RailFans - we wander, but never get lost - Shaurya Kumar

*********MAA AASCHE !!*********
for all those planning to visit durga puja, kolkata, this year...this blog may help...
please try visiting puja pandals on panchami or shashthi as it should not be too crowded . you should leave home at 6pm and return by 5am. saptami onwards its very crowded. if you decide to visit big pandals, i am afraid you can only do three or four in a day with public transport. busses run only till 2230-2300 and then 0500 am onwards. you can book a cab. it will cost around rs.3500/12 hrs...
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(rs.10/km for a medium sized 4 wheeler). you can visit either :
north kolkata :
1 bagh bazar
2 tallah park
3 salt lake gd block
4 college square
5 md.ali park
6 sreebhumi
or south kolkata:
1 suruchi sangha
2 singhi park
3 rashbehari
4 badam talla
5 66 palli
6 ekdalia evergreen
either north/south kolkata in a day. try avoiding howrah bridge. ferries and metro are advisable. ferries ply from 8am to 8pm. metro has its service whole night on saptami ashtami nawami and dashami. prefer local trains over busses for switching from north kolkata to south kolkata. prefer kolkata terminal if you have a choice between hwh/sdah/koaa. i am attaching a map, that may help. bookings open this week and all tickets are sold in seconds, so plan early and book in advance. cancellation costs just two figures but booking a ticket later is next to impossible.
do's :
book rail tickets and hotels early
prepare yourself to walk 5-6 km a day
be prepared to face heavy rush and have patience at pandals
approach white jerseyed kolkata police seen everywhere
dont's :
buy ticket from touts as they provide fake tickets as well
hire vehicles from any one. only approach reliable sources
take help from strangers