The present disclosure is related in general to network management providing method and system for determining data flow paths for communicating data packets/bits in a communication network. A network management system determines number of data flow paths required between source and destination network element within the communication network and determine a shortest data flow path between them using predefined data flow path determining techniques. Further, zero weightage is assigned to each edge of the total number of data flow paths excluding each edge of the shortest data flow path to obtain modified graph of the communication network. Using the modified graph, alternative shortest data flow paths are determined. The shortest and the alternative shortest data flow paths are determined without modifying existing nodes i.e. without splitting nodes in data flow path, thereby reducing complexity and time taken in determining the shortest and the alternative shortest data flow paths.