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Voykit pocket guide · India
Andul
আন্দুল
Half a day is enough: see the Rajbari and the temple, then move on to Howrah or Kolkata. Not a base.
Andul is a small town west of Howrah, best known for its 1834 Rajbari (palace) and the 1772 Siddheswari Shankari Temple. The Durga Puja of the Dutta Chowdhury family, about 400 years old, draws visitors in autumn. Most travellers pass through on the way to Bally, Deulti or Gadiara.
- Country
- India
- Local name
- আন্দুল
- Best months
- Oct–Mar
- Avoid
- Jun–Sep (monsoon, humid)
- Stay
- 0 nights
Checked 2026-09. Prices, hours and rules change; anything marked (check) is not confirmed.
Essentials
- Currency
- INR
- Money
- Indian rupees (INR, ₹) in small notes for autos, street food, tips and entry tickets.
- Daily spend
- Budget ₹500–1,000 (day-trip only) · Mid ₹1,000–2,000 (day-trip only) · High ₹2,000+ (day-trip only) (estimate; check)
- SIM and data
- Jio, Airtel and Vi sell tourist SIMs at airport counters and their shops; passport, visa and a photo needed; activation can take a few hours.
- Emergency
- Police 112 · Fire 101 · Ambulance 102
- Plugs
- Types C, D, M · 230 V · 50 Hz · Round two-pin C plugs fit most sockets; D (three round pins) is the common wall socket; hotels often have universal sockets. UK and US plugs need an adapter.
- Tipping
- Street food and dhabas: Nothing.; Restaurant: 5–10% if no service charge is on the bill.; Car and driver: ₹300–500 a day at the end of the trip.; Guide: ₹300–500 for a half day.; Hotel porter / housekeeping: ₹50–100.; Auto or Uber: Round up.
- Water
- Not drinkable from the tap. Buy sealed bottles (check the cap), or use RO-filtered refill stations in hotels and cafés; avoid ice from street stalls.
- Toilets
- Western toilets in hotels, malls and airports; squat toilets with a water jug or hose in stations and villages. Carry tissue and sanitiser; paid public toilets (Sulabh) cost ₹5–10.
Get in
By air
- CCU · Netaji Subhas Chandra Bose International Airport (Kolkata)
- About 1 h by taxi or train + auto
Typical fares
- Andul → Howrah (train)
- about ₹10–20, about 30 min (check)
- Cycle-rickshaw within Andul
- ₹20–50
Show 7 more sections and the pocket cardHideGet around, See and do, Sleep, Phrase card, Etiquette, safety and scams, One and two days, Sources, Pocket card
Get around
Walk or take a cycle-rickshaw for short trips. Trains from Andul station connect to Howrah (about 30 min).
See and do
Known for
- Andul Rajbari (1834 palace)
- Siddheswari Shankari Temple (1772)
- Durga Puja of Dutta Chowdhury family
Day trips
| Where | How | Time |
|---|---|---|
| Bally | Train from Andul station, about 15 min | About 30 min |
| Deulti | Train from Andul station, about 20 min | About 40 min |
| Gadiara | Train from Andul station, about 30 min | About 1 h |
| Uluberia | Train from Andul station, about 10 min | About 25 min |
| Amta | Train from Andul station, about 15 min | About 35 min |
| Garchumuk | Train from Andul station, about 25 min | About 50 min |
Sleep
- Andul town centre
- A few basic guesthouses; most visitors stay in Howrah or Kolkata and day-trip.
Phrase card
| English | Say or show |
|---|---|
| How much? | কত?koto |
| Where is the station? | স্টেশন কোথায়?sṭeśan kothay |
| One ticket to Howrah | হাওড়ায় একটা টিকিটhawṛay ekṭa ṭikiṭ |
| Thank you | ধন্যবাদdhonnobad |
Etiquette, safety and scams
Etiquette
- Greeting: Namaste (palms together) or a handshake between men; wait for a woman to offer her hand; avoid: Hugging or kissing strangers
- Hands and feet: Give and eat with the right hand; apologise if your foot touches someone; avoid: Pointing feet at people or shrines; touching books or food with your feet
- Temples: Shoes off, walk clockwise around shrines, accept prasad (blessed food) with the right hand; avoid: Leather in Jain temples; entering sanctums that say Hindus only
- Home visit: Bring sweets or fruit; accept tea at least once; avoid: Refusing all food; wearing shoes inside
- Questions: Expect personal questions (married? job? salary?) as friendliness; avoid: Taking offence; answer vaguely if you prefer
- Saying no: A firm, polite 'nahi, dhanyavaad' (no, thank you) and keep walking; avoid: Long explanations to touts
- Dress: Loose clothes covering shoulders and knees; kurta tops are cheap and cool; avoid: Swimwear or shorts away from Goa beaches
Scams and watch-outs
- Limited accommodation: plan to sleep in Howrah or Kolkata.
- Palace and temple may have restricted hours: check locally.
- Monsoon (Jun–Sep) makes roads muddy and walking uncomfortable.
Andul is a quiet town; standard precautions apply. Watch for traffic on the main road and keep valuables out of sight.
One and two days
No timed day plan for Andul yet. Suggested stay: 0 nights. Build a day from the list below, mornings for the big sight.
- Andul Rajbari (1834 palace)
- Siddheswari Shankari Temple (1772)
- Durga Puja of Dutta Chowdhury family
Sources
Written by Voykit; facts cross-checked against these sources, last desk check 2026-09. Prices, hours and rules change: check on the day.
- Wikivoyage: Andul, revision 5326139 (CC BY-SA 4.0): en.wikivoyage.org/w/index.php?oldid=5326139
Pocket card
Cut along the border and keep it in your wallet. Show the local-script lines to a driver.
Printed from Voykit (/andul). Written by Voykit; checked 2026-09. Estimates only: confirm prices, hours and entry rules on the day.