Durga Puja 2026 getaway: 5 places near Kolkata to escape pandal-hoping crowds

Looking for a break from Kolkata's Durga Puja crowds? Discover five destinations within approximately 200 km, offering beaches, heritage sites, mangrove forests and scenic landscapes.

New Delhi: Kolkata becomes so alive during Durga Puja, with beautifully decorated pandals, crowded streets, cultural performances and food stalls that remain busy late into the night. For many visitors, exploring these celebrations is the highlight of a trip during the festive season. But if you want a break from the festive rush, West Bengal has destinations worth visiting and just a few hours away.

From peaceful university towns and historic temples to coastal beaches and unusual landscapes, these places offer a different side of  West Bengal.

Here are five destinations within approximately 200 km of Kolkata.

Distance: Approximately 165 km from Kolkata

Shantiniketan offers a more relaxed setting. The town is closely associated with Nobel laureate Rabindranath Tagore and is home to Visva-Bharati University,........

© News9Live