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.