Shantiniketan

Shantiniketan

An International University, Shantiniketan was established by Nobel Laureate Rabindranath Tagore, where the Eastern and the Western cultures are meet and blend. While representing Indian traditions Vishva-Bharati University also incorporates the best of other cultures.

In 1863, Maharishi Devendranath Tagore established Shantiniketan, the peaceful Ashram or hermitage. In 1901, his son, Rabindranath Tagore transformed this Ashram as an experimental open-air school. This school was very successful and gradually it became the nucleus of a University.

Santiniketan is a museum of impressive sculptures, frescoes, murals and paintings of Rabindranath, Nandlal Bose, Ramkinkar, Bindobehari Mukhopadhyaya and others, which decorate the campus. Tagore lived in the Uttarayan complex, which comprises a number of architecturally exceptional buildings such as the Udayana, Konark, Shyamali, Punascha and Udichi. The Kala Bhavan, Rabindra Bhavan, Uttarayan Gardens draws the attention of the tourists, who visit at Santiniketan. Almost 3 km from Shantiniketan is Sriniketan, which is established by Tagore for rural development. Sriniketan is a centre of agriculture, adult education, village welfare, cottage industries and handicrafts.

Visiting Hours at Shantiniketan
In Winter from 14:00 p.m to 16:30 p.m
In Summer from 14:30 p.m to 17:30 p.m
During vacations, the visiting time is from 7:30 a.m to 11:00 a.m

Fairs and Festivals, which celebrated in Shantiniketan
Shantiniketan is renowned for its a variety of festivals, which mark the changing seasons. The most important festivals of Shantiniketan are; Poush Mela or Poush Utsav
(December), Maghotsab (February), Basanta Utsab (March), Varsha Mangal (July-August), Sharodutsab (Oct-Nov).
The other festivals, which celebrated in Shantiniketan, are; Rabindra Janmotsab, Briksharopan etc.

There are a number of interesting places located in and around Shantiniketan, some of them are listed below:
  -  Kankalitala (9km)
  -  Deer Park (4 km)
  -  Joydev-Kenduli (30 km)
  -  Nonoor (18 km)
  -  Bakreshwar (58 km)
  -  Tarapith (88 km)
  -  Lavpur-Fullara (30 km)
  -  Saintha- Nandesawari (44 km)
  -  Nalhati (100 km)
  -  Massanjore (75km)

Where to stay at Shantiniketan
Accommodation is not a problem at Shantiniketan. There are many hotels, lodges, Resorts and private bunglows in Shantiniketan to stay in and some of them are,
  -  Shantiniketan Tourist Lodge
  -  Chutti Holiday Resort
  -  Hotel Camellia

How to get to Shantiniketan
  -  By Air: The nearest airport is Kolkata 213 km.
  -  By Rail: The nearest rail station is Bolpur, 2 km away from Shantiniketan. Trains connect Bolpur with Howrah/Sealdah (Kolkata).
  -  By Road: Roads connect Shantiniketan with Kolkata 213 kms (Bolpur 2-Panagarh 44-Burdwan 48-Calcutta 119), Durgapur 56 kms, Sarnath 197 kms.
  -  Local Transport: Tourist cars and buses are accessible.

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