September 27, 2025

This Pujo, Kolkata is not just a city sparkling with lights; it is a vibrant festival playground waiting for you to dive in! Imagine strolling through historic streets, hopping from magnificent heritage homes to dazzling pandals, tasting mouth-watering street food, and soaking up stories passed down through generations. Whether you are a photography lover, history buff, or just eager to explore like a local, curated pandal hopping tours await you with open arms. So charge your cameras, lace up your shoes, and get ready for a colorful Pujo adventure! A glimpse of Dum Dum Park’s Bharat Chakra dazzled many this year (Pic: Anindya Saha). The walking tours truly let you feel the festive magic breathing all around. Bindu MS, director and operations head of Break Away, shares, “Our walks mix short strolls and car travel, giving guests time to enjoy at a relaxed pace.” Soham Chakrabarty, founder of Calcutta Capsule Walking Tours, adds, “Small groups let participants absorb stories, art & traditions intimately.” If you love freezing moments, join Calcutta Instagrammers' photo walk on Shashti (Sunday). Sammya Brata Mullick, the group’s founder, says, “We are hosting the Pujo photo walk after seven years and plan to focus not just on the history, but on frame-worthy shots. Participants will get an exclusive chance to have their photographs reviewed during the walk.” Prefer to relax and soak in the grandeur without tiring walks? Bus tours are your best bet! Niladri Roy, co-founder of Travel Amigo, says, “We assign guides for each bus to acquaint guests with the history of pandals & Bonedi bari Pujos.” Sourav Taran of City Tour Kolkata promises, “We are covering ten Bonedi Bari Pujos on Saptami & Nabami from 9am to 5pm with a full day of guided history, breakfast, and buffet lunch.” And if the rain gods decide to join the party, fear not! Tour organisers are rain-ready. Niladri assures, “We will take precautions before getting off from the bus at any of the destinations.” Bindu adds, “We’ve planned flexible routes and ensured transport is on standby since otherwise we’re exploring through a walk.” Soham mentions, “We will provide umbrellas, transparent raincoats, and have marked areas for less waterlogging and shaded spots.” Some even host special Sindoor Khela walks to add that extra spark! Must-visit Pandals include Ekdalia Evergreen, Hindustan Park, Tridhara Sammilani, Singhi Park, Suruchi Sangha, Maddox Square, Kashi Bose Lane, Bagbazar Sarbojanin, FD Block, Tala Pratyay; and Bonedi Baris like Sovabazar Rajbari, Shibkrishna Daw Bari, Nabakrishna Daw Bari, Khelat Ghosh Bari, and Chhatu Babu Latu Babur Bari. As Soham says, “We make sure our guests have time to listen to the stories behind each of the Pujos and let the vibe of a pandal sink in before moving on to the next. Trying street food is an essential part of the walk.” Despite uncertain weather, enthusiasm shines strong! Sourav Taran shares, “Many NRIs and foreigners have already signed up.” So what are you waiting for? This Pujo, step off your balcony and into Kolkata’s magical heart!

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Tags: Kolkata pujo, Pandal hopping, Walking tours, Street food, Photography, Festivals,