Two days in CR Park gives you the complete “Little Bengal” experience at a relaxed pace. Day 1 is the intensive day — markets, food walk, temple, and street food. Day 2 is the leisurely day — parks, shopping, a sit-down dinner, and nearby attractions. This itinerary works for any weekend except during Durga Puja (October), when Day 2 becomes a pandal-hopping marathon.
Budget Overview
| Item | Cost per person |
|---|---|
| Accommodation (1 night) | Rs 2,000-4,000 |
| Food (2 days) | Rs 1,500-2,000 |
| Transport (auto/metro) | Rs 300-500 |
| Shopping (sweets, books, sarees) | Rs 1,000-3,000 |
| Total (excluding hotel) | Rs 2,800-5,500 |
Where to Stay
In CR Park
- Bloom Hotel — Budget, clean, modern. Rs 2,500-3,500/night. Walking distance to Market 2.
- Rockland Hotel — Mid-range, established. Rs 3,000-4,500/night.
Nearby (10 min by auto)
- Greater Kailash — More hotel options, closer to M-Block market
- Nehru Place — Business hotels, good metro connectivity
- Airbnb — Several listings in CR Park and GK, Rs 1,500-5,000/night
Day 1: Markets, Food Walk & Temple
9:00 AM — Breakfast & Market 2
Start at Market 2 with kochuri and chai (Rs 80). Then spend 45 minutes walking through the market — fish alley, Bengali grocery stores, sweet shop displays.
10:30 AM — Market 1 (Books & Handicrafts)
Walk 10 minutes to Market 1. Browse:
- Bengali bookshops (Ananda Publishers, Deb Sahitya Kutir)
- Handloom sarees and stoles
- Bengali handicrafts and shola work
11:30 AM — Kali Mandir
Walk 15 minutes to the Kali Bari. Spend 30-45 minutes exploring the temple complex, the Shiva temple, and the grounds.
12:30 PM — Street Food at Market 3
Walk to Market 3 for phuchka, ghugni, and aloo kabli (Rs 100-150).
1:00 PM — Bengali Lunch at Maa Tara
Walk back to Market 2 for lunch at Maa Tara — Mutton Kosha, Bhetki Paturi, Aloo Posto, Luchi, Mishti Doi (Rs 500 for two).
2:30 PM — Sweets Shopping
Visit Annapurna Sweets and Kamala Sweets in Market 2. Buy a mixed box of sandesh, rosogolla, and mishti doi (Rs 200-300).
3:30 PM — Rest at Hotel
Walk or auto back to your hotel. Rest, digest, and freshen up.
5:00 PM — Evening Street Food Crawl
Return to CR Park for the evening food walk:
- Kathi roll near Market 2 (Rs 80)
- Fish fry at Dadu Cutlet Shop (Rs 100)
- Jhalmuri near Market 4 (Rs 40)
- Chai to finish (Rs 15)
7:00 PM — Dinner at Oh Calcutta
Sit-down dinner at Oh Calcutta — Chingri Malai Curry, Kosha Mangsho, Steamed Rice (Rs 800-1,000 for two). This is the “proper dinner” after a day of snacking.
9:00 PM — Return to Hotel
Auto back to hotel. You’ve walked about 5 km and eaten your way through CR Park.
Day 2: Parks, Shopping & Nearby Attractions
9:30 AM — Breakfast at Hotel
Have a hotel breakfast, or walk to Market 2 for one last kochuri.
10:30 AM — E Block Park & Green Spaces
Walk to E Block Park — a small, leafy park with a walking trail. CR Park has several green spaces; spend an hour walking and enjoying the morning air. The colony is at its quietest and most pleasant in the morning.
11:30 AM — Shopping in Market 1
Return to Market 1 for shopping:
- Bengali books — Ananda Publishers for new releases, second-hand stalls for rare finds
- Sarees — Jamdani, baluchari, tant cottons. Rs 800-5,000.
- Handicrafts — Shola craft, terracotta, wall art. Rs 200-2,000.
- Bengali pickles and preserves — Mango, lime, tamarind. Rs 100-300.
1:00 PM — Lunch at Aami Bangali
Try Aami Bangali for a more upscale Bengali meal — Kochu Pata Chingri, Bhetki Kalia, Basanti Pulao (Rs 900-1,100 for two).
2:30 PM — Lotus Temple (Optional)
Take an auto (15 min, Rs 80-100) to the Lotus Temple — the famous Bahá’í House of Worship, 2 km from CR Park. Entry is free. Spend 45 minutes.
4:00 PM — Greater Kailash M-Block Market
Auto to GK M-Block market (10 min, Rs 50) for non-Bengali shopping — branded stores, cafes, and a different side of South Delhi.
6:00 PM — Return to CR Park for Evening
Auto back to CR Park. Walk through Market 2 one last time as the shops close (6-7 PM). Buy any last-minute sweets or groceries.
7:00 PM — Farewell Dinner at Madly Bangalee
A casual farewell meal at Madly Bangalee — Bengali thali (Rs 300-400 for two). Simpler than Day 1’s dinners, a good way to wind down.
8:30 PM — Return to Hotel
Pack up, check out the next morning, and take the metro from Nehru Enclave to your next destination.
If Visiting During Durga Puja (October)
Day 2 becomes a pandal-hopping marathon instead:
9:00 AM — Start Pandal Hopping
Begin at Kali Bari pandal (most traditional, good for morning prayers). Then walk to:
- Mela Ground — biggest, most ambitious
- Cooperative Ground — near A Block
- B Block — spectacular lighting
- Navapalli (Pocket 40) — nostalgic themes
- D Block — strong community puja
- E Block — artistic themes
- G Block — creative installations
1:00 PM — Bhog (Free Community Lunch)
Most pandals distribute bhog (free community lunch) around 1-2 PM. It’s simple but delicious — khichuri, mixed vegetable, fritter, and sweet. Eat at any pandal.
2:30 PM — Continue Pandal Hopping
Visit the remaining pandals. By 5 PM, you’ll have seen all 10+.
5:00 PM — Evening at Mela Ground
Return to Mela Ground for the evening atmosphere — the lighting is spectacular at dusk, the crowd is electric, and the food courts open.
7:00 PM — Street Food Dinner
Eat at the temporary food courts at Mela Ground or Cooperative Ground — Bengali specialties, biryani, rolls, sweets.
9:00 PM — Final Pandal Visit
One last round of the most beautiful pandals at night — they are most spectacular after dark.
Tips for the Weekend
- Wear comfortable shoes — you’ll walk 8-10 km over two days
- Carry cash — Rs 3,000-5,000 in small notes. Most shops are cash-only.
- Stay hydrated — Carry a water bottle, especially in summer (April-June)
- Take the metro — Nehru Enclave is 1.1 km from CR Park. Don’t drive.
- Start early — Markets open by 9-10 AM. The morning is the best time.
- Ask locals — CR Park residents are proud of their neighborhood and happy to recommend dishes and shops.
- Don’t rush — Two days gives you time to savor. Sit in the park, eat slowly, browse bookshops at leisure.
Frequently Asked Questions
Can I spend a weekend in CR Park?
Yes. Two days gives you time to do the full food walk, visit all four markets, see Kali Mandir, and explore nearby attractions (Lotus Temple, Greater Kailash market). Budget Rs 2,500-3,500 per person excluding accommodation.
Where should I stay for a CR Park weekend?
Stay at Bloom Hotel or Rockland Hotel in CR Park itself (Rs 2,000-4,000/night). Alternatively, stay in Greater Kailash or Nehru Place (10 min away) for more options. Airbnb listings are available in the area.
What should I do on the second day in CR Park?
Day 2 is for Durga Puja pandals (October), or parks and green spaces, shopping in Market 1, and a leisurely lunch at Oh Calcutta or Aami Bangali. Visit the Lotus Temple (10 min away) and Greater Kailash M-Block market for non-Bengali shopping.