About this pandal
Surul Rajbari, also called Sarkar Bari or Boro Bari, is a nearly 300-year-old zamindar mansion built in the 1750s by Srinivas Sarkar, who made his fortune supplying sails to East India Company ships out of Ilambazar. The Sarkar family later played a key role in founding Visva-Bharati University, and their Thakur Dalan and terracotta Lakshmi-Janardhan temple, carved with Ramayana scenes, still stand today. It's by far the most-reviewed pandal on this entire list.
What to expect
The Rajbari's Durga Puja has run continuously for roughly 250–290 years, with a mela (village fair) held just outside the mansion during the festival — as old as the puja itself. Entry to the grounds costs a nominal ₹10–20.
Good to know
Durga Puja 2026 runs from Shashthi on 16 October to Vijaya Dashami on 21 October, with Maha Ashtami on 19 October drawing the biggest crowds across the district. Located in Surul village, about 3.5–5km from Bolpur-Santiniketan — easy to combine with a Santiniketan day trip.
Quick answer
How old is the Durga Puja at Surul Rajbari?
The tradition goes back roughly 250–290 years, making it one of the oldest continuously celebrated Durga Pujas in the Santiniketan area, run by the Sarkar family since the 1750s.
More pandals on this list
- Nutan Pukur Durga Temple — 4.4★ (95 reviews), Bolpur-Sriniketan Road, Bolpur
- Adyashakti Durga Mondir — 4.5★ (91 reviews), Kalikapur, Bolpur
- Kacharipatty Yubo Samproday — 4.0★ (51 reviews), Kacharipatty, Bolpur
- Balaka Sangha Sarbajanin Durga Puja Mandir — 4.5★ (25 reviews), Nichupatty, Bolpur