KOLKATA- The city of Joy

Calcutta, the city of joy was established in the year 1686, as a result of the expansion plans of the British Raj. It was during those times that European powers were heading their way towards capturing the small villages of Sutanati, Govindpur, and Kalikata. Calcutta derived its name from the last of the village settlements of kalikata.

The capital city of West Bengal is located on the east bank of the Hooghly river. It is the Cultural Capital of India.

Best Time To Visit Calcutta : Talking about Kolkata peak travel time, it can be said that period between October-march is the best time to visit Calcutta. This is the perfect time to savor the autumn season that is in its full bloom. Not only the weather is pleasant, but also, it is the time of festivities. Durga puja is a festival that is celebrated with great pomp and show. Laxmi puja and Diwali follow it. January-February is the period that witnesses the conduct of Calcutta book fair that acts as a platform for bringing people from all over the world together under one roof. Thus, if you have an option to choose the time period, then plan out your tour during October-March, as it is the ideal time to visit Calcutta.

Attractions :

Fort william:

Fort William is a must visit tourist attraction place of Calcutta.Situated at the banks of river Hooghly, it was named after King William III of England. Fort William of Kolkata, India, was established during the tenure of British Raj in 1696. It was the guardroom of this two-storied building, where the black hole tragedy took place. During the Plassey war in 1757, Siraj Ud Daulah, the Nawab of Bengal attacked on the fort and defeated the Britishers. This paved way for the construction of a new fort by British.

The new fort was initiated by Robert Clive, which got completed by 1780. The basic purpose of setting up Calcutta Fort William was to prevent attacks from Muslim invaders. The area that was cleared around the fort became maidan, where several exhibitions and fairs take place. The foundation of the old fort is still intact. Till date, it is a military area and the Arsenal inside it is worth watching, but for that prior permission of the commanding officer is required.

VICTORIA MEMORIAL:

Calcutta Victoria memorial hall is a fabulous museum that was established in the year 1921. The credit for designing and drawing the plan for this monument goes to Sir William Emerson, President of the British Institute of Architects. Victoria Memorial of Kolkata, India is a fantastic place that will take you into the world of past history, where you can view the photos and effigies of prominent personalities, who made an incredible contribution in the glory of India. Today, Victoria memorial is one of the finest art museums in Kolkata. It is a 184 ft tall edifice that was constructed on 64 acres of land. The museum houses a group of mind-blowing figures above the north porch that epitomize prudence, learning and motherhood.

EDEN GARDENS:

Eden garden of Kolkata, India is one of the major tourist attraction places of the city of joy. Eden gardens is basically a cricket stadium, where people have witnessed the history of Indian cricket. It is the oldest cricket playground in the country and also the finest one. Calcutta Eden Gardens Cricket Club came into existence in the year 1864. e. It has undergone a tremendous modernization and infact, today it boasts of its large accommodation that can capaticitate about 1,00,000 persons. Eden gardens of Calcutta definitely falls into the category of must see places.

BIRLA PLANETARIUM:

Birla planetarium of Kolkata, India is one of the largest museums in Asia. It came into existence in the year 1962.It is situated at the Eastern metropolitan bypass of Calcutta. Birla planetarium provides useful piece of information about our solar system, galaxies, life span of stars, space, planets and other heavenly bodies in the most interactive manner via audio video aids. Usually the lectures are given in English, Hindi, and Bengali and occasionally in Oriya, Tamil & Gujarati. Calcutta Birla planetarium is a single storied circular edifice designed in the typical Indian style. It is a must see place for those interested in astronomy. Its astronomy gallery maintains a huge collection of fine paintings & celestial models of renowned astronomers.

HOWRAH BRIDGE:

Howrah Bridge, located over the Hoogli River in West Bengal, India, is said to be the busiest bridge of the world. It got its name owing to the fact that it connects the city of Howrah to Calcutta. Howrah Bridge in Kolkata, India, also known by the name 'Rabindra Setu', was set up in 1874. It stands on two 270 feet high pillars. Calcutta Howrah Bridge is a cantilever truss bridge that was constructed without using any nuts and bolts. Though, earlier it had a tram route, but presently, it is serving mainly as a Road Bridge. Howrah bridge has got two sister bridges also, namely, Vidyasagar Setu and the Vivekananda Setu that are situated at different points over the hoogly river. This bridge acts as an important symbol of Kolkata.

MARBLE PALACE:

Marble palace of Kolkata, India is a must visit tourist attraction spot. Built in the year 1835 by Rajendra Mallick, it is an exquisite art gallery. Marble palace houses the marvelous objects of art, sculptures, pictures & oil paintings. Its major highlight includes the Reuben's masterpieces. You can also find the original paintings of Rembrandt, Reynolds and Van Goyen etc. Calcutta marble palace is the one of its kinds and consists of exquisite pieces of art. It also has a zoo, where you can find different kinds of birds and animals. Infact, it has a rare collection of birds. It is located in C.R. Avenue in north Calcutta at Muktaram Babu Street, Chorabagan.

WRITER'S BUILDING:

The construction of Writers building began as early as in 1690. It got its name owing to the fact that it served as the dwelling place for the junior writers of the East India Company. The original Writers Building of Kolkata, India did not have any architectural beauty. It was on the same site that another Writers' Building was created later on. This Gothic structure came into existence during the tenure of Lt. Governor Ashley Eden (1877). The present Calcutta Writers' Building is located at the northern end of Dalhousie Square. Today, it serves as the Secretariat of West Bengal Government. This gigantic building is also known as 'Mahakaran', where all the important documents and other records of the West Bengal Govt are preserved.

NICCO PARK :

Calcutta Nicco Park, situated at Salt Lake, is an amazing amusement park. It is like the Disneyland of West Bengal with lots of wonderful games and rides. It is one of the biggest amusement parks in the country and it was opened in the year 1991. Nicco Park is more popularly known as Jheel Meel. It is the ultimate fun and entertainment destination for kids as well as adults. To name a few, we have the Toy Train, Cable Car, Tilt-a-Whirl, Water Chute, Water Coaster, Flying Saucer, Pirate Ship and Moonraker.Its most recent addition is the Cave ride.

For nature lovers, it is truly a feast for eyes. Its main highlights include the beautiful rose garden and the food park, where you can enjoy the mouthwatering yummy dishes. Popular cuisines include North Indian, Bengali, South Indian and Chinese fast food.

SAHEED MINAR:

Saheed Minar, situated near Esplanade on the Kolkata Maidan, was initially known as Octerloney Monument. It was named after its founder, Sir David Ochterlony. This magnificent monument was established in the year 1848 so as to mark the founder's victory in the Nepal War (1814-1816). Its foundation is based on the Egyptian style, whereas the main Shahid Minar in Calcutta and its dome follow Syrian and Turkish designs respectively.It was in 1969 that the Octerloney Monument got the name 'Sahid Minar'. It was renamed in the honor of those who sacrificed their lives for the freedom of our country. If you stand at the top of the minar, you'll get an excellent view of the hub city of Kolkata.

NATIONAL LIBRARY:

National Library in Kolkata, India is the largest library of our country. It is constructed on 30 acres Belvedere Estate in Kolkata. National library has a huge collection of books and periodicals received from different parts of the country. Here, you can find books in almost all the Indian languages.

BELUR MATH :

Belur Math was founded in 1938 by Swami Vivekananda, the disciple of Sri Ramakrishna Paramhansa, paying homage to his guru. It is situated at a distance of about 6.4 kms from Howrah Station on the banks of the Hooghly River, in belur. Belur math houses a beautiful monastery, several temples and also has the headquarters of Ramakrishna mission. This international tourist attraction place is based on the principle of religious fraternity, as was advocated by Ramakrishna Paramhansa. This is also reflected in the architectural design of Math, which exhibits a blend of temple, church and mosque patterns.

KALIGHAT TEMPLE:

Located on the banks of river Hooghly, Kalighat Kali temple is a very famous temple of the city of joy i.e.KOLKATA. It is dedicated to Goddess KALI, who is believed to be the destroyer as well as liberator. Every year, it has been attracting more and more crowds. Infact, Kolkata Kalighat Kali temple has come in the top list of must see tourist attraction places. For Hindus, Kali temple at Kalighat, Kolkata is one of the most sacred pilgrimage destinations. It is during the months of Bhadra, Paush and Chaitra (according to the Bengali calendar) that Kali temple at Kalighat turns into a convergence point for devotees from al over the world.

Dakshineshwar Temple:

The construction of this fabulous temple was initialized in the year 1847 and got completed in 1855. The credit for the formation of Calcutta Dakshineswar Kali temple goes to the queen Rasmani of Janbazar. Located on the bank of the Ganges, north of Belur Math in Kolkata, it is dedicated to Goddess kali. It is a spacious temple covering an area of about 25 acres.Ramakrishna Paramhansa, the famous spiritual leader is also associated with this temple, as it was over here only that he had worshipped Goddess Kali and formed a rare form of love for her, which is popularly known as maha-bhava in Hinduism.


Nakhoda Mosque :

Nakhoda Mosque is the largest mosque within the city. It can capacitate about 10,000 persons. Located in Jacquaria Street, near the junction of Chitpore Road and Mahatma Gandhi Road, its foundation was laid by Abdar Rahim Osman, a resident of Cutch, in the year 1926. Nakhoda mosque is constructed on the lines of Akbar's tomb in Sikandra.
There are lots of other places to visit like Botanical gardens at Shibpur, Alipore Zoo,Parasnath Jain Temple, fire temple & Armenian Church , St.John's Church, St.Paul's Cathedral , etc which every year is crowded by thousands of people from all over the globe.

Best Time To Visit Calcutta :The best time to visit Kolkata is between October and March when you will conveniently miss the sweaty, humid and suffocating Bengal summer. You will also be in time for the frenzied celebrations of Durga Puja the worship of the goddess of strength, symbolising good over evil. It is a ten-day ritual held in the month of October.

What to eat in Calcutta India ?? Bengali traditional food, especially the yummy mouthwatering sweets are popular all over India. Bengal boasts off its cottage cheese based sweets like sandesh, rosogolla and chanar payesh. Other must try delicacies consist of Misti doi (sweetened curd) and Patali gur confectionery (date palm jaggery). When it comes to Calcutta cuisine, it can be said that each district of Bengal has its own unique dish to offer like Langcha and mihidana-sitaabhog of Bardhaman, sharbhaja of Krishnanagar, chanabora of Murshidabad etc.Below is given a list of some foods one can indulge in Luchi, Cholaar dal,Kochuri and alurdom,Chop-cutlet,Telebhaja,Macher jhol( Fish Curry)

How To Reach Kolkata??

By Air:

It is completely accessible by air. There are a number of domestic airlines that connect Kolkata with other major cities of India like Ahmedabad, Bagdogra, Bangalore, Bhubaneswar, Chennai, Delhi, Guwahati, Hyderabad, Jaipur, Lucknow, Mumbai, and Port Blair. It is also well-linked with many international cities as well.

By Rail:
Kolkata is well linked to other parts of the country by railways. There are super fast trains like Rajdhani Express and Shatabdi Express , Duranto Express that join Calcutta from Delhi and other nearby places. Calcutta consists of two major railway stations; one is located in Howrah and the other at Sealdah.

By Road:
The city of joy is well linked with almost all the cities of India by road. The Esplanade Terminus is the main bus terminus that lies in the heart of the city. The latest development is the starting of Dhaka-Calcutta buses, which are fully air-conditioned and also very comfortable.

Accommodation :

Pronoti Guest house:

Address-CE 119, Sector 1, Salt Lake (near), Telephone Exchange Arunachal Bhawan, Kolkata, 700064 India

LOWEST PRICE: RS.1500

ALIPORE GUEST HOUSE:ADDRESS-42C, Raja Santosh Road, Raja Santosh Road, Kolkata, 700027 IndiaLOWEST PRICE: Rs.1200

Sundarbans

Sundarbans, literally means beautiful forest, is a combined forest in Bangladesh and India and a heaven for photographers and travelers and is the biggest mangrove forest in the world and is a treasure island of biodiversity. The Sundarbans has been declared a UNESCO World Heritage Site. The part of the forest within Indian Territory is called Sundarbans National Park and is in the South 24 Parganas district of West Bengal. The Sundarbans cover an area of 38,500 sq km, of which about one-third is covered in water/marsh areas. Since 1966 the Sundarbans have been a wildlife sanctuary, and it is estimated that there are now 400 Royal Bengal tigers and about 30,000 spotted deer in the area.

Paradise for wild life and greenish dense forest adventures and enthusiastic photographers, looks for the real panoramic region as the canvas, come over to Sundarbans. This forest has the credit of large number of Sundari trees and some claim that Sundarban derived its name from these trees. One who likes nature in its wildest forms, Sundarbans is the prime location which is not to be missed.

It is also the perfect place for the ordinary holiday makers who desire to rest or roam around at will to refresh their mind and feast their eyes with the rich treasure that nature has so fondly bestowed.

Climate

• October to February — winter, cool and temperate
• March to May — summer, hot and humid
• June to September — the monsoon season, wet and windy

PLACES TO SEE :

• Hiron Point a beautiful spot, great for spotting tigers and other wildlife

• Tin Kona Island another popular spot for wildlife spotting.

• Katka a base for safaris, and good spot to see tigers and for bird-watching.

• Dublar Char Island it's possible to fish here.

For people visiting the place from India (West Bengal), the following should form a part of the itinerary:

• Sudhanyakhali Watch Tower - Most of the tigers are sighted from this tower. Some other wildlife like axis deers and crocodiles may also be seen from this watch tower.

• Sajnekhali Watch Tower - Another watch tower that also houses a museum, a Bonobibi Temple and a crocodile park within its premises.

• Sajnekhali Pakiralaya

• Dobanki Watch Tower

• Bhagbatpur crocodile project

• Buridabri

• Netidhopani - It has a temple that’s 400 years old

• Kanak - Ideal for viewing the Olive Ridley Turtles

• Holiday Island - It is famous for the Barking Deers

Do :

Apart from visiting the tourist destinations, you may also take some time-out to go to a nearby village to see the life-style of the local people and talk to them to have an insight into their lives.

Buy :

Some handcrafted articles made by the local people could be good mementos to bring back home.

Eat :

It's best to savor the delicious dishes made of fresh catches from the water. Some of the lodges also have their own kitchen garden to give the guests a sample of fresh produce.

Drink :

It is wise to carry own drinking water or carry water purifier tablet/liquid drop.

Sleep :

- SAJNEKHALI TOURIST LODGE

Address: Hotel Sajnekhali Tourist Lodge, P.O. - Gosaba, District - South 24 Parganas, 743331, West Bengal, India.

Ratings: Government approved. FOR MORE INFORMATION

-SUNDERBAN CHITAL TOURIST LODGE

SITUATED NEAR THE MANGROVE WILD HUB LAND OF SUNDERBAN AT SAJNEKHALI, IS THE BEAUTIFUL GOVT. RUN TOURIST LODGE OF SUNDAR CHITAL. FOR RESERVATION DO CONTACT :- WEST BENGAL TOURIST DEVELOPMENT. FOR MORE INFORMATION

SUNDERBAN TIGER CAMP:

Sunderban Tiger Camp is a luxuary forest resort, amidst of a sprawling 15 bighas of forest land just opposite of Sajnekhali Tiger Reserve Forest, in the heart of sunderbans. Our resorts with all star facilities and services is just a breeze away. FOR MORE INFORMATION

Stay safe :

While as a tourist you are unlikely to face any danger from the local wildlife, it is wise to be informed that two of the most potentially dangerous animals on Earth reside within the Sundarbans. The Sundarbans is well known as the only place left where Bengal Tigers still hunt and kill humans, and they do it regularly. That being said, these victims are always locals who live within the Sundarbans and rely on it for survival, hence there is a "live and let live" policy between man and tiger. Saltwater Crocodiles also inhabit the Sundarbans and are well known to be the largest and (along with the Nile Crocodile) most aggressive reptile on Earth. In the Sundarbans you are unlikely to be in crocodile territory without a large boat, so the risk is minimal. As you can see, while living in the Sundarbans is extremely dangerous, very little risk is posed to the average tourist. Snakes exist, but are primarily either shy or nocturnal, unless you plan on venturing off into the bush alone you don't have much to worry about.

Stay healthy :

As with the rest of tropical Asia, mosquito-borne diseases including (but not limited to) Malaria and Dengue Fever are present within the Sundarbans at varying levels dependent on the season (the Wet season representing the greatest risk.) It is important to note that the most feared animal (by both locals and tourists) within the tropics is the mosquito and represents a greater threat than any man-eater could. Also, as with any rural part of India, drinking water should be limited to bottled only and always use your best judgment when choosing what to eat.

How to reach Sunderbans by Road :

From Calcutta: Namkhana (105 km), Sonakhali (100 km), Raidighi (76 km), Canning (64 km), Najat (92 km).

How to reach Sunderbans by Rail :

The nearest railhead is at Canning, 48 kms away.The nearest town is Gosaba, 50 kms away.

How to reach Sunderbans by Air :

Dum Dum (166kms), is the nearest airport at Calcutta.

How to reach Sunderbans by Water :

Sunderban is only accessible by waterways. Approximate time taken between various points are :

From Namkhana - Bhagabatpur Crocodile Project (2.5 hours)

Sagar Island (2.5 hours)

Jambudwip (3.5 hours)

From Sajnekhali - Sudhanyakhali (40 minutes)

Buridabri (Tiger Project Area) (5 hours)

Netidhopari (3.5 hours)

Holiday Island (3 hours)

From Sonakhali - Gosaba (1 hour)

From Raidighi - Kalas (5 hours)

Digha

Digha (Bengali: দীঘা) is a sea-side resort town in the state of West Bengl, India.It lies in East Midnapore districtand at the northern end of Bay of Bengal. It is the most popular sea resort in West Bengal.Renowned for its beaches,Digha is visited by thousand of visitors every year.

It is located 183 kms. from Kolkata/Howrah via Mecheda and 234 kms from Kharagpur, this proximity has probably helped this small hamlet to emerge as a popular weekend gateway with number of good hotels and lodges.

Area

Digha's old beach is one of very few popular beaches in West Bengal , its get over-crowded, especially,during cool winter break.

A new beach has been developed at NEW DIGHA which is about 2 kms. from the old beach.This new beach is not only bigger than the old one but might be considered as a better one.

The entire stretch of Digha sea-face from Old Digha to New Digha is filled with casauarina plantations which looks beautiful.Tourists come here,bath in sea, stroll by the beach along the casaurina trees and enjoy the sights and scenes offered by this magnificient stretch of sea.

There's also an upcoming sea resort at SHANKARPUR, which is located 10 kms from Digha , along the coast. Another important spot near Dighahiva temple at Chandaneshwar which is 6 km west of Digha. During the Bengali month of Chaitra, a popular annual fair is organised here.

Nearby places of interest

Udaipur: This is a spectacular beach, almost virgin, 2 km west of Digha, in West Bengal Orissa Border. One part of this clandestine beach is in West Bengal and the other in Orissa. One enters this beach just walking or driving along Bengal-Orissa border. Opart of this clandestine beach is in West Bengal and the other in Orissa. One enters this beach just walking or driving along Bengal-Orissa border. This beach has not been explored so far. The beach has some USPs which have to be experienced to be believed. The vegetation, typical of slopes in Eastern Ghats and the great Casuarina atmosphere, makes this beach, a one of a kind experience. The nearby delta, where the mighty Subarnarekha merges into the Bay of Bengal, is an additional attraction.

The Marine Aquarium and Research Centre (MARC) was established in the year 1989 during the Seventh Five Year Plan. The major objective of the Centre is to display the marine biodiversity of the region and impart its values to the common people and to carryout the research activities.
MARC has largest inbuilt marine aquarium in the country and equipped with sea water circulation system and advanced filtration unit. The aquarium has 24 big sized (15x10x10’) marine tanks and 8 fresh water (3x2x2’) tanks which are equipped with compressed air supply, light and regulated supply of inflow & outflow of water.
Hundreds of visitors make it a point to view the Aquarium every day. The aquarium is opened to public on all working days from 9.3 0 A.M. to 6 P. M.

Lord Shiva Temple At Chandeneswar:Only 8 km away from Digha the century old Temple of Lord Shiva at Chandenswar,near Bengal and Orissa Border.Nearly half million people & pilgrims visit the temple at Maha Vishuva Sankranti orGajan Mela : towards the end of Chaitra.

• Junput: It is 40 km away from Digha; famous for fishing.

Shankarpur: Also known as virgin beach, only 14 km east of Digha. It is also a regular fishing harbour. This beach is mostly empty except on weekends. The mornings are cool, when fishermen can be seen hauling their huge nets out of the sea. The morning sun reflecting on the sea waves in the east, and the local fish-boats on the coast offer excellent photographic opportunities.

Subarnarekha River: The salty place where Subarnarekha River draining into Bay of Bengal, only 12 km away from Digha, located in Orissa-Bengal border. This is a new destination for Digha tourists.

Talsari: A small delta on Bay of Bengal, only 6 km away from Digha, located on Bengal-Orissa border. A quiet place, close to both sea and Subarnarekha river.

Mandarmani: IT is a small virgin beach on Bay of Bengal, only a few km from Digha. It is also a small fishing harbour and a fast developing tourist resort.

Transport

By bus

Digha is a 4-5 hour journey by bus from Kolkata.

There are regular and frequent services to Digha from the Bus Terminus (Route 6) in the Garia suburb of Kolkata. Buses run from 4AM to 8.30AM and there is a afternoon bus service from the same state transport depot. Service is regular and residents from Jadavpur, Tollygunj, Rajpur, Sonarpur can easily use the good service.

There are also frequent bus services to Digha from Dharamtala bus stand of Kolkata and many other parts of West Bengal.

There is bus service from Kudghat Bus Stand with two buses daily at 6AM and 8.30AM. There is also service from Dumdum station. The bus leaves Dumdum at 7AM. 2 buses by CSTC from the bus stand near Ruby General Hospital start at 4:30AM and 4:45AM daily. There is bus service from Barrackpore at 6AM and 7.30AM. There is also frequent bus service from Howrah (Suburb of Kolkata) with buses leaving almost the whole day every 30 minutes or so.

By train

It is advisable to make reservations in advance for weekends and national holidays.

• Three trains run daily from Howrah Railway Station at 6.40am (Tamralipta Express), 11.15am (Duranta Express) and 2.40am (Kandari Express) daily. Sometimes special trains are announced on special occasions and holidays. Notice for such trains come on widely circulated newspapers. Journey by Duront Exp (12847) leaving Howrah at 11.15 can be of great experience. The returning times are 10.25am, 1.35 pm and 6.20pm respectively.

• On saturday, There is paharia express which comes from new jalpaiguri and halts at Howrah. This train remains quit empty and very comfortable to travel.

• There is a Local train from Shalimar (Near Howrah) to Digha though the timing is not good. Also there may be some special train.

Sleep

Hotel Sea Hawk. One of the few places in town that doesn't hike up their prices as demand increases. Food is good and room services standard. From Rs 400 for a ground-floor sea-facing double up to Rs 1,500 for an A/C double bed.

Hotel Sea Coast. Barrester colony old Digha, ☎ +919331996392, . checkin: 12 Noon; checkout: 11.45AM. Conference room, centralised A/C, bar & multicuisine restaurant sea facing rooms & family rooms also available. Rs 1,500-2,200.

Hotel Gitanjali. ☎ +913220266204. Doubles for Rs 550 and Rs 850. If you are in a group the 4 bed room is Rs 1,000.

The Palm Resort, . Swimming pool, gym, lake, lawns and villas................

SHANTINIKETAN- A HISTORICAL, TEACHING AND A FESTIVE PLACE.

Santiniketan (Bangla: শান্তিনিকেতন Shantiniketôn) is a small town near Bolpur in the Birbhum, district of West Bengal , India, approximately 180 kilometres north of Kolkata (formerly Calcutta). It was made famous by Nobel Laureate Rabindranth Tagore, whose vision became what is now a university town (Visva Vharti University) that attracts thousands of visitors each year Santiniketan is also a tourist attraction because Rabindranath wrote many of his literary classics here, and his house is a place of historical importance.

Climate

Temperature (deg C) : Summer- Max.39.4, Min.34.3; Winter- Max.15.7, Min.12.1.

The weather in Santiniketan is usually a pleasant one although you will come across the normal weather changes during summer, winter and Monsoon. Nonetheless Spring has its own charm in Santiniketan not only because of its natural beauty blooming to its fullest amidst the lush greenery but also due to the famous Vasanta Utsav held to mark the festival of Holi with the onset of Spring.

Santiniketan can be visited at any time of the year.

Attractions

Prayer Hall/Upasana Griha in Shantiniketan

Prayer Hall

Upasana Griha : A prayer hall, made of several colored Belgium glasses with marble steps on all the four sides by the poet's father in 1863. During evening service, candle is lit around the prayer hall, and it wears a magnificent look in flickering light. Prayers are held on Wednesday.

Dehali

Dehali : Rabindranath used to live with his wife Mrinalini Devi in this two storied building.

China Bhavana

China Bhavana : A centre for Chinese studies. Natir Puja, a dance drama of Tagore is painted on its wall under the guidance of Nandalal Bose, pioneering Indian artist.

Black House

Black House : A mud building known for its relief works done by stalwarts like Ram Kinkar and Prabhas Sen. Usually the final year student of Visva Bharati stay here.

Santiniketan Griha

Santiniketan Griha: The oldest building of Santiniketan.

Kala Bhavan

Kala Bhavan : The College of Fine Arts & Crafts has a museum exhibiting sculptures, frescoes & murals and a library of art books.

Uttarayan Complex

Uttarayan Complex : The poet lived and worked in the Northern Complex consisting of several buildings as : Udayana, Konarka, Shyamali, Punascha and Udichi. The Bichitra ( or, Rabindra Bhavan ) designed by the poet's son Rathindranath Tagore.

Bichitra

Bichitra : Also called Rabindra Bhavan, a Research Centre and Museum where the poet's personal belongings, paintings & various editions of his works are exhibited.

Sangeet Bhavan

Sangeet Bhavan : College of Dance and Music. The University is replete with works on Art, Music and the Humanities.

Chhatimtala

Chhatimtala : Here Maharshi Devendranath, the father of Rabindranath Tagore, used to meditate. Prayers are held usually at Convocation time. Successful graduates of the Vishwa Bharati University are presented a branch of five leaves each from the Saptaparni trees which abound in the area.

Kankalitala

Kankalitala: On the bank of the river Kopai is Knankalitala, one of the sacred Satipithas. A temple there.

Gardens and Parks at Santiniketan

Deer Park

Deer Park : Near Sriniketan, 3 km from Shantiniketan. Originally, the area was a fast eroding `Khowai'. It is now a large wooded area with herds of deer and makes a natural bird sanctuary.

Santiniketan Shopping

Grameen (Bolpur), Sarvodaya Ashram (Bolpur), (Handicrafts & handlooms) Vishwa Bharati Shilpa Sadan (Shantiniketan), Shantiniketan Cooperative Stores (Shantiniketan).

Major events

Numerous social and cultural events taking place throughout the year, have become part and parcel of Santiniketan.These include - Basanta Utsav, Barsha Mangal, Sharodutsav, Nandan Mela, POUSH MELA Magh Mela, Rabindra Jayanti to name a few. Of these, the Poush Mela deserves special mention, this being a major tourist attraction.It is a 3-day fair (Bengali, mela means a fair ),starting on the seventh day of the Bengali month Poush(usually, last week of December).It fetches not just tourists, but also artisans, folk singers, dancers, and the traditional BAULfrom the neighbourhood.

Famous To Eat at Santiniketan

The food here is Bengali, one must try the fish curry, brinjal curry because the bengalis here are famous for their fish curry.

How to reach Santiniketan?

Santiniketan By Air

Kolkata International airport is the nearest aerodrome to Shantiniketan. Kolkata is about 210 km from Santiniketan.

Santiniketan By Train

Bolpur is the nearest railway station to Santiniketan, which is just 2 km away. Bolpur is connected to Kolkata by express trains. All major cities in India are connected to Bolpur via Kolkata railhead.

Santiniketan By Bus

State owned buses connect nearest cities with Santiniketan.

Accomodation:

There are number of good hotels and lodges in and around santiniketan, to name a few :

Mark & Meadows
Tariff: Rs 1500-3000
4th Floor
48A Dr Sundari Mohan Avenue
Kolkata-700 014
Tel: 91-033-244 8254/ 245 0179
Fax: 91-033-245 8831
Email: markhotel@indiamail.com

Santiniketan Tourist Lodge
Address: West Bengal Tourism Development Corporation
Place:Bolpur
Rate: Rs.300 to Rs.1150
Telephone: 03463-252699 / 252398


Bolpur Lodge
Address: Bhuban Danga
Place: Bolpur
Rate: Rs.150 to Rs.300
Phone: 03463-252662 / 252737

Ranga Mati Tourist Lodge
Address:Road Bolpur
Rate: Rs.310 to Rs.750
Telephone: 03463-252305

*(All rates are for one night)