Santiniketan is a small town near Bolpur in the Birbhum district of West Bengal, India, approximately 180 kilometres north of Kolkata.
Rabindranath’s father, Maharshi Debendranath Tagore, found it very peaceful and renamed it Santiniketan, which means abode (niketan) of peace (shanti). Later on Rabindranath Tagore transformed it into an educational place. It first started on December 22nd, 1901, as a school named Brahmachary Asrama modeled on the lines of the ancient gurukul system. But after he received the Nobel Prize (1913), the school was expanded into a university in 1921, but in 1951, it became one of the central universities of India. It was renamed Visva Bharati, its symbolic meaning being defined by Tagore as “where the world makes a home in a nest”.
Many world famous teachers have become associated with it. Indira Gandhi, Satyajit Ray, Abdul Ghani Khan, Jahar Dasgupta and Nobel Laureate Amartya Sen are among its more well-known students.
Santiniketan is also home to Amartya Sen, the 1998 Nobel Prize winner in Economics.Kala Bhavana, the art college of Santiniketan, is still considered one of the best art colleges in the world. Other institutions here include Vidya Bhavana; the Institute of Humanities, Shiksha Bhavana; the Institute of Science, Sangit Bhavana; Institute of Dance, Drama and Music, Vinaya Bhavana; Institute of Education, Rabindra Bhavana, Institute of Tagore Studies and Research, Palli-Samgathana Vibhaga; Institute of Rural Reconstruction, and Palli Shiksha Bhavana; Institute of Agricultural Sciences. There are also other centres, affiliated to major institutions such as Nippon Bhavana, the Indira Gandhi Centre for National Integration, Rural Extension Centre, Silpa Sadana; Centre for Rural Craft, Technology and Design, Palli-Charcha Kendra; Centre for Social Studies and Rural Development, Centre for Biotechnology, Centre for Mathematics Education, Centre for Environmental Studies, Computer Centre and Indira Gandhi Centre for National Integration.
Shantiniketan is also famous for its various festivals which mark the changing seasons. The major festivals are Poush Mela (December), Maghotsab (February), Basanta Utsab(March), Varsha Mangal (July-August), Sharodutsab (Oct-Nov). These are the best times to visit Shantiniketan.
Poush Mela: A major landmark on the Bengali’s culture calendar is almost as old as Shantiniketan. On the Seventh day of Poush in late December of 1843, Maehashi Debendranath Tagore became a Brahmo under the guidance of Ram Chabdra Bigyabagish. A fair is held at Shantiniketan from 7th to 9th Poush and Visva Bharati observes its foundation day. Tribal sports dances and folk songs including songs by Bauls, the-wandering minstrels of Bengal, are a part of the fair and festivities.
A landmark of Santiniketan , the BRAMHACHARYASRAM was constructed in 1863 . The beautiful glasshouse is actually a prayer hall.
Timings:
Shantiniketan:
2.30 p.m. – 5.00 p.m. (summer)
2.15 p.m. – 4.30 p.m. (winter)
7.00 a.m. – 12 noon (summer vacation)
Hotels at Shantiniketan:
There are tourist lodges and tourist cottages run by the West Bengal Tourism Development Corporation. Besides, Visva Bharati runs a guesthouse. One will find youth hostels at Bolpur and Bakreswar. There are also private hotels at Bolpur (Santiniketan).
A few are listed below;
-Gangtok Lodge
-Lovely Guest House
-Tata Housing Kolkata
Hotel Camellia
Tariff: Rs 950-2500
Prantic
Santiniketan
Bolpur
Birbhum, West Bengal
Tel: 91-03463-54778/ 55044/ 55043
Fax: 91-03463-55044
Chhuti Holiday Resort
Tariff: Rs 700-1200
241, Charupally
Jamboni
Santiniketan, Bolpur-731 204
Tel: 91-03463-52692/ 55015
Fax: 91-03463-220 2827
Email: chhuti@cal.vsnl.net.in
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