Durga Pujo or Durga Puja 2026 is a celebration that’s best experienced in Kolkata. With elaborate pandals, cultural events, and streets lined with street food and lights, the city comes alive during the ten days of Durga Pujo. However, if you are unable to visit the city during this festive season, there are a few other places where you can experience Durga Puja. Here are some of the best places to visit if you’re keen on experiencing Durga Puja beyond Kolkata.
When Is Durga Puja 2026?
Durga Puja begins with the Mahalaya on October 10, 2026. Maha Shashti is on October 16, 2026 and Dashami is on 20th or 21st October, 2026.
While Kolkata remains synonymous with the festival, you don’t necessarily have to travel to West Bengal to experience the grandeur of Pujo. So, if you are looking to experience Durga Puja beyond Kolkata this year, here are seven cities worth adding to your festive travel list.
Durga Puja Beyond Kolkata: 7 Best Places To Visit
1. Delhi: Durga Puja At CR Park
Delhi has a considerable Bengali population, especially in the Chittaranjan Park (CR Park) Area. Often referred to as the ‘Mini Kolkata of Delhi’, CR Park is where you’ll find a number of pandals during Durga Puja. Expect a number of community pujas, beautifully decorated pandals, dhak performances, evening aarti, and Bengali food stalls. Delhi Tourism also lists CR Park, Minto Road, Kashmere Gate, Civil Lines and other neighbourhoods among the city’s prominent Durga Puja centers.
Notable Durga Puja pandals in Delhi:
Minto Road Durga Puja Samiti
Arambagh Durga Puja Samity
Kashmere Gate (Delhi Durga Puja Samiti)
Matri Mandir, Safdurjung Enclave
Milani Puja Committee, Mayur Vihar – 1
Also Read: 5 Must-Visit Durga Puja Pandals In Howrah For 2025
2. Mumbai
Mumbai may be famous for Ganesh Chaturthi, but its Durga Puja celebrations have a strong following too. Bengali associations across the city organize community pujas, cultural programmes and traditional rituals.
There are several Bengali communities and non-profits that organize Durga Puja celebrations in the City of Dreams. In fact, some of the earliest Durga Puja pandals, such as the Bombay Durgabari Samiti, the Bengal Club at Shivaji Park and North Bombay Sarbojanin Durga Puja in Juhu date back to the 1930s and 1940s respectively.
Notable Durga Puja pandals in Mumbai:
North Bombay Sarvajanik Durgotsav
Lokhandwala Durgotsav, Lokhandwala
Mumbai Bengali Cultural Association (MBCA) Durga Puja
Ramakrishna Mission Durga Puja Pandal
Biswajit Chatterjee Durga Puja
3. Bengaluru
Bengaluru’s multi-cultural atmosphere makes it one of the best places for Durga Puja beyond Kolkata. The city is home to several Durga Puja pandals where traditional ceremonies are combined with music, dance, food, and social gatherings. The South East Bengaluru Bengali Association, for instance, is known for its grand Durga Puja pandals each year.
The RT Nagar Socio Cultural Trust is the largest Bengali Association of Bangalore and organizes a number of cultural programs during the festival.
Notable Durga Puja pandals in Bangalore:
BARSHA (HSR Layout)
Sarathi Durga Puja
East Bengaluru Cultural Association
Aikatan Durga Puja
Chandrodaya Convention Center
Also Read: Pandal Hopping Guide: Top 5 Durga Puja Celebrations You Can’t Miss In Noida & Greater Noida
4. Guwahati
Guwahati is one of the best cities for experiencing Durga Puja beyond Kolkata. The city has a significant Bengali population and culture. During Durga Puja, Guwahati gets decked up in bright lights, colorful pandals, and a festive atmosphere.
During the days from the Shashti to Dashami, you’ll find large crowds across the city enjoying aarti, bhog, and cultural programs.
Notable Durga Puja pandals in Guwahati:
Ulubari Durga Puja (BK Kakati Road)
Kamakhya Colony Durga Puja
Pandu Durga Puja Committee
Nayantara Club
Sarbajanin Durga Puja & Kali Puja Committee Yubatirtha Club
5. Bhubaneswar
Bhubaneswar in Odisha is perhaps one of the most joyful cities to visit during Durga Puja. The city in Odisha has a significant population celebrating the festival. Bhubaneswar’s areas like Sahid Nagar, Nayapalli, Baramunda, and Old Town are known for their elaborate Durga Puja festivities. These areas are home to several Durga Puja pandals each based on a unique theme.
One of the highlights of experiencing Durga Puja in Bhubaneswar is the opportunity to combine pandal hopping with the city’s heritage. You can visit the Lingaraj Temple, explore the ancient temples of Old Town and sample Odia cuisine before heading out to see the illuminated pandals after sunset.
Notable Durga Puja pandals in Bhubaneswar:
Nayapalli Durga Puja Mandap
Rasulgarh Puja Pandal
Sahid Nagar Durga Puja Samiti
Also Read: Top 10 Best Places To Eat in Kolkata During Durga Puja 2025
6. Ranchi: A Major Puja Destination In Jharkhand
Durga Puja is deeply woven into Ranchi’s festive calendar, with neighborhood committees creating elaborate pandals and idols every year. In the weeks before the festival, local artisans work on detailed structures and decorative installations across the city.
Ranchi’s celebrations combine religious rituals with community gatherings. You’ll find several Durga Puja pandals in the city and most of them have unique themes each year. With organizers already coordinating civic facilities, traffic and security for the 2026 festivities, the festival remains one of Ranchi’s major annual public celebrations.
Notable Durga Puja pandals in Ranchi:
Harmu Durga Puja Pandal
Albert Ekka Chowk Pandal
Ratu Road
OCC Club, Bangla School
7. Hyderabad
Hyderabad is one of the cities where Durga Puja beyond Kolkata is quite authentic. The city’s Bengali community has created a lively network of Durga Puja pandals in the city. Community celebrations are held in areas including the Old City, with Bengali associations organizing pujas, cultural programs and gatherings.
While you’re in Hyderabad, you can also spend your days visiting local sites and attractions and savoring local Hyderabadi food.
Notable Durga Puja pandals in Hyderabad:
CBA Durga Puja
Sur O Dhwani
Suchitra Bengali Committee
Utsab Cultural Association
Bangiya Sanskriti Sangha
Author’s Note
As a Mumbaikar, I have experienced only the Durga Puja festivities in Mumbai. However, I think, Durga Puja beyond Kolkata can be best experienced in the cities of Delhi, Guwahati, and Bhubaneswar.
Summing Up
In this article, we’ve covered some of the best places for Durga Puja beyond Kolkata. From Delhi and Mumbai to Bhubaneswar and Hyderabad, there are several places where you can experience the beauty of Durga Puja 2026.
