The Poush Mela at Santiniketan traditionally begins on 7 Poush, in the last week of December, and the 2025 fair ran from 23 to 28 December. Official 2026 dates had not been confirmed when this was written. The main gateway is Kolkata airport, about 150 km from Bolpur, while Durgapur airport is closer at roughly 70 km.
Updated October 2026 · HappyFares
The Poush Mela is the winter fair that fills Santiniketan with folk music, handicrafts and visitors from across Bengal and beyond. Because it is held at a small town in Birbhum district, the way you arrive matters as much as the dates.
When is the Poush Mela in 2026?
Visva-Bharati’s own festivals page lists the Poush Mela for 7, 8 and 9 Poush, in the last week of December. The fair traditionally starts on the seventh day of the Bengali month of Poush, which usually falls around 22 or 23 December. That is a pattern, not an announcement, so do not treat it as the confirmed 2026 schedule.
For reference, the 2025 edition was reported to run from 23 to 28 December at the Purba Palli ground in Santiniketan. Reports from December 2025 said the fair resumed in 2024 under Visva-Bharati’s supervision, with stall booking handled online. The university and local authorities usually announce the dates and arrangements closer to December, so keep an eye on the official Visva-Bharati notices before locking in non-refundable plans.
Did you know? Visva-Bharati’s own history of the fair begins with the 1888 Santiniketan Trust Deed, which made provision for a fair, and the Poush Mela itself began in 1892, so it is well over a century old.
Which airport should you fly into for Santiniketan?
There is no airport in Santiniketan or Bolpur itself. You have two realistic options.
- Kolkata (Netaji Subhas Chandra Bose International Airport, CCU): the main choice, with by far the most flights. Sources put Bolpur roughly 137 to 150 km from Kolkata, and the Birbhum district tourism site describes Bolpur as about 150 km north of the city.
- Durgapur (Kazi Nazrul Islam Airport, Andal): the Birbhum district tourism site lists it as the nearest airport, roughly 70 km from Bolpur. It has far fewer flights than Kolkata, so check the airline schedule for your dates.
If a convenient flight to Durgapur does not exist for your dates, Kolkata remains the dependable fallback.
How do you get from Kolkata to Bolpur?
By road, the journey from Kolkata to Bolpur is commonly quoted at around 3.5 to 4.5 hours, depending on traffic, and the official Birbhum page gives only the distance, about 150 km. Bolpur is also well connected to Kolkata and Howrah by train, and the Bolpur-Shantiniketan railway station is a short distance from the mela grounds (a 2024 Santiniketan schedule page put it at around 3 km).
During the fair, roads around Santiniketan tend to be busy, and local police typically add traffic arrangements. A realistic plan is to land in Kolkata the evening before, travel to Bolpur the next morning, and leave the fair before the late-evening rush. Allow extra buffer time on the return journey if you have a flight to catch.
How early should you book flights and stays?
The fair falls in the last week of December, which is a busy period for travel in general. Flight fares into Kolkata around late December tend to be higher than in quieter weeks, and good places to stay in Santiniketan fill up well before the fair. The practical advice is simple: once the dates are confirmed, book flights and accommodation without waiting.
If you are flexible, a weekday visit usually means thinner crowds than a weekend. Setting a price alert while you wait for official dates lets you watch fares without committing.
What should you plan for once you are there?
The fair features artisan stalls, live performances and cultural shows, and it draws visitors of all faiths. Wear comfortable shoes, because most of the day is spent walking on open ground. December evenings in Birbhum can be cool, so carry a light jacket. Carry cash in small notes for stalls, and keep your phone charged, as network congestion at crowded events is common.
Keep your return flight flexible if you can. A fare that allows changes costs more up front, but fairs like this can run late and roads can slow down, so a little slack in the schedule is worth having. Check the airline’s own change and cancellation terms before you pay.
Santiniketan is also worth exploring beyond the mela. The Visva-Bharati campus and the surrounding villages are quieter, and a day or two extra lets you see the area without the crowds.
Common Questions
What are the Poush Mela 2026 dates?
Official 2026 dates had not been confirmed at the time of writing. The fair traditionally starts on 7 Poush, in the last week of December, and the 2025 fair ran from 23 to 28 December.
Is there an airport at Santiniketan?
No. The nearest airports are Durgapur (Andal), roughly 70 km from Bolpur, and Kolkata, roughly 150 km away.
How long does it take to reach Bolpur from Kolkata?
Commonly quoted at around 3.5 to 4.5 hours by road, depending on traffic. Trains from Kolkata and Howrah also serve Bolpur.
Who organises the Poush Mela?
Reports on the 2025 fair said Visva-Bharati University supervised it, with support from the Birbhum district administration and local police.
When should I book flights to Kolkata for the fair?
As soon as the dates are confirmed. Late December is a busy travel period, so fares and rooms tend to tighten as the date nears.
Heading to Bengal in December? Search and compare flights to Kolkata on HappyFares, with zero convenience fee on domestic bookings, price alerts to track fares, and Meera the AI assistant to help you choose.
Dates, rules and fees change, so please verify current specifics with Visva-Bharati, the airline or the airport before you travel.
