Durga Puja transforms Kolkata into one of India's most exciting destinations for culture, community celebrations, artistic pandals and traditional worship. But with hundreds of pujas spread across different neighbourhoods, deciding where to go—and how to travel between them—can be challenging.
For visitors planning their Durga Puja trip in 2026, The Pujo's Durga Puja Pandal Directory offers a convenient starting point. Its published list includes 306 pujas across Kolkata and Howrah, organised by region and neighbourhood. Visitors can also explore the related Pujo Map to locate pandals and check nearby metro stations and directions.
This guide explains how to use the directory, which areas to explore, how to combine nearby pandals into a sensible route, and what to check before leaving home.
What Is The Pujo Durga Puja Pandal Directory?
The Pujo directory is an online listing designed to help people discover Durga Puja celebrations across Kolkata and Howrah. Instead of searching for each pandal separately, visitors can begin with a region or neighbourhood and then explore individual entries.
The directory separates community pujas from a dedicated section for Bonedi Barir Pujo, or traditional family-house pujas. The related map provides a city-wide view of listed pujas, while the website also links to pandal-hopping routes and metro-route information.
Start here: Browse the full Durga Puja pandal directory.
How Many Durga Puja Pandals Are Listed for 2026?
The Pujo directory currently lists 306 pujas across five main regions. Its published regional breakdown is:
| Region | Listed pujas | What visitors can explore |
|---|---|---|
| North Kolkata | 91 | Heritage neighbourhoods, traditional community pujas and well-known pandals |
| South Kolkata | 140 | Theme-based pandals and busy pandal-hopping areas |
| Bonedi Barir Pujo | 18 | Traditional Durga Puja celebrations in historic family homes |
| Salt Lake | 50 | Block-based community celebrations across Salt Lake and nearby areas |
| Howrah | 7 | Pujas across Howrah, including locations around Belur and Andul |
The regional figures add up to 306. These numbers represent the entries published by The Pujo, rather than a claim that the directory contains every Durga Puja in the wider metropolitan region.
North Kolkata: Explore Heritage and Traditional Puja Culture
North Kolkata is a strong starting point for visitors interested in the city's older neighbourhoods, established community celebrations and traditional Puja atmosphere. The directory groups its North Kolkata listings into areas such as Bagbazar and Shyambazar, Kumartuli and Ahiritola, Jorabagan and Pathuriaghata, Hatibagan and Beadon Street, Manicktala and Ultadanga, Tala and Belgachia, Dum Dum and Lake Town, College Street and Sealdah, and Beliaghata and Kankurgachi.
Some well-known names appearing in The Pujo's wider guide include Bagbazar Sarbojanin Durgotsab, Kumartuli Park Sarbojanin, Kumartuli Sarbojanin, Ahiritola Sarbojanin, College Square Sarbojanin and Santosh Mitra Square.
North Kolkata can be particularly appealing to visitors who want to combine pandal visits with walks through historic streets and the traditional cultural atmosphere of the city. However, walking distances, crowd levels and access conditions can change during the festival.
Planning tip: Select a few nearby entries first rather than trying to visit every listed pandal. Use the directory and map to check their locations before deciding on your route.
Explore North Kolkata pandals in The Pujo directory.
South Kolkata: A Major Destination for Theme Pandal Hopping
The Pujo lists 140 pujas under South Kolkata, making it the largest of its five regional groups. Its neighbourhood categories include Bhowanipore and Hazra, Ballygunge and Park Circus, Kalighat and Rashbehari, Gariahat and Dhakuria, Tollygunge and New Alipore, Garia and Naktala, Kasba and Santoshpur, Behala and Barisha, and Khidirpur.
Visitors looking for popular names can investigate entries such as Deshapriya Park, Tridhara Sammilani, Chetla Agrani Club, Suruchi Sangha, Ekdalia Evergreen Club, Badamtala Ashar Sangha and 66 Pally. Their inclusion in a directory does not mean that every venue will have the same theme, crowd level or access arrangements in 2026; check current information before travelling.
South Kolkata covers a broad area. A route that looks short on a map can take longer during peak Puja hours because of queues, diversions and pedestrian congestion.
Planning tip: Choose one cluster—such as Kalighat and Rashbehari, Gariahat and Dhakuria, or Behala and Barisha—and build your visit around nearby pandals instead of crossing the city repeatedly.
Browse the South Kolkata pandal list.
Bonedi Barir Pujo: Discover Traditional Family Celebrations
Durga Puja in Kolkata is not limited to large community pandals. Traditional family-house celebrations, commonly called Bonedi Barir Pujo, form another important part of the city's festive heritage.
The Pujo maintains a separate section listing 18 such pujas. Its guide describes these family celebrations as taking place in old mansions, including some with histories extending back more than 200 years, and recommends morning visits for people interested in the rituals.
Family pujas may have different visiting arrangements from public community pandals. Respect household rules, photography restrictions and any limits on visitor access. Do not assume that a listing guarantees unrestricted entry.
Best approach: Check the individual listing and any current visitor guidance before travelling, particularly if you are planning to visit a family home for a specific ritual.
Salt Lake: Explore Block-Based Puja Celebrations
The directory lists 50 pujas under Salt Lake, grouped across Salt Lake Sector I, Sector II, Sector III and the New Town and Baguiati area, with a separate category connecting Dum Dum and Lake Town.
Block-based pujas can be useful for visitors who want to explore a particular part of Salt Lake without planning a long journey through central or southern Kolkata. The related Pujo Map helps visitors check where individual listings are located.
Planning tip: Use the directory to shortlist nearby blocks and verify your transport options before starting. Do not assume that every listed location is within a short walk of the same metro station.
Howrah: Add Pujas Across the River to Your Itinerary
The Pujo's 2026 directory includes seven listings under Howrah. Its regional guide highlights areas around Belur, Bally, Shibpur and Andul, with references to places such as Belur Math's Kumari Puja and Andul Rajbari.
Howrah can be a useful addition for visitors who have already explored central Kolkata or who want to include traditional celebrations beyond the main city clusters. Travel time will depend on the starting point, transport availability, river crossings where relevant and festival traffic.
Before visiting a specific venue, check its current programme, access arrangements and directions. Ritual timings and visitor access can differ between locations.
How to Use The Pujo Map to Find Pandals
The Pujo Map provides a map-based view of the directory's listed locations. Its website says visitors can select a pin to view a puja, find the nearest metro and access directions. The map also provides a searchable list and options for viewing pujas by region or area.
- Open the map: Visit thepujo.com/map.
- Search for a name or area: Enter a puja name or neighbourhood in the search field.
- Choose your region: Browse the available listings for North Kolkata, South Kolkata, Bonedi Barir Pujo, Salt Lake or Howrah.
- Check the location: Open an entry and review the available location and nearest-metro information.
- Plan your journey: Use the available map and direction links to work out how to reach the selected pandal.
- Verify before leaving: Check current transport, road-diversion and venue information, as arrangements can change during Puja.
The map is a planning tool, not a guarantee of real-time crowd conditions, unrestricted access or a particular journey time.
Metro Routes and Pandal-Hopping Routes: Why They Matter
Choosing the right route can make a significant difference to your Puja experience. Travelling between distant areas without a plan can consume valuable time, especially when roads are crowded and pedestrian queues are long.
The Pujo website links to a set of pandal-hopping routes and a metro-route guide showing the nearest metro to listed pandals. These features can help visitors organise their shortlist around a starting point or transport connection.
Use the following planning method:
- Choose one region for the main part of your outing.
- Shortlist nearby pandals using the directory.
- Check each location and its nearest metro information.
- Arrange the stops in a practical order using a map.
- Leave time for queues, food, rest and unexpected diversions.
- Check transport services and local advisories on the day.
Visit The Pujo website for route-planning tools.
When Is Durga Puja 2026 in Kolkata?
The Pujo's 2026 guide lists the main festival period as Saturday, 17 October, to Wednesday, 21 October. The website also identifies Mahalaya as 10 October 2026.
Festival dates alone do not tell you when a particular pandal will be least crowded or when a specific ritual will take place. If you are planning around aarti, bhog, cultural performances or family rituals, confirm the schedule with the relevant organiser or venue.
For a visit planned on a particular day, check the latest travel and access information instead of relying entirely on an old route or timetable.
Practical Tips for Safer Pandal Hopping
- Start with a realistic shortlist: A few well-chosen stops can be more enjoyable than attempting to cover too many distant locations.
- Expect delays: Queues, road restrictions and crowded walkways can affect journey times.
- Keep your phone charged: Save important addresses and your route in case mobile data becomes unreliable.
- Agree on a meeting point: If you are travelling with friends or children, choose a clear meeting location in case you become separated.
- Respect local instructions: Follow barricades, queue arrangements, police directions and venue-specific rules.
- Check accessibility: If travelling with older people, children or anyone with mobility needs, verify walking distances, steps and available facilities before visiting.
- Keep emergency information available: The Pujo directory displays 112 as an emergency number. Follow the latest official local instructions if an emergency occurs.
Is The Pujo Directory Worth Using?
The directory is particularly useful if you want to begin planning in one place rather than assembling a list of pandals from separate sources. Its main advantages are regional organisation, neighbourhood groupings, a dedicated section for Bonedi Barir Pujo, and links to a map and route-planning tools.
However, a directory listing should be treated as a starting point. It does not by itself confirm a pandal's current opening arrangements, exact crowd level, accessibility, live transport conditions or whether a listed location has changed. Check the relevant entry and current local information before setting out.
How to Get the Most from the Directory
If you are visiting Kolkata for the first time, begin by choosing between North Kolkata's heritage-focused neighbourhoods, South Kolkata's major theme-pandal areas, Salt Lake's block celebrations, Howrah's listings or traditional family-house pujas.
If you already know which pandals you want to see, search for their names, compare their locations and group nearby stops into a manageable itinerary. Use the map and metro-route links to reduce unnecessary travel, then verify your route on the day.
Explore the directory: The Pujo — Kolkata and Howrah Durga Puja Pandal List 2026.
Conclusion
Kolkata's Durga Puja experience is shaped by more than famous pandals. Neighbourhood traditions, family-house rituals, local craftsmanship and the atmosphere of the streets all contribute to the festival. A well-organised route can help visitors experience more of this diversity without spending the entire evening travelling between distant locations.
The Pujo directory provides a practical starting point, with 306 listed pujas across five regions and neighbourhood-wise browsing. Use it alongside the map, route-planning tools and current local information to build a realistic pandal-hopping plan for Durga Puja 2026.
Editorial note: Listing counts, regional categories and festival dates in this guide are based on The Pujo's published pages accessed on 15 October 2026. Check the linked directory for updates before travelling.