Things to Do in Kolkata in October
October weather, activities, events & insider tips
October Weather in Kolkata
Is October Right for You?
Advantages
- Durga Puja season transforms the entire city into an open-air art gallery with thousands of elaborate pandals competing for attention. The festival typically peaks in early-to-mid October, and it's genuinely the single best time to experience Kolkata's creative energy and community spirit.
- Post-monsoon weather means comfortable temperatures for walking tours without the oppressive pre-monsoon heat. Mornings stay pleasant at 24-26°C (75-79°F) until about 10am, giving you solid 4-5 hour windows for exploring North Kolkata's heritage neighborhoods on foot.
- Hotel rates drop significantly after Durga Puja ends, usually around mid-October. You'll find shoulder season pricing kicks in with 30-40% discounts compared to peak winter months, while weather remains perfectly suitable for sightseeing.
- The Hooghly River looks its best after monsoon rains have cleaned the city. Evening boat rides from Babughat or Princep Ghat offer surprisingly clear views, and the riverside ghats are actually photogenic during this window before winter fog rolls in.
Considerations
- Durga Puja week means accommodation prices spike 200-300% and everything books out months ahead. If you're arriving during the festival without advance reservations, you might find yourself paying premium rates for mediocre rooms, or staying far from central neighborhoods.
- The weather data showing zero rainfall is misleading for October in Kolkata. You'll typically see 100-150 mm (4-6 inches) of rain spread across those 10 rainy days, often as afternoon thunderstorms that can disrupt outdoor plans for 1-2 hours at a time.
- Humidity at 70% combined with temperatures around 30-32°C (86-90°F) creates that sticky, uncomfortable feeling by midday. Your clothes will feel damp within 30 minutes of walking outside, and air conditioning becomes non-negotiable for comfortable sleep.
Best Activities in October
Durga Puja Pandal Hopping Tours
October IS Durga Puja in Kolkata, and this festival completely dominates the city for 4-5 days. Elaborate temporary structures called pandals pop up in every neighborhood, each featuring stunning artistic installations that rival museum exhibitions. The creative themes range from recreations of European cathedrals to social commentary on current events. Evening tours work best since pandals are illuminated and crowds create an electric atmosphere. The weather actually cooperates perfectly since most serious rain has passed and evenings cool down to 26-28°C (79-82°F).
Heritage Architecture Walking Tours in North Kolkata
October mornings before 10am offer the only comfortable window for exploring North Kolkata's crumbling mansions and narrow lanes. The historic neighborhoods around Sovabazar, Pathuriaghata, and Jorasanko contain hundreds of 18th and 19th century Bengali merchant houses with terracotta facades and interior courtyards. Post-monsoon means the worst heat has broken, though you'll still want to start by 7:30-8am. The soft morning light is perfect for photography, and you'll catch residents performing morning rituals at neighborhood temples.
Hooghly River Sunset Cruises
The Hooghly River actually looks decent in October after monsoon rains have flushed out some of the accumulated pollution. Evening cruises from Millennium Park or Princep Ghat run 5:30-7:30pm and catch the sunset over Howrah Bridge. October weather is ideal since you're not dealing with winter fog that obscures views from November onward. The breeze on the water provides relief from daytime humidity, and temperatures drop to comfortable 28-29°C (82-84°F) by evening.
Street Food Tours in College Street and New Market Areas
October's post-monsoon period means street food vendors are back in full force after monsoon disruptions. The humidity is still high enough that you'll want to stick to cooked-to-order items, but the risk of monsoon-related food safety issues drops significantly. College Street's kathi roll stalls, New Market's Mughlai joints, and the Chinese breakfast scene in Tangra all operate at full capacity. Evening food walks from 6-9pm let you sample multiple neighborhoods when temperatures become tolerable.
Victoria Memorial and Maidan Morning Visits
The Victoria Memorial's white marble exterior looks spectacular in October's clear post-monsoon light, and morning visits from 7-10am beat both the heat and the crowds. The surrounding Maidan grounds are actually usable in October since the monsoon waterlogging has dried up. You'll see locals playing cricket and football, and the open space provides relief from the city's density. The weather is perfect for combining the memorial's indoor museum with outdoor exploration of the gardens.
Kumartuli Potter's Quarter Workshops
October is the absolute peak season to visit Kumartuli, the neighborhood where thousands of artisans create the clay Durga idols for Puja. In the weeks leading up to the festival, you'll see the entire production process from clay modeling to painting final details. Workshops welcome visitors who want to understand the traditional techniques, and some offer hands-on sessions where you can try sculpting small pieces. The creative energy in the narrow lanes is incredible, with multiple generations of families working on massive 12-15 foot tall sculptures.
October Events & Festivals
Durga Puja
This is THE event in Kolkata's calendar and completely transforms the city for 4-5 days in October. The exact dates shift based on the lunar calendar, but typically fall in early-to-mid October. Thousands of temporary pavilions showcase elaborate artistic installations, neighborhoods compete for best decorations, and the entire city essentially shuts down for celebration. The scale is massive - we're talking 2,500-3,000 major pandals across the metro area, with some installations costing 5-10 million rupees to construct. Streets close to traffic, metro runs 24 hours, and millions of people pandal-hop each night. If you want to understand Bengali culture, this is your moment.
Lakshmi Puja
Follows about a week after Durga Puja and focuses on the goddess of wealth and prosperity. While much smaller in scale than Durga Puja, it's worth noting because many businesses and homes create special decorations and lighting displays. Markets stay open late, and there's a festive shopping atmosphere as people buy new items for their homes. It's a more intimate, family-oriented celebration compared to Durga Puja's public spectacle.
Kali Puja and Diwali
Usually falls on the new moon in late October, coinciding with Diwali celebrations across India. Kolkata's version emphasizes Kali worship with nighttime rituals at temples across the city, particularly at Kalighat Temple and Dakshineswar. The city lights up with diyas and fireworks, though the focus is distinctly Bengali rather than the pan-Indian Diwali traditions. Expect massive crowds at major Kali temples and loud fireworks from evening through early morning hours.