Santiniketan is a small town located in the Birbhum district of West Bengal, India. The town is famous for its association with the Nobel laureate poet Rabindranath Tagore, who founded the Visva-Bharati University in Santiniketan in 1921.
Visva-Bharati University is one of India’s premier institutions of higher learning, and is renowned for its focus on art, culture, and humanities. The university offers undergraduate, postgraduate, and doctoral programs in a range of subjects, including literature, music, fine arts, social sciences, and natural sciences.
Santiniketan is also known for its rich cultural heritage and artistic traditions. The town is home to several museums and art galleries, which showcase the works of local artisans and artists. The town’s famous Poush Mela festival, held every year in December, is a celebration of folk art, music, and dance, and attracts thousands of visitors from all over the world.
Apart from its cultural attractions, Santiniketan is also known for its natural beauty. The town is surrounded by lush green forests and is home to several parks and gardens, including the famous Tagore’s Ashram, which is a popular tourist destination.
Tourism is an important industry in Santiniketan, and the town offers a range of accommodation options to cater to the needs of visitors. There are several hotels, guesthouses, and homestays in and around the town, which offer comfortable and affordable accommodation options.
In conclusion, Santiniketan is a charming town with a rich cultural heritage and a vibrant arts scene. Its association with Rabindranath Tagore, its world-renowned university, and its focus on art, culture, and humanities make it a must-visit destination for anyone interested in Indian culture and history. Whether you are a history buff, an art lover, or a nature enthusiast, Santiniketan has something for everyone.
Tour Details:
- Trip Duration: 12 hours
- Tour Starts: 07:00 am
- Lunch Break: Yes
- Entry Fees / Camera Charges: Not included.
- Vehicle Parking and Toll Charges: Inclusive
Things to See in Santiniketan:
Brahmo Mandir (Prayer Hall): The Upasana Griha is a prayer hall, constructed in 1891, made of several coloured Belgium glasses with marble steps on all the four side. During evening service on special occasions like 25 December, candle is lit around the prayer hall, and it wears a magnificent look in flickering light. This prayer hall is also named as ‘Kanch Mandir’ in local term (Kanch in Bengali means glass and Mandir is temple).
Chhatimtala: Here Maharshi Devendranath, the father of Rabindranath Tagore, used to meditate. Prayers are held usually at convocation time. Successful graduates of the Visva Bharati University are presented a branch of five leaves from the Saptaparni trees which are abound in the area.
Santiniketan (the abode of peace) Griha: The oldest building of Santiniketan. It was built by Rabindranath Tagore’s father Debendranath Tagore. Rabindranath Tagore stayed here as a young boy. When little Rabindranath went to Himalaya, his parents lived here.
Bichitra: It is also called Rabindra Bhavan, a research centre and museum where the poet’s personal belongings, paintings and editions of his works are exhibited. The replaced Nobel prize is also kept there.
Uttarayan Complex: The poet lived and worked in the Northern Complex consisting of several buildings: Udayana, Konarka, Shyamali, Punascha and Udichi.
China Bhavan: A centre for Chinese studies. Natir Puja, a dance drama of Tagore, is painted on its wall under the guidance of Nandalal Bose, a pioneering Indian artist.
Hindi Bhavan: Department of Hindi Language. There is an important wall mural called “Medieval Saints” made by Binode Behari Mukherjee in the main hall.
Black House: A mud building known for its relief works done by stalwarts like Ram Kinkar and Prabhas Sen. Usually the final year students of Visva Bharati stay here.
Patha Bhavan: It is now a secondary school and an example of the traditional Brahmacharya Ashram.
Kala Bhavan: The College of Fine Arts & Crafts has a museum exhibiting sculptures, frescoes, murals and a library of art books. Look out for sculptures and frescoes of Nandalal Bose, Ramkinkar Baij and Binode Bihari Mukherjee, particularly around Kala Bhavan.
Sangeet Bhavan: College of Dance and Music.
Dehali: Rabindranath used to live with his wife Mrinalini Devi in this two storeyed building.
Srijani Shilpagram: Srijani Shilpagram, close to the Ballavpur deer sanctuary, is designed very nicely and showcases traditional handicrafts of eastern region (including Bihar, Assam, Orissa, Manipur, Andaman, Jharkhand, et-cetera). Each state is represented by a traditional house with collection of paintings, artifacts, et-cetera.
Kopai River: Known as “Amader Chhoto Nodi”( Ours’ small river) in many of Tagore’s poems, particularly those for children.
Khoai Mela: The mela starts from around 02:00pm and goes on till about 05:30pm to 06:00pm only on Saturdays.
Amar Kutir: Many handicrafts like cloth, leather, batiks, hand-loomed fabrics are available.
Basundhara: It is situated at Sonajhuri palli. That offer quality kantha stitchwork in the form of Sarees, Dupattas, et-cetera throughout the year.
Kankalitala: This is one of the sacred Shakti- Peethas, with a temple, on the bank of the river Kopai.
Visva Bharati Central Library: It is a paradise for book lovers.