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Kolkata Durga Puja
Beating Heart of Bengal
TOUR OVERVIEW
Kolkata, on any given day, awakens all your senses with its sights, sounds, smells and taste. During Puja, the city is pulsating with anticipation, joy and a synchronous energy. Decked up like a bride, Kolkata during Puja becomes a microcosm of devotion, pride and celebration. It can be overwhelming to find your feet as first timer here, so we have worked on a method to madness, a curated chaos, if you please. Delve in!
Price: INR 42000 + 5% GST
Single occupancy surcharge – INR 12000 + 5% GST
GALLERY
Day 1 - 09 Oct 2024
Reach Kolkata – the city of Joy. Post lunch kick-off your tour with the most iconic monument of the city – the Victoria Memorial. Visit Gariahat for shopping. Overnight at Kolkata.
Day 2 - 10 Oct 2024
Visit the ghat of Ganga to see morning Puja rituals. Visit the flower market and take the adventure further to explore the narrow lanes of Kolkata’s potters’ colony, Kumartuli, where you can watch sculptors breathe life into various terracotta idols.
We will visit Bonedi Baris or Bonedi heritage houses for their puja rituals. After lunch, visit the Dakshineshwar Kali Temple. Overnight at Kolkata.
Day 3 - 11 Oct 2024
Take a trip, little outside of Kolkata to visit the magnificent Rajbari Bawali. Built over 250 years ago, the architectural masterpiece and it’s grandeur is a wonderful experience. We will take part in Pushpanjali at the rajbari during the Asthami celebrations. Have a lavish traditional lunch and return to Kolkata. After dinner, step out to visit the various pandals in the city. Overnight at Kolkata.
Day 4 - 12 Oct 2024
Today is the grand finale. Hop the beautiful Puja pandals and participate in Sindoor Khela. Feel that sisterhood and energy. Have lunch at a community puja. In the evening, it is time to bid farewell to the Goddess, praying for her return next year and drawing strength from her. We witness the visarjan in the Ganga river from a cruise. Dinner on the cruise. Overnight at Kolkata.
Day 5 - 13 Oct 2024
It’s the final day of the trip! After breakfast, proceed to the airport for your return flight.
Inclusions
- All meals – Starting with Lunch on Day 1 and ending with Breakfast on Day 5
- Morning/Evening tea/coffee
- Transport in an AC vehicle as per the itinerary.
- Local non-AC taxi for dinner outings, as needed
- Accommodation on a twin/double sharing basis for 4 nights
- All entry charges including entry to heritage houses and pandals
- Guide for Day 1, Day 2 and Day 4
- Guide for late night pandal hopping on Day 3
- Cruise with dinner for Visarjan on Day 4
- Guidance of a F5 Tour Leader.
Exclusions
- Shopping
- Food other than inclusions
- Packaged water
- Camera charges
- Tips and personal expenses – tips, donations, medication etc.
- Flights/Train to Kolkata and back, from your city of residence.
- Any cost arising due to natural calamities, personal flight delays and aspects beyond our control. We will definitely facilitate an alternative and handle the contingency, the cost being yours.
- 5% GST
Terms & Conditions
REFUNDS/CANCELLATION:
- If you cancel 90 days or more in advance, the cancellation fee is 12% of the trip amount.
- 25% of the trip cost if cancelled 89 – 60 days in advance.
- 50% of the trip cost if it is cancelled 59 to 16 days in advance.
- Last 15 days – no show – the entire amount will be forfeited.
- If you use our services to book flights, cancellation charges will apply.
Disclaimer
- F5 Escapes is in no way responsible for any untoward incident happening due to the ignorance/negligence of the guests, natural/man-made calamities, accidents or any other events that are out of human control during the trip.
- All our trips are well-researched, including identifying access to medical facilities. In case of a medical emergency, F5 will assist the traveller in getting medical attention.
- F5 reserves the right to cancel the trip under certain conditions – in such a case, the amount will be refunded in full.
Arrival & Departure timings
This trip is to Ex-Kolkata.
Reach Kolkata on Day 1 by 12 noon and book your return journey anytime on Day 5.
Breakfast on Day 5 will be available at 7 AM and the hotel check out will be at 11 AM. Ideal time for your return flight would be between 11 AM and 2PM.
Note on weather
Weather in Kolkata will be moderate, ranging between 23 to 33 degrees C. It will be humid.
*Please note that nowadays, climate/ weather is dependent on many factors and unpredictable hence above information might be subject to change during your actual travel days
Stay
Kolkata – A well appointed and very conveniently located hotel near Park Street area
Foooooood!
We have included a variety of food options including a flavor of Bengali cuisine and experiences around local street food.
Both vegetarian and non-vegetarian food options will be available.
We have tried and planned your meals at great restaurants/rajbari/community puja pandals etc.
Note > Prepare > Accept > Embrace:
- A fair bit of walking will be involved in exploring Kolkata. Please ensure you are carrying comfortable walking footwear.
- Kolkata can be extremely chaotic and crowded during Durga Puja which will require you to coordinate with your tour lead and stay together at all times specially in the market areas. You will also need to cross areas/lanes which are not very clean.
- At the cost of repeating ourselves, it will be very crowded in the pandals. Please expect lots of people. Do not carry valuables during your visit to pandals.
- Kolkata street food can come across as extremely unsophisticated in how and where it’s prepared. Please be open to experimenting and look beyond the same.
- While we try to ensure everything works by the clock, West Bengal is not known for service promptness. Please be prepared to work around delays and co-operate to ensure the trip goes smoothly.
- There is a lot to experience on the itinerary but very limited time, so ensure to be on time to make the most of it.
Note on Smoking and Alcohol
Everyone joining is an adult and we realise that we cannot dictate the behaviour on how you should enjoy the trip. Each destination offers a locally brewed wine or beer and we would love for you to try them. All we ask is to drink responsibly.
Hangover delays are going to cost a lot, and will not be tolerated at all. So please do not test your limits and enjoy moderation. Also, do respect your roommate’s comfort levels with the alcohol smell and avoid drinking in the room if she is not comfortable.
If you smoke, please do so outside the room, even if the rooms have ashtray.
‘F5 Escapes’ is a Bangalore-based, experiential travel company, with a focus on redefining the way women travel in India. The premise of F5 is an ambitious dream – to put India on the global travel map as a preferred destination for women from across the globe.
F5 Escapes offers fixed departure all-women group tours, customized itineraries for families, groups and solo travellers. We also do in-city engagements which include #JustGo travel meetups, workshops to educate women on travel safety, sustainable menstruation, motorbiking etc.