Maharshi Debendra, father of Rabindranath Tagore, founded an ‘Ashram’ here in 1863. Almost 40 years later, Rabindranath started an open-air school at Shantiniketan that gradually developed into an international university named Visva Bharati where the cultures of the East and the West may meet in common fellowship and thereby strengthen the fundamental condition of world peace.

 

From the Bolpur station, the single important road with relics of the saffron dust on both sides, winds out of proper Bolpur town into the area which is  Shantiniketan, the abode of peace. While travelling these 3 kilometers preferably in a rickshaw, one will feel the real change in the air. Bauls could emerge from the corner of any street singing songs of love and worship.

 

Shantiniketan Tour

 

Uttarayan Complex Udayan, Konark, Shyamali, Punascha and Udichi are the houses where Rabindranath spent his last years.

 

Rabindra Bhavana Also known as Bichitra Bhavan houses a research institute and a museum where the poet's personal belongings, paintings & various editions of his works are exhibited.

 

Chhatimtala:  Here, the white marble plaque in the shades of the Chhatim tree, marks the spot where Mahar­shi Debendranath discovered peace and used to meditate. 

 

Amrakunja: is a familiar sight in the Santiniketan Campus. Classes are held under these trees. This scene is probably seen no where in any University of the world.

 

Kala Bhavana:  An museum exhibiting sculptures, frescoes & murals and a library of art books. You see murals made by Nandalal Bose. Stucco sculpture by Ramkinkar, paintings by Abanindranath Tagore, Gaganendranath

 

Kalor dokan: It was a cold winter morning in 1892 and Tagore and his colleagues had just finished morning prayers at the kanch ghar. As they emerged, Tagore asked his old help Kalo to see if he could arrange for some tea. Kalo swung into action, begged and borrowed utensils and ingredients and gave his master the morning cuppa. And thus was born Kalor dokan as the story goes.

 

Sriniketan Rabindranath started a rural reconstruction center (Surul of the past) 3 km. from Shantiniketan in 1922. Later Siksha Satra, Silpa Sadana, Palli Siksha Bhavana, Santosh pathshala etc came up here. There is a centre for traditional handicrafts like Kantha embroidery, Dokra artifacts. The Batik print clothes, bags are popular buys from this place.

 

Local Tours:

 

Kankalitala (Preferably by Auto) On the bank of the river Kopai is Knankalitala, one of the sacred Satipithas. There is a temple. It is one of the fifty two pithas or sacred where a part of the dismembered body of Sati fell. In this case the waist (Kankal), hence the name. 

 

Deer Park: Spotted deer, jackals, and a variety of water birds are found here. Located within the Ballavpur forest range, beside the canal. The lake inside also has many freshwater turtles seen tanning themselves on the banks. A watch tower, to view the feathered guests without disturbing them and seats in the deepest recesses of the forest allow the explorers on the trail of the not-so-elusive deer to take it easy.

 

Bondangar Haat is held every Saturday on a piece of land at Sonajhuri. The sellers sit under trees with products ranging from handmade clothes to paintings, green vegetables to wooden ornaments. The tranquil ambience is enhanced by the baul song only.

 

Amar Kutir is a cooperative produces/ sells leather goods, Kantha stitched saris, bamboo crafts & batik at reasonable price. it was formerly an ashram for political prisoners.

 

Itonda has some breathtaking beauty. Driving 19 km down a road that snakes through hard red laterite and farmland to Itonda could be quite exciting. The cluster of temples comes as a revelation after the dusty drive past Panchshwa village. The terracotta temples are truly magnificent.