stations:
Shobhabazar Sutanuti and Girish Park metro
Getting there:
From Howrah, take the metro to Esplanade, then the Blue Line to Shobhabazar Sutanuti, and walk to Ahiritola.
Start:
Ahiritola, near Shobhabazar Sutanuti metro
Finish:
Girish Park metro. Back to Howrah through Esplanade.
Leave early:
Shobhabazar after stop 8, Shyambazar after stop 14.
20
Stops
10.2 km
On foot
8h 57m
Time
  1. The riverside north
  2. 1Ahiritola Sarbojanin
  3. 2Hatkhola Gosaipara Sarbojonin Durgotsab
  4. 3Kumartuli Park
  5. 4Kumortuli Sarbojanin
  6. 5Bagbazar Sarbojanin
  7. 6Baghbazar Haldar Bari Puja

North Kolkata

Curated circuit

Dum Dum → Tala → Cossipore → Old North Kolkata

Starts at the big Tala pujas near Belgachia and takes in Cossipore first, then heads south through Bagbazar, Kumartuli and Sovabazar into Hatibagan, so you never walk back north.

Nearest stations:
Belgachia and Shobhabazar Sutanuti metro
Getting there:
From Dum Dum, take the Blue Line to Belgachia. Enter Tala Prattoy by the route its organisers allow.
Start:
Belgachia metro, for Tala Prattoy
Finish:
Shobhabazar Sutanuti metro.
Leave early:
Shobhabazar after stop 11.
18
Stops
9.8 km
On foot
8h 11m
Time
  1. Tala
  2. 1Tala Prottoye
  3. 2Tala Barowari
  4. 3Tala Palli Sadharan Durgotsab Samity
  5. On to Cossipore
  6. 4Cossipore Tarundal Durga Puja
  7. Bagbazar, Kumartuli and Sovabazar
  8. 5Bagbazar Sarbojanin
  9. 6Baghbazar Haldar Bari Puja

Central Kolkata

Curated circuit

Sealdah → Central Kolkata → Hatibagan → Sovabazar

From Sealdah through the crowd-pulling Central pujas, Santosh Mitra Square and College Square among them, then north past Thanthania and Simla into Hatibagan, finishing at Sovabazar.

Nearest stations:
Sealdah (Green Line) and Shyambazar metro
Start:
Sealdah railway station
Finish:
Shobhabazar Sutanuti or Shyambazar metro. Back to Sealdah through Esplanade.
Leave early:
MG Road metro after stop 3, Girish Park metro after stop 6.
16
Stops
9.3 km
On foot
7h 25m
Time
  1. Central Kolkata
  2. 1Santosh Mitra Square
  3. 2College Square
  4. 3Mohammad Ali Park
  5. 4Thanthania Dutta Bari
  6. 5Chorebagan Sarbojanin
  7. 6Simla Byayam Samity

North & South

Curated circuit

Esplanade → North and South highlights

Both halves of the city in one day: eight North Kolkata favourites, a Blue Line ride from Girish Park to Kalighat, then eight in the south. Expect more travelling than on a single-area route.

Nearest stations:
Shyambazar and Kalighat metro
Getting there:
From Esplanade, take the Blue Line to Shyambazar.
Start:
Shyambazar metro
Finish:
Kalighat metro, a short ride from Chetla.
Leave early:
Girish Park metro after stop 8, Kalighat after stop 12.
16
Stops
16.3 km
Between stops
Metro + walk
Getting around
  1. North Kolkata
  2. 1Bagbazar Sarbojanin
  3. 2Kumortuli Sarbojanin
  4. 3Kumartuli Park
  5. 4Ahiritola Sarbojanin
  6. 5Sovabazar Rajbari (Boro Taraf)
  7. 6Hatibagan Sarbojanin

North Kolkata

Curated circuit

Bidhannagar Road → Ultadanga → Hatibagan → Maniktala

In from the east at Bidhannagar Road station, through the Ultadanga pujas into Hatibagan, then south into Maniktala, ending at Simla.

Nearest stations:
Bidhannagar Road station and Girish Park metro
Start:
Bidhannagar Road railway station
Finish:
Girish Park metro.
Leave early:
Shyambazar after stop 8. A short ride can replace the last stretch west to Simla.
15
Stops
7.4 km
On foot
6h 40m
Time
  1. Ultadanga
  2. 1Telengabagan Sarbojanin
  3. 2Ultandanga Pallysree
  4. 3Karbagan Sarbojanin Durgotsab Committee
  5. 4Gauri Bari Sarbojanin Durga Puja Pandal
  6. West into Hatibagan
  7. 5Nalin Sarkar Street
  8. 6North Tridhara

South Kolkata

Curated circuit

Ballygunge–Gariahat favourites

A short walk through six of the best-loved Gariahat and Lake pujas, without the long western stretch.

Nearest stations:
Ballygunge station and Kalighat metro
Start:
Ballygunge railway station
Finish:
Kalighat metro or back to Ballygunge station, by cab or auto.
Leave early:
Gariahat crossing.
6
Stops
2.2 km
On foot
2h 30m
Time
  1. 1Ekdalia Evergreen Club
  2. 2Singhi Park
  3. 3Gariahat Hindusthan Club
  4. 4Hindustan Park Sarbojanin
  5. 5Ballygunge Cultural Association
  6. 6Samaj Sebi Sangha

South Kolkata

Curated circuit

Kalighat–Chetla–New Alipore

The theme pujas of Kalighat’s lanes and Chetla, with a short ride to Suruchi Sangha in New Alipore at the end.

Nearest stations:
Kalighat and Taratala metro
Start:
Kalighat metro
Finish:
New Alipore. A cab or auto back to Kalighat.
Leave early:
For a shorter evening, finish at Chetla Agrani Club (stop 4).
5
Stops
2.5 km
On foot
2h 14m
Time
  1. Kalighat and Chetla
  2. 1Badamtala Ashar Sangha
  3. 266 Pally Durgapuja Pandal
  4. 3Kalighat Nepal Bhattacharjee St Club
  5. 4Chetla Agrani Club
  6. A short ride to New Alipore
  7. 5Suruchi Sangha

South Kolkata

Curated circuit

Mudiali–Shibmandir

Two well-known neighbours by the Lakes, a short walk from Rabindra Sarobar metro. Small on purpose.

Nearest stations:
Rabindra Sarobar metro (Blue Line)
Start:
Rabindra Sarobar metro
Finish:
Rabindra Sarobar metro.
2
Stops
0.3 km
On foot
43m
Time
  1. 1Mudiali Club
  2. 2Shibmandir

South Kolkata

Curated circuit

Santoshpur neighbourhood circuit

A neighbourhood circuit around the Santoshpur lakes. The pujas are a short ride from Jadavpur station, not right outside it.

Nearest stations:
Jadavpur station
Getting there:
From Jadavpur station, take a cab or auto east to Santoshpur.
Start:
Jadavpur railway station
Finish:
A cab or auto back to Jadavpur station.
Leave early:
Santoshpur Lake.
5
Stops
1.1 km
On foot
1h 55m
Time
  1. 1Santoshpur Rishi Aurobindo Durga Puja Pandal
  2. 2Santoshpur Trikon Park Durgotsab
  3. 3Santoshpur Avenue South Durga Puja Pandal
  4. 4Santoshpur Lake Pally
  5. 5Santoshpur Adi Sarbojanin Durgotsab

South Kolkata

Curated circuit

Haridevpur

Six Haridevpur pujas known for their art-led themes, a short ride from Netaji metro.

Nearest stations:
Netaji (Kudghat) metro
Getting there:
From Netaji (Kudghat) metro, take a cab or auto to 41 Pally.
Start:
Near Netaji (Kudghat) metro
Finish:
A cab or auto back to Netaji metro.
Leave early:
Haridevpur 41 Pally crossing.
6
Stops
1.7 km
On foot
2h 23m
Time
  1. 141 Pally Durga Puja, Haridevpur
  2. 2Ajeyo Sanhati
  3. 3Haridevpur New Sporting Club
  4. 4Haridevpur Apanjan Club
  5. 5Haridevpur Adarsha Samity
  6. 6Vivekananda Sporting Club Haridevpur

South Kolkata

Curated circuit

Behala town circuit

Behala’s community pujas around the tram depot, plus Sonar Durga Bari, a family puja whose visiting hours are worth checking first.

Nearest stations:
Behala Bazar metro (Purple Line)
Start:
Behala Bazar metro or the Behala tram depot
Finish:
Behala Bazar.
Leave early:
Behala tram depot.
6
Stops
2 km
On foot
2h 27m
Time
  1. 1Behala Friends
  2. 2Behala Notun Dal
  3. 3Behala Mitra Sangha
  4. 4Behala 11 Pally Sarodatsab Samity
  5. 5Sonar Durga Bari (Behala)
  6. 6Behala Club Sarbojanin Durgotsav Committee

South Kolkata

Curated circuit

Barisha–Sakher Bazar

The Barisha and Sakher Bazar pujas near Behala Chowrasta. Walk within each cluster and take a short ride across the longer gap.

Nearest stations:
Behala Chowrasta metro (Purple Line)
Start:
Behala Chowrasta metro
Finish:
Sakher Bazar or Barisha. A cab or auto back to Behala Chowrasta metro.
Leave early:
Barisha Club crossing.
5
Stops
3.2 km
On foot
2h 23m
Time
  1. 1Barisha Yubak Brinda
  2. 2Barisha Tarun Tirtha
  3. 3Barisha Club
  4. 4Barisha Sarbojanin Durgotsab
  5. 5Barisha Youth Club

North Kolkata

Curated circuit

Lake Town–Sreebhumi–Dum Dum Park

The big Lake Town and Sreebhumi pujas, then a ride north to the four Dum Dum Park pujas. Dum Dum Park is a neighbourhood of its own, not next to Dum Dum station.

Nearest stations:
Bidhannagar Road station and Dum Dum metro
Getting there:
From Bidhannagar Road station, take a cab or auto to Lake Town.
Start:
Lake Town
Finish:
Jessore Road side. A cab or auto to Dum Dum station.
Leave early:
Sreebhumi, at the VIP Road junction.
6
Stops
4.1 km
Between stops
Walk + rides
Getting around
  1. Lake Town and Sreebhumi
  2. 1Lake Town Adhibasi Brinda
  3. 2Sreebhumi Sporting Club
  4. A ride north to Dum Dum Park
  5. 3Dum Dum Park Yubak Brinda
  6. 4Dum Dum Park Sarbojonin
  7. 5Dum Dum Park Bharat Chakra
  8. 6Dum Dum Park Tarun Sangha

North Kolkata

Curated circuit

Dum Dum arrival → Nagerbazar–Dum Dum Park

Straight from Dum Dum station to Nagerbazar, then a short hop into the Dum Dum Park pujas.

Nearest stations:
Dum Dum metro and Bidhannagar Road station
Getting there:
From Dum Dum station, take a cab or auto towards Nagerbazar.
Start:
Dum Dum railway and metro station
Finish:
VIP Road side. A cab or auto to Bidhannagar Road or Dum Dum.
Leave early:
Dum Dum Park crossing.
5
Stops
3.2 km
Between stops
Walk + rides
Getting around
  1. Nagerbazar
  2. 1Nagerbazar Sarbojanin
  3. A short hop into Dum Dum Park
  4. 2Dum Dum Park Tarun Sangha
  5. 3Dum Dum Park Bharat Chakra
  6. 4Dum Dum Park Sarbojonin
  7. 5Dum Dum Park Yubak Brinda

North Kolkata

Curated circuit

Baranagar–Netaji Colony–Noapara

Baranagar’s neighbourhood pujas between two metro stations, mixing walks with short rides. Netaji Colony Highland and the Lowland puja are two separate stops.

Nearest stations:
Baranagar and Noapara metro
Getting there:
From Baranagar metro, take a cab or auto towards Nainan Para.
Start:
Baranagar metro
Finish:
A cab or auto to Noapara metro.
Leave early:
Sinthi More.
5
Stops
2.4 km
On foot
2h 12m
Time
  1. Baranagar to Sinthi
  2. 1Baranagar Friend's Association Durga Puja
  3. 2Deshapriyanagar Sadharan Durgotsab (Sinthi More)
  4. Highland, Lowland and Noapara
  5. 3Baranagar Netaji Colony Sarbojanin Durga Puja Highland
  6. 4Durga Bhavan (Baranagar Lowland Durga Puja)
  7. 5Nawpara Dadabhai Sangha

North Kolkata

Curated circuit

Sovabazar–Kumartuli–Ahiritola

Sovabazar Rajbari, then the Kumartuli idol-makers’ lanes and the riverside pujas of Ahiritola and Nimtala. The Rajbari is a family puja, so check its visiting hours.

Nearest stations:
Shobhabazar Sutanuti and Girish Park metro
Start:
Shobhabazar Sutanuti metro
Finish:
On to Girish Park metro, or back to Shobhabazar.
Leave early:
Ahiritola ghat.
5
Stops
2.8 km
On foot
2h 17m
Time
  1. 1Sovabazar Rajbari (Boro Taraf)
  2. 2Kumartuli Park
  3. 3Hatkhola Gosaipara Sarbojonin Durgotsab
  4. 4Ahiritola Sarbojanin
  5. 5Nimtala Sarbojanin Durga Puja

Central Kolkata

Curated circuit

Central Kolkata big three

Three of the most crowded pujas in the city. Only three stops, but the queues at College Square and Santosh Mitra Square can run long at peak hours.

Nearest stations:
MG Road metro and Sealdah
Start:
MG Road metro
Finish:
Sealdah railway or metro station.
Leave early:
College Street.
3
Stops
1.5 km
On foot
1h 20m
Time
  1. 1Mohammad Ali Park
  2. 2College Square
  3. 3Santosh Mitra Square

Central Kolkata

Curated circuit

Girish Park–Maniktala

From Girish Park through Chorebagan and Simla into Maniktala and Lalabagan, without taking on the whole Hatibagan circuit.

Nearest stations:
Girish Park and Central metro
Start:
Girish Park metro
Finish:
Maniktala. A cab or auto to Girish Park or Sealdah.
Leave early:
Hedua Park.
6
Stops
3.2 km
On foot
2h 42m
Time
  1. 1Chorebagan Sarbojanin
  2. 2Simla Byayam Samity
  3. 3Manicktala Chaltabagan Lohapatty
  4. 4Brindaban Matrimandir
  5. 5Lalabagan Sarbojanin Durgotsab Samity
  6. 6Lalabagan Yubakbrinda Nabankur Sangha

Bonedi Heritage

Curated circuit

Central–Jorasanko bonedi trail

The old merchant families’ pujas in the lanes between Central and Girish Park: thakur dalans, chandeliers and rituals kept for generations. These are private homes, so confirm each one’s visiting days first.

Nearest stations:
Central and Girish Park metro
Start:
Central metro
Finish:
Girish Park metro.
Leave early:
Muktaram Babu Street.
6
Stops
1.8 km
On foot
2h 24m
Time
  1. 1Badan Chand Roy Rajbari
  2. 2Thanthania Dutta Bari
  3. 3Chorbagan Chatterjee Bari
  4. 4Chorbagan Mitra Bari
  5. 5Jorasanko Daw Bari
  6. 6N C Daw (Bandukbari)

Bonedi Heritage

Curated circuit

Bagbazar–Sovabazar bonedi trail

The family pujas of Bagbazar, Sovabazar and Jorasanko, from Haldar Bari to the Daw houses. These are private homes, so confirm visiting days before you set out.

Nearest stations:
Shyambazar and Girish Park metro
Start:
Shyambazar metro
Finish:
Girish Park metro.
Leave early:
Beadon Street.
6
Stops
3.2 km
On foot
2h 43m
Time
  1. 1Baghbazar Haldar Bari Puja
  2. 2Sovabazar Rajbari (Boro Taraf)
  3. 3Darjipara Mitra Bari
  4. 4Chhatu Babu Latu Babu Dutta Bari
  5. 5N C Daw (Bandukbari)
  6. 6Jorasanko Daw Bari

Howrah

Curated circuit

Howrah arrival → Salkia circuit

Salkia’s community pujas on the Howrah side, for an evening of pujas without crossing the river.

Nearest stations:
Howrah station (Green Line)
Getting there:
From Howrah station, take a cab or auto to Salkia.
Start:
Howrah railway station
Finish:
Salkia. A cab or auto back to Howrah station.
Leave early:
Salkia Chowrasta.
6
Stops
1.9 km
On foot
2h 25m
Time
  1. 1Salkia Chatra Bayam Samity (Shishu Udyan)
  2. 2Salkia Alapani
  3. 3Salkia Sangha Shree Maidan
  4. 4Salkia Sadharan Durga Puja (Jatadhari Park)
  5. 5Salkia Bharat Sangha
  6. 6Salkia Santi Sangha

Salt Lake & East

Curated circuit

Salt Lake block-puja circuit

Salt Lake’s block pujas, roomier and calmer than the city centre. Walk where the blocks are close and take short rides between the rest.

Nearest stations:
Central Park and Karunamoyee metro (Green Line)
Getting there:
From Central Park metro, a short ride to FD Block.
Start:
Central Park metro
Finish:
A cab or auto to Karunamoyee metro.
Leave early:
City Centre 1.
5
Stops
5.5 km
Between stops
Walk + rides
Getting around
  1. 1FD Block, Salt Lake
  2. 2CF Block Residents' Association Durga Puja Pandal
  3. 3BH Block Durga Puja
  4. 4BJ Block, Salt Lake
  5. 5AK Block Association Salt Lake

From a blank evening to a plan

How to plan your pandal hopping.

Five steps that turn a long wish list into a route you can actually walk.

  1. 01

    Pick an area

    Keep the evening compact. A route inside one neighbourhood beats crossing the city twice.

  2. 02

    Choose your pandals

    Mix the big theme pujas with the older community ones. Add them from the map as you browse.

  3. 03

    Check what is around

    See the nearest metro station and the walk from it, plus toilets along the way.

  4. 04

    Order the stops

    Let the planner sort them so you walk the shortest sensible line rather than doubling back.

  5. 05

    Follow it on the night

    Open the navigator, tick pandals off as you go, and see live crowd reports before you join a queue.