From Howrah Junction, take an app cab directly to your hotel near Cognizant Technology Solutions, Sector V after arriving around 1:00 pm. Allow roughly 60–90 minutes: the route via Vidyasagar Setu and the EM Bypass can slow considerably on a Friday afternoon, so a prepaid or Ola/Uber cab is easier than changing trains or metro lines with luggage. Keep your booking address and the office location saved offline, check in, freshen up, and leave for central Kolkata by about 3:00 pm. Avoid carrying large bags into the sightseeing areas.
Head first to New Market (Hogg Market) in Esplanade, ideally by app cab; from Sector V, budget about 45–75 minutes depending on traffic. Spend around two hours browsing the lanes for leather goods, clothing, spices, confectionery, and old Kolkata shops, and take a short walk around Lindsay Street and the colonial buildings near Esplanade. Most shops operate roughly from late morning until 8:00 pm, but individual stalls vary and many are closed on Sundays; bargain politely and keep phones and wallets secure in the crowded lanes. From New Market, walk or take a short cab ride to Park Street for a late lunch or early dinner at Peter Cat. Its famous chelo kebab and sizzlers are filling, and a meal usually costs about ₹500–900 per person; expect a queue, especially on Friday evening, so keep 60–75 minutes aside.
After eating, take a cab to Kalighat Kali Temple, allowing 30–45 minutes from Park Street in evening traffic. The temple is closed approximately 2:00–5:00 pm, so arriving after 5:00 pm is important; allow 1.5–2 hours for the queue and visit. Use the official or clearly identified temple access route and be cautious of unsolicited “guides,” donation demands, and anyone insisting on special darshan. Finish at Prinsep Ghat on Strand Road, around 25–40 minutes away by cab. Spend an hour by the river as the light fades, with views toward Vidyasagar Setu; the riverside is best enjoyed at an unhurried pace, though the steps can be slippery after rain. Return to Sector V by app cab—roughly 45–75 minutes—and keep the evening early, since the hackathon begins at 10:00 am the next morning.
Arrive at Cognizant Technology Solutions, Kolkata Technocomplex by about 9:15–9:30 am for the 10:00 am start. From a hotel in Sector V, an app cab is simplest and should take roughly 10–20 minutes, although weekday traffic around the Salt Lake Electronics Complex can build quickly. The main programme will occupy most of the day, so keep your ID, registration details, charger, and a light jacket handy; air-conditioning inside the venue can be strong. For lunch, use the event arrangements if provided rather than leaving the complex, as nearby roads become congested during office hours.
After the hackathon, leave for 6 Ballygunge Place by app cab, allowing around 35–60 minutes depending on traffic; the route through Park Circus is often slower in the evening. Set aside about 1½ hours for a relaxed Bengali dinner—try classics such as shorshe ilish when available, kosha mangsho, chingri malai curry, and steamed rice. Expect approximately ₹600–1,000 per person, and call ahead or reserve if your group is large. From there, take a short cab ride to Birla Mandir, which is especially atmospheric after dark when the illuminated white-stone temple stands out against the busy Ballygunge streets. Keep the visit to roughly 45 minutes, dress respectfully, and note that photography may be restricted inside; temple timings can change, so confirm locally before setting out.
Return to Sector V by app cab after the temple, usually allowing 40–60 minutes. This is intentionally a lighter evening after a full hackathon day—avoid trying to add another major sightseeing stop, and keep some buffer for dinner service and Kolkata’s unpredictable traffic.
Be at Cognizant Technology Solutions, Kolkata Technocomplex by 9:15–9:30 am for the final hackathon session. From a Sector V hotel, walk if you are very close; otherwise use an app cab, allowing 15–25 minutes for security, building access, and Friday-style office traffic. Keep breakfast simple near your hotel or pick up something from 6th Avenue before heading in. Since you have a 1:00 pm train, confirm the exact closing time and collect luggage from the hotel in advance if possible; ask the hotel to hold it after checkout.
Leave the office promptly after the scheduled finish—ideally by 10:15–10:30 am—and take an app cab directly to the Howrah Bridge area, allowing approximately 45–75 minutes depending on traffic and the route through central Kolkata. Ask the driver to stop near Malik Ghat or the Kolkata-side approach for a quick view and photographs; do not stop or walk in the traffic lanes on the bridge itself. Give yourselves about 30–45 minutes here. The river, ferries, flower market activity, and constant pedestrian flow make this a vivid final glimpse of Kolkata, but the area is crowded, so keep phones and bags secure.
Continue by cab from the Howrah Bridge area to Howrah Junction, aiming to reach the station by 12:00 noon for your 1:00 pm Bhubaneswar Jan Shatabdi. Although the distance is short, congestion around the bridge and station approach can be severe; allow at least 60–90 minutes and do not rely on a last-minute auto or bus. Check your coach and platform on the railway display or the NTES/IRCTC app, then head inside with your luggage—station entrances and footbridges can be busy. If you reach early, stay within the station rather than attempting another sightseeing stop.