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Durga Puja Pandal Hopping Guide — Bangalore
40+ pandals, 4 zones, one 3-day route — pandal hop Bangalore without burning every evening in traffic.
← All Guides40+ pandals, 4 zones, one 3-day route — pandal hop Bangalore without burning every evening in traffic.
Bangalore has one of the largest Bengali communities outside West Bengal, and come Durga Puja, close to 40 pandals go up across the city — everything from a Kolkata-artisan-built set at Palace Grounds to a modest community puja on a Whitefield apartment ground.
This is every pandal I could track down for the 2026 season, grouped by zone so you're not criss-crossing the city, plus a 3-day route for the core puja weekend.
The core of it falls Saturday to Monday, Oct 17–19, 2026 — Saptami through Navami on most calendars, though some local panchangs shift the exact tithi by a day. Either way, this is when every pandal is lit, crowded, and worth the drive.
Day 1 · Sat, Oct 17
South Bengaluru
Morning: Koramangala → HSR Layout → JP Nagar.
Evening: Hulimavu → Rayasandra → Electronic City.
Day 2 · Sun, Oct 18
Central, then East Bengaluru
Morning: Dairy Circle → Ulsoor → Palace Grounds → Jayamahal.
Evening: Indiranagar → Bellandur → Kasturi Nagar → KR Puram / Marathahalli.
Day 3 · Mon, Oct 19
Outer East, then North Bengaluru
Morning: Whitefield → Seegehalli → Varthur / Sarjapur Road.
Evening: Nagavara → Jakkur → Yelahanka / Kogilu → Bagalur → Devanahalli.
The Bengalee Association — Central
1/A Assaye Road, Ulsoor.
Bangalore's oldest Durga Puja — seven decades running, and still the one old-timers mean when they just say "the pujo."
Bengaluru Durga Puja Committee (BDPC) — Central
The Grand Castle, Palace Grounds, near Mekhri Circle.
The big-budget one. Theme pandals built by Kolkata artisans, dhakis flown in — the closest the city gets to a Kolkata-scale pujo.
Bengali in Bangalore (BinB) Durgotsav — Central
Chandrodaya Convention Centre, Dairy Circle, Bannerghatta Road.
Well-organised and easy to pair with Ulsoor and Palace Grounds on the same evening.
Barsha Bengali Association — South
South Avenue Grounds, behind Electronic City Metro Station.
The one everyone in Electronic City talks about — elaborate themed sets, plus a night-time light show on top of the puja itself.
Kolaj Socio-Cultural Trust — South
Koramangala, 5th Block.
Central and easy to reach — usually first stop for anyone starting their trail from Koramangala or HSR.
Uttaran Bengaluru — North
Manpho Convention Centre, Veerannapalya Main Road, Nagavara.
The anchor pandal for the whole North leg — build your Nagavara–Jakkur–Hebbal evening around this one.
Every pandal from the plan, grouped the way you'll actually drive to them. A few outskirt venues move most years — worth a quick check with the committee before you drive out.
Time it right
Pandals light up and fill up post 7pm. Go between 5–7pm for pretty light and thinner crowds, or after 10pm if you don't mind it winding down.
Dress for a temple, not a party
Most committees expect modest dress for the anjali and aarti — carry a dupatta or stole even if you're in western wear.
Eat the bhog
Khichuri bhog and the evening food stalls — phuchka, egg rolls, cholar dal — are half the reason to go. Budget time to actually sit and eat, not just photograph the pandal.
Drive smart
Koramangala, Indiranagar and Ulsoor roads choke solid on Ashtami evening. Cab it to the big ones, park-and-walk for the HSR/JP Nagar cluster, and leave 45 extra minutes for anything near Palace Grounds.
Ask before you shoot
Phone photos of the pandal and idol are fine almost everywhere — ask a volunteer before filming the aarti up close or pointing a camera at people mid-ritual.
"Exact venue to be verified"
A few entries in the directory above move venues most years — call the committee's listed contact or check their Instagram the week of, before you drive out.
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