Bankura Durga Puja 2025: Top 10+ Pandals to Visit, Route Plan & Highlights

Sep 27, 2025

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Bankura, known for its terracotta temples, Malla heritage and artistic legacy, celebrates Durga Puja with a unique mixture of devotion, local identity and creative themes. In 2025, Bankura’s puja committees are aiming higher — creative motifs, eco-decor, projection mapping, storytelling façades and community engagement. This guide presents over 10 notable pandals in Bankura that you should consider visiting, with details about their locations, this year’s special attractions, historical recognition, and a proposed route to cover them efficiently.

Key Bankura Pandals to Visit in 2025 (numbered)

Kenduadihi Durga Puja
- Location: Kenduadihi area, Bankura town
- 2025 Special Attraction: A “celestial realm” theme — the committee plans to use lighting, mist effects and sky-pattern canopy to simulate stars above the idol.
- Past Recognition: Frequently featured in Bankura puja parikrama videos and listed among top local pandals.
- Why Visit: One of the most visible and locally popular pandals in Bankura town itself; good for evening light viewing.
Puabagan Durga Puja (Bankura)
- Location: Puabagan neighborhood, Bankura
- 2025 Special Attraction: Theme “Cellular Jail / Freedom Struggle” — architectural façade inspired by historical prison structures with symbolic motifs of redress and liberation.
- Past Recognition: Known for bold thematic choices and crowd pull in Bankura town circuits (as seen in local vlogs).
- Why Visit: Central location, bold design, likely to be among the biggest in the town.
Simlapal School More Durga Puja
- Location: Simlapal vicinity on Bankura district fringe
- 2025 Special Attraction: Eco-and angelic theme (following 2024’s “In Angel’s Land”) with biodegradable materials, light installations among trees, and interactive kids’ zones.
- Past Recognition: Recognized in district circuits as one of the best in school-area pandals.
- Why Visit: Offers a quieter environment, good for families and artsy visitors.
Kanchanpur Durga Puja
- Location: Kanchanpur locality, Bankura
- 2025 Special Attraction: Terracotta revival motif — punning on Bankura’s heritage, the façade and side panels will use terracotta-style patterns with modern lighting.
- Past Recognition: Featured in local video feeds on “top pandals in Bankura.”
- Why Visit: Combines local architectural identity with artistry.
Banga Vidyalaya / School Area Puja
- Location: A school or neighborhood zone in Bankura (often labelled Banga Vidyalaya)
- 2025 Special Attraction: Integration of student artworks — murals and digital panels painted by students around the puja grounds.
- Past Recognition: Known in recent years for blending education + celebration.
- Why Visit: This gives you a chance to see community creativity and student energy.
Bankura Town Main Sarbojanin Puja (Central Town Pandal)
- Location: In Bankura town, central area
- 2025 Special Attraction: “City & Countryside” theme — blending rural Bankura traditions with modern cityscape visuals on backdrop, including projection mapping.
- Past Recognition: Often one of the first stops in any Bankura puja circuit; this is among the main headliners.
- Why Visit: Best bet for a full town-scale pandal with strong footfall.
Bishnupur Maa Mrinmoyee Fulfillment Puja
- Location: Bishnupur (heritage town in Bankura district)
- 2025 Special Attraction: Special focus on the ancient Mrinmoyee Temple as backstory; tableau of temple history and rituals, combined with folk dance programs.
- Past Recognition: The temple’s own Durga worship is historic; Bishnupur is a cultural hub.
- Why Visit: For heritage ambience, temple town exploration, combining puja and tourism in one trip.
Mukutmanipur / Ambikanagar Local Puja
- Location: Mukutmanipur area (southern Bankura periphery)
- 2025 Special Attraction: Water reflection art — the pandal is planned near water bodies, with mirrored lighting effects and floating lamps.
- Past Recognition: Smaller rural pujas but well-loved locally for scenic settings.
- Why Visit: Great if you are going deeper into Bankura’s nature & rural parts.
Joysagar / Village Cluster Puja
- Location: Joysagar or a cluster of villages in Bankura district
- 2025 Special Attraction: A micro-circuit theme: combined committee efforts from several villages, evening folk music processions, puppet performances.
- Past Recognition: Known among local circuits as culturally strong, though not large scale.
- Why Visit: For a more immersive rural experience away from the town.
Radhanagar / Surrounding Local Pujas
- Location: Radhanagar vicinity (Inside Bankura / outskirts)
- 2025 Special Attraction: Garden motif — use of local flora, vignette mini-scenes through garden gates leading into pandal interiors.
- Past Recognition: Recognized locally for creativity and scenic environment.
- Why Visit: Good for quiet evening visits, photography, and exploring suburban settings.
Kotulpur Linked Puja (if in extension of Bankura reach)
- Location: Kotulpur area (bordering Bankura district)
- 2025 Special Attraction: Historical temple motif (inspired by Sridhar Temple) combined into the pandal façade.
- Past Recognition: Kotulpur’s temple heritage is known; combining with puja gives a blended experience.
- Why Visit: If your route extends toward the border, this is a meaningful stop.
Bahulara / Temple-Area Puja
- Location: Bahulara village (in Onda / Bankura outskirts)
- 2025 Special Attraction: Ancient temple motif — the pandal will resemble local temple carvings, with lamps, stone patterns and minimal plastic decor.
- Past Recognition: Bahulara’s ancient temple is culturally significant; combining puja with that heritage brings depth.
- Why Visit: For temple + puja blending and quiet rural immersion.

Best Route & Plan (2-Day Itinerary)

Day 1: Bankura Town & Immediate Surroundings

Morning / Noon: Arrive in Bankura town. Start with Bankura Town Main Sarbojanin Puja to get a feel of the local scale.
Then head to Kenduadihi Durga Puja and Puabagan Durga Puja — both in town neighborhoods; schedule your lunch and short breaks.
In the afternoon, visit Kanchanpur Durga Puja and Banga Vidyalaya Puja — both in peripheral zones or educational zones.
Evening: Return to main town and enjoy lighting, cultural programs and footfall energy. Overnight stay in Bankura.

Day 2: Heritage & Rural Expansions

Morning: Depart early toward Bishnupur / Maa Mrinmoyee to combine temple tourism + puja visit.
Late Morning to Afternoon: Proceed toward Mukutmanipur / Ambikanagar, enjoy scenic rural drive and visit the water-theme pandal.
Afternoon: Continue to Joysagar / Village cluster puja, have local snacks.
Evening: On return, drop by Radhanagar Puja and if time allows, Kotulpur or Bahulara depending on your route alignment.
Return to Bankura or onward destination.

Tips for planning:

Start early on Day 2 to account for rural travel times and road conditions.
Use Bankura as your base for Day 1, and Bishnupur region as halfway rest for Day 2.
Carry a map / GPS offline; rural signage may be weak.
Evening lighting is critical – attend southern / rural ones in twilight.
Keep buffer time for walking through pandal interiors, photography, and rituals like aarti.

Past Recognitions & Highlights

Kenduadihi and Puabagan have been repeatedly featured in local social media and vlogs as standout pandals in Bankura town circuits.
Simlapal School More is often called “one of the best in Bankura district” in yearly commentary videos (e.g. 2024 edition).
Kanchanpur and Bankura main puja are routinely among top local listings for design, crowd and artistic concept.
Bishnupur / Maa Mrinmoyee retains heritage prestige because of the temple’s historical importance in the district.
Rural pujas like Mukutmanipur, Joysagar cluster and Bahulara are not usually large in scale but highly appreciated by locals for authenticity and cultural depth.

Visual Aid / Comparison Table for Planning

Zone	Base / Nearest Town	Top Pandals in Zone	Best Visiting Time (Evening / Night)
Bankura Town	Bankura	Bankura Main, Kenduadihi, Puabagan	After dusk for lights and crowd energy
Peripheral Towns / Edges	Kanchanpur / Vidyalaya area	Kanchanpur Puja, Banga Vidyalaya	Early evening to avoid rush
Heritage / Temple Zone	Bishnupur	Maa Mrinmoyee Puja + associated pandals	Late afternoon & dusk
Rural Scenic Zone	Mukutmanipur, Joysagar	Rural cluster pujas, local ones	Evening lighting / twilight visits

This helps you pick which clusters to visit depending on where you’re staying or which direction you’re coming from.

What to Expect in 2025 & Trends

Heritage & Local Motifs: Many pandals will emphasize terracotta, temple carvings and local architectural identity, especially in Bankura town and heritage zones (e.g. Bishnupur, Bahulara).
Eco & Minimalism: Use of biodegradable materials, minimal plastic, natural fibers and sustainable décor will be a visible trend in rural and school area pandals.
Projection & Light Mapping: Some of the more ambitious town pandals (Kenduadihi, Puabagan) are expected to experiment with projection mapping or dynamic lighting façades.
Thematic Narratives: Themes around freedom struggle (Puabagan’s jail motif), celestial / cosmic motifs, rural life, nature cycles will shape exhibits.
Community Participation: Student art, interactive zones, folk music, local craft stalls to increase visitor engagement beyond just viewing.

Practical Visitor Tips

Opening Hours: Most pandals open from Sasthi to Dashami, from early afternoon until 10:30–11:00 pm or later.
Best Viewing Times: Evening twilight period (just after dusk) is ideal for lighting and ambience.
Transport & Roads: Rural roads in Bankura may be narrow or unpaved — use sturdy vehicles. Hire local drivers familiar with village roads.
Footwear & Walking: Wear comfortable shoes — many pandals require walking across uneven surfaces.
Photography: Before taking photos of priests or inside sensitive ritual zones, ask for permission. Some pandals may restrict tripods.
Food & Rest Stops: In town zones, you’ll find eateries; rural stretches may have fewer. Pack snacks and water especially for Day 2.
Weather Preparedness: In later puja days, unexpected rain or humidity can affect lighting / crowd movement—carry umbrellas.
Respect Ritual Times: Attend aarti or pushpanjali timings in select pandals — being there at ritual moments heightens your experience.

Conclusion

Bankura’s Durga Puja 2025 offers a tapestry of temple tradition, rural authenticity, creative themes and community spirit. Whether you stay amidst the hustle of Bankura town (Kenduadihi, Puabagan, Main puja) or wind your way to Bishnupur’s heritage or rural cluster pandals, each place offers a distinct feel. Follow the two-day route for a balanced experience, pay attention to evening timings, and allow your exploration to rest in local interactions, crafts and storytelling beyond just flashy facades.

May your Bankura pandal tour in 2025 be filled with light, devotion, artistry and meaningful memories!

Disclaimer

This guide is based on reported and local insights as of 2025. Exact themes, program schedules, pandal locations or attractions may change by local committees. Visitors should confirm via local notices before travel.

About the author

I’m Himanshu Dhar, a dedicated MIS trainer proudly associated with I Turn Institute. My journey in the realm of data management and automation spans over 14 enriching years. My passion for this field extends to freelancing projects, where I bring real-world practicality into my teaching. My impact in education is marked by the success of over 25,000 students I’ve had the privilege of mentoring, hailing from diverse backgrounds. Beyond the classroom, I’ve had the honor of conducting corporate training sessions and seminars, catering to the unique needs of businesses. Let’s unlock your potential together in the realm of data analysis and automation.