Explore Kolkata's Biggest Festival On Foot With These Pujo Tours
Bonedi Barir Pujo Walk
Reach out to Heritage Walk Calcutta and subscribe to their Bonedi Barir (aristocratic household) Pujo Walk, covering Pathuriaghata and Jorasanko. The Girish Park metro gate no. 2 will be the meeting point for the walk, which will last for three hours from 7.30am to 10.30am. Book them on Sashti and get to explore the pujos of Balaram Day Street Ghosh/Dutta Bari, Pathuriaghata Ghosh Bari Boro Torof and Jorasanko Mullick Bari, among others. The cost per head is INR 900.
Mahalaya Debi Bandana
This pre-pujo tour is definitely a unique experience. Kolkata Explorers is organising Mahalaya Debi Bandana in Sundargram, Rajendrapur, a village located 40km away from the city. Definitely an interesting way to listen to Birendra Krishna Bhadra's Mahishasurmardini. Sip a cup of tea amidst the serene paddy fields of Sundargram and welcome Maa Durga. The meeting point is Oberoi Grand at 10.45pm and the tour will cost you INR 1,850.
Bisarjan - Epar Bangla Opar Bangla
Bisarjan (immersion) is a central part of Durga Pujo's rituals and it marks the departure of Maa Durga, only to wait for one more year (ashche bochor abaar hobe!). Hosted by Travel Amigo, experience bisarjan at Taki, a small town in 24 Parganas, near Ichamoti river, which divides India and Bangladesh. Immersion of Durga idols is an annual affair here and you'll get to witness the bisarjan of idols in the Bangladesh side as well. The tour will cost you INR 2,600.
Central Kolkata Bonedi Bari Pujo Walk
This year skip pandal hopping and join Heritage Walk Calcutta to witness Durga Pujo of traditional families in central Kolkata. Apart from being pioneers of Bengali cultural renaissance, these families are still famous for their philanthropic work. Get a chance to visit the houses of Sambhunath Sen, Cocola House, Basu Mullick, Bandyopadhyay family and Nilmoni Sen's family. The walk will cost you INR 900.
Durga Puja Parikrama
If you don't have plans on Saptami and Nabami, then sign up for Ladybird Travel Services' Rajbari Puja Parikrama. Some of these pujos are more than a century old. Relive the old culture of Kolkata with pratima darshan of zamindar bari pujos, including Maharaja Nabakrishna Dev palace, Raja Radhakanta Deb estate, Darjipara Mitra Barir Pujo, Chatu Babu-Latu Babu Thakur Barir Pujo, Khelat Ghosh Babu Barir Pujo and Rani Rashmoni Barir Pujo, among others.