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Sightseeing Highlights:
The main highlight in Santiniketan is, undoubtedly, the Visva Bharati University and it?s various departments, such as Kala Bhawan, one of the best Fine Arts Colleges in the country; Sangeet Bhavan (Centre of Dance, Drama and Music); Shiksha Bhawan (Institute of Science); China Bhavan (Centre of Chinese Studies); and Rabindra Bhavan (Institute of Tagore Studies) to name a few. In keeping with gurukul traditions, classes are held outdoors, and it is a treat to see students congregate under shady trees.
The campus is also home to the Uttarayan Complex, the Tagore family abode, where Rabindranath used to reside and created most of his literary works. The Vichitra Museum and Art Gallery is a great place to see memorabilia belonging to the celebrated poet, and includes displays of his writings, sketches and paintings. The campus also hosts musical evenings, when dance dramas written by Rabindranath are performed.
Other Activities:
Santiniketan is extremely popular for its fairs and festivals - the most prominent one being the Poush Mela. This three-day long affair takes place in December marking the harvest season and features live performances by folk singers, dancers and the traditional Bauls, wandering minstrels singing Bengali songs. The festival is also an excellent time to shop for traditional Bengali handicrafts, folk jewellery, leather goods and batik prints.
The nearby village of Kenduli, which is the birthplace of the eminent Bengali poet, Jaydev, is also worth a visit. It was here that the poet composed his most famous creation, the Geeta Govinda, an ode to Lord Krishna. Kenduli is also a base for the annual folk-song festival, Kenduli Mela, which is held in January and showcases the music of hundreds of Bauls. Nearby, the Ballavpur Wildlife Sanctuary, home to several deer, foxes, jackals and water birds, makes for an interesting stop.
Tourism info:
Govt. of India Tourist Office,
Embassy, 4, Shakespeare Sarani,
Kolkata - 700071.
Tel: 033-2421402, 2425813
West Bengal Information Centre,
A/2, State Emporia Building,
Baba Kharak Singh Marg,
New Delhi - 110001
Tel : 011-3732840
Recognised as one of India's most prestigious centres for higher education, the small university town of Santiniketan is situated about 180 km north of Kolkata. It primarily came into prominence when the Nobel laureate, Rabindranath Tagore, founded the university, known as Visva Bharati, here in 1921. Today, its vast campus grounds, open-air classes and tranquil atmosphere attract hundreds of visitors, as does the fact that Rabindranath penned several of his literary classics on these very grounds.
Interestingly, Santiniketan, which means 'abode of peace,' was initially named after a local dacoit and known as Bhubandanga. This was changed by the Tagore family, who owned the town, and subsequently Rabindranath's father established an ashram here, inviting people from all over the world for meditation and prayers. Soon after, Rabindranath opened a school and then a university here, which were modelled on the gurukul system of education and promoted learning in a natural setting. |
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