Khoai Mela: Shop Your Heart Out
Prantik
Khoai Mela is a very popular fair in Santiniketan. People from faraway places and even foreign tourists flock in huge numbers to visit this fair. The fair is organised under the sky in the shade of trees and is one of the best places to visit in Bolpur. Artists of various kinds attend this fair, setting their stalls on the ground. There is a wide variety of handmade goods that you can get here ranging from hand made notebooks to earrings and clothes for men and women to multiple toys made of forest products for the kids. You can also get a wide range of home decor items made from forest products here. Apart from these, different varieties of furniture made from bamboo are available here. If you get tired of shopping then you can try out the local delicacies which are sold here like Pati Sapta and Mishti Doi. This fair happens only on Saturdays.Entry fee: Free.Timings: 12 PM-6 PM (Only Saturday & Sunday)
Upasna Ghar: Visit The Amazing Prayer Hall
Visva Bharati University Campus
The Upasna Ghar or the prayer hall is situated on the Campus of Visva Bharati University. It is one of the most beautiful places to visit in Bolpur. Upasna Ghar is made from Belgian Glass. It is such m 21 la beautiful building that will leave you awestruck with its beauty. Upasna Ghae is popularly known as Kanch Mandir because its walls are made up of glass along with marble steps build on each side making it one of the most beautiful places to visit in Bolpur. Visitors are allowed to see the building, but only from the outside every day of the week except for Wednesday. It was made by the father of Rabindranath Tagore in the year 1863. Services are offered in the evening during which candles are lit all around the prayer hall. At this period, the building is engulfed in the flickering light of the candles and the view that one gets is truly amazing. The prayer hall is surrounded by gardens from all sides. These well-maintained gardens keep blooming with colorful flowers.
Entry fee: Free
Timings: Always open but visit preferably in the morning.
Tagores Ashram: Get The Glimpse Of His Life
Near Santiniketan Sub Post office.
This place is said to be the abode of Kaviguru Rabindranath Tagore. Several tourists visit this place which is actually one of the most famous places to visit in Bolpur. and you should not miss the opportunity to see this. It will give you a glimpse into the life of Kaviguru Rabindranath Tagore. This place was built in the year 1863 by the father of Rabindranath Tagore. His name was Maharishi Devendranath Tagore. This is one heritage site that has been very well preserved by the authorities. This place has preserved the memories of Rabindranath Tagore in various forms. It has preserved his literary works along with the items used by him daily. Apart from these, this place has most of the awards and the accolades that were won by Rabindranath Tagore. This place gives a detailed view of Rabindranath Tagore’s life with various kinds of information regarding his life.
Entry fee: INR 40
Timings: Summers: 2:30 PM – 5:30 PM,
7:30 AM – 11:00 AM during Summer and Puja Vacations (May-June and September-October); Winters: 2:00 PM – 4:30 PM, (Closed on Wednesdays)
Uttarayan Complex: Go Down The Lane Of Tagore
Bolpur Near Chhatimtala
This complex will take you down to the memory lane of Kaviguru Rabindranath Tagore. One place amongst these, which is very popular is Udayan. This is the place where Rabindranath Tagore used to stay. This building is heritage. The best part about this is that the authorities have maintained it quite well. Some other places which you should visit are Shyamali or popularly named mud hut. You can also visit other places such as Punasha as well as Udichi. These places are surrounded by gardens and adding to the fun is the fact that Rabindra Bhawan Museum is nearby. Rabindranath Tagore used to live in one house or another out of these. Sculptors of Ramkinkar Baij have been moved there during this period. This is one of the most popular places to see in Bolpur.
You can’t carry a camera or a hand recorder here.
Entry fee: Free
Timings: Morning to Evening
Chandidas Nanoor.
Bolpur,Santiniketan
Nanoor is a small town/ large village in Birbhum-Murshidabad of West Bengal. It is the birthplace of 14th century lyric poet Chandidas of Vaishnava Padavali fame. This could be a place to visit if one has the interest of Vaishnava Padavali literature and keen interest in the great life of Chandidas
There are several temples built in the 17-18th century beside a mound popularly known as Chandidas bhita. Some of these temples have exquisite terracotta sculpture. According to the historian Binoy Ghosh, there were at least three poets associated with the name of Chandidas. They were identified as ‘Baru’, ‘Dwija’ and ‘Din’. Baru Chandidas possibly belonged to Chhatna in Bankura district and he composed Srikrishnakirtan. Not much is known about Din Chandidas, except that he also composed on the life of Sri Krishna. Dwija Chandidas possibly belonged to Nanoor and composed lyrically rich creations initiating the finest traditions of Bengali padavali (gathering of songs). The Nanoor-Kirnahar area is full of folk-myths about Chandidas – the story of his love for a washer woman, the story of his religious devotion and music and the story of his death.
The temple of Bisalakhi or Bagisree (more popular as Basuli) is believed to have been the centre of the devotional activity of Chandidas. The place at Nanoor where the Basuli temple (see pic lower down on this page) now stands and the surrounding area resembling a mound is called Chandibhita (see pic in the infobox). An effort was made by the University of Calcutta to understand what is there in the mound by excavating a small section of it. In the “Excavations at Nanoor by K.G.Goswami, March 1950”, the report says that in the mound, with a radius of around 550 feet and height of 17 feet, there are five occupational levels. The lowest of these levels belong to the Gupta era. At another place in Nanoor, some coins of the Gupta era were recovered. During and prior to the Gupta era, Buddhism had a strong hold over Bengal and early tantric practices prevailed.
Chandidas lived about 500 years ago, just around or a little prior to the arrival of Muslims in Bengal. By then the poet Jaydeva had already composed the Gita Govinda (see map below for location of Jayadev Kenduli). It is natural that such an age could produce a tantric devoted to his goddess, who could indulge in composing Sahajiya lyrics and propagate the merits of humanism. His compositions were a possible source of inspiration for Sri Chaitanya (1486-1534). There are claims that Chandidas originally belonged to Ketugram, in neighbouring Purba Bardhaman district, and later came to Nanoor.
Kopai River
Kopai, Santiniketan
One of the iconic rivers of the Shantiniketan is Kopai River. It is the tributary river of the Mayurakhshi River. The river besides the town of Shantiniketan is famous for its serene flow. The river is also known for the red soil around it. The red soil is used by the Art students of the Shantiniketan for making various sculptures the figures. This poem has also another name which is Sal River. Usually dry in summer the river pours in during monsoon. This river is famous for its influence on Rabindranath Tagore who wrote poem about this river.
Entry fee: Free
Timings: Always open
Srijani Shilpagram, Santiniketan
Santiniketan
Srijani Shilpgram, the cultural village of Eastern Zonal Cultural Centre, is situated in Birbhum, Santiniketan, West Bengal. The complex is spread over 26 bighas of land and comprises of nine museums in the shape of nine traditional huts of the member states of EZCC namely Assam, Bihar, Jharkhand, Manipur, Odisha, Sikkim, Tripura, West Bengal and the Union Territory of the Andaman and Nicobar Islands. The huts incorporate traditional, architectural features and designs. Over1000 artefacts are in the collection in the traditional huts built at the Shilpagram. The acquisitions are more than 25 years old. The objective is to provide a realistic glimpse of each state and their culture within each hut as an individual entity and yet connected to the other states of Zone. The calm natural environment of the Shilpagram attracts visitors and is now an important cultural hub of the area. There is also an art gallery of folk paintings in Srijani Shilpagram, Bolpur named 'Adi Bimb'. 'Adi Kranti', is a pavilion dedicated to the tribal heroes of eastern India namely, Birsa Munda, Laxman Nayak, Rani Gaidinlu, Siddhu Kanu, Tilka Majhi and Tirot Singh.
Entry fee: Free
Timings: Morning to Evening
Kala Bhavan
Visva Bharati University Campus
Kala Bhavana is well-known as a distinguished centre for Visual Art practice and research in India. This institute which gave shape to the culture specific modernism initiated by Rabindranath Tagore and carried forward by the commitment and wisdom of Nandalal Bose, Benodebehari Mukhopadhyay, Ramkinkar Baij and their contemporaries, has richly contributed in giving a valid direction to individual art activity in contemporary social space. More recently several eminent artists and scholars attached to Kala Bhavana have been keeping the tradition alive by their personal visual experience, fresh exposure and openness for experiment.
Its academic programme is broad based, it introduces the students to a vast repertoire of techniques and art forms backed by the knowledge of history of art. The studio practice, lectures, discussions and exhibitions keep the art atmosphere of the faculty alive, where the students get ample opportunity to sharpen their individual sensibilities and future prospects
Entry fee: Free
Timings: 7am–9pm
Rabindra Bhaban Museum
Visva Bharati University Campus
The museum is perhaps the most satisfying place for your historical inquisitiveness. Built back in 1961, it houses some of Tagore's original manuscripts, letters, documents, paintings, certificates and photographs.
It also includes the Nobel Prize Medallion he received. everyone who comes to Santiniketan must see this place.
Entry fee: Free
Timings: Always open, but visit in the morning.
Chhatimtala: Perfect Meditation Spot
Visva Bharati University Campus
This place is a very popular tourist place in West Bengal. It is said that the Father of Rabindranath Tagore, Maharshi Debendranath Tagore used this place as his meditation spot. Maharshi Debendranath Tagore was a very great scholar which makes it one of the historical places to visit in Bolpur. He used to believe in the idea of mediation as well as introspection. According to him, these two things are the key to a person’s success. Students of the university look at this place in very high regard. Students here are emotionally connected to this place as the graduates of the university are awarded a branch of the Saptaparni tree which can be seen in Chhatimtala. The prayer hall too is not very far away and is located nearby. This particular place is considered very sacred by the students of the University.
Entry fee: Free
Timings: Always open, but visit in the morning.
Ballavpur Wildlife Sanctuary And Deer Park: An Encounter With The Wild
Bolpur, West Bengal
Ballavpur Wildlife Sanctuary & Deer Park is an excellent spot for all the wildlife lovers who are thinking about visiting places in Bolpur where they can witness the wild side of the city. Ballavpur Wildlife Sanctuary & Deer Park is home to Deers, birds, jackals, and foxes. This place also has three water bodies that you should definitely visit on your vacation. Ballavpur Wildlife Sanctuary & Deer Park is well-known for the Blackbucks and Spotted Deer that can be easily spotted while exploring it. This wildlife sanctuary is an amazing spot for your next weekend getaway. It is situated in Bolpur and is spread across an area of 200 hectares. Get ready for a thrilling outing in the beautiful city of Bolpur. Do take your cameras to capture the wild animals on it!
Entry fee: NA
Timings: 10 Am – 4 Pm
Amar Kutir: The Local Art And Craft Centre
Bolpur Suri Road, Ballavpur, Sriniketan, Amarkutir Society Rd, Ballavpur, West Bengal
Amar Kutir played an eminent part in the Independence Movement in India. The activists of the Independence Movement stayed at Amir Kutir in 1922. Today Amar Kutir is a cooperative society where local art and crafts are promoted. If you are like collecting art and craft articles made by people to promote local art then Amir Kutir is the perfect place for you. This society is one of the best tourist places in Bolpur where you can buy handmade articles like Kantha stitched saris, batik work items, leather goods, and bamboo crafts. If you are passionate about shopping then you should not miss out on this place on your vacation. Amar Kutir is one of the places to visit in West Bengal as it is known for its cause of promoting local art and giving employment opportunities to women.
Entry fee: Free
Timings: Morning to Evening