Durga Puja 2026 is less than two weeks away, and if Kolkata is on your festive travel list, now is the time to plan. The main days of the festival fall between October 16 and October 20 this year, and the city has already started preparing, with Kolkata Metro adding extra weekend trains for the pre-Puja shopping rush. Here is a practical guide to help you plan your trip.
Durga Puja 2026 Dates
As per festival calendars published by PublicHolidays.in and travel portal Happyfares, these are the key dates:
- Mahalaya: Saturday, October 10
- Maha Shashthi: Friday, October 16
- Maha Saptami: Saturday, October 17
- Maha Ashtami: Sunday, October 18
- Maha Navami: Monday, October 19
- Vijaya Dashami: Tuesday, October 20
Happyfares notes that some Bengali calendars place Bijoya Dashami on October 21, so check with your hosts if you plan to watch the immersion rituals. Since Saptami and Ashtami fall on a weekend this year, expect the biggest crowds on those two days.
Why Kolkata’s Durga Puja Is Special
Kolkata’s Durga Puja was added to UNESCO’s Representative List of the Intangible Cultural Heritage of Humanity in December 2021. For five days, the city turns into an open-air art gallery, with community pandals built around themes, heritage pujas held in old family homes, food stalls on every corner and crowds out on the streets late into the night.
How To Reach And Get Around
- By air: Kolkata’s Netaji Subhas Chandra Bose International Airport is in Dum Dum. Happyfares advises leaving much more time than usual for airport runs during Puja week, especially around Dashami, and suggests taking the Metro to Dum Dum station and then a prepaid cab, which is more predictable than booking a cab all the way.
- By train: Howrah and Sealdah are the two main railway terminals, so book early as festive trains fill up fast.
- Metro: As reported by The Daily Jagran and UNI, Kolkata Metro is running extra services on the Blue, Green and Yellow lines on October 3, 4, 10 and 11. On Saturdays, the Blue Line goes up from 252 to 272 services and the Green Line from 212 to 236. First and last train timings stay the same.
How To Plan Your Pandal Hopping
The simplest way to see the city is to split it into zones and cover one zone per evening. Happyfares points out that realistically you can see four to six pandals in a night within one area, and trying to cross from north to south Kolkata in a single evening rarely works.
- North Kolkata: Known for heritage and community pujas. Well-known names include Bagbazar Sarbojanin by the Hooghly, Kumartuli Park in the idol-makers’ quarter and the old family pujas of Sovabazar Rajbari.
- Lake Town and VIP Road: Sreebhumi Sporting Club is one of the most crowded pandals every year, so go early.
- South Kolkata: Home to big theme pandals such as Ekdalia Evergreen, Deshapriya Park and Ballygunge Cultural Association.
Travel guides also suggest starting in the late afternoon to beat the longest queues, and fixing a meeting point with your group in advance, since mobile networks often slow down in packed areas.
Quick Tips Before You Go
- Book hotels and train or flight tickets now, as prices rise closer to the festival.
- Stay close to the zone you want to explore most, so you are not stuck paying late-night cab fares.
- Wear comfortable shoes. You will walk a lot.
- Carry an umbrella, as late-season showers are possible in October.
Plan well and Kolkata during Durga Puja is one of the best festival trips you can take in India.
FAQs
When is Durga Puja 2026 in Kolkata?
The main days run from Maha Shashthi on October 16 to Vijaya Dashami on October 20, 2026.
What is the best way to travel around Kolkata during Durga Puja?
The Metro is usually the fastest option. Cover one area per evening instead of crossing the city.
Is Kolkata’s Durga Puja a UNESCO heritage?
Yes. It was added to UNESCO’s Intangible Cultural Heritage list in December 2021.
