Santiniketan Tourism (2019) - West Bengal

"Rabindranath Tagore's Eternal Abode"

Santiniketan Tourism

Known to few, mainly as Rabindranath Tagore's home and now a university, Santiniketan is a small town located in the Birbhum district of West Bengal. The town comprises mainly of Visva Bharati University.

The University was set up by Rabindranath Tagore's father and later popularized by him to radically change the concept of education in India. Today, this beautifully laid out university and small sleepy town has acquired the status of a unique tourist haven, where lines of knowledge and aesthetic brilliance merge.

Places to Visit In Santiniketan

Tagore's ashrama

Poush Mela

Amar Kutir

Rabindra Bhaban Museum

Chattimtala

Khoai Mela

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Top Hotels In Santiniketan

The Garden Bungalow

8.6 (5 reviews)

₹ 2,000 onwards

Lodge Lipika

6.1 (12 reviews)

₹ 950 onwards

Sri Krishna Chaitanya Hotel

6.0 (7 reviews)

₹ 1,184 onwards

Prokriti Bon Bungalow

5.4 (14 reviews)

₹ 1,675 onwards

Raktokorobi Karu Gram

₹ 4,000 onwards

1 BR Guest house in Bolpur (BDA6), by GuestHouser

₹ 2,491 onwards

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The Tagore Connection

Santiniketan is best known as the residing place of Rabindra Nath Tagore for an extended period. This is the place where his father, Debendranath Tagore, indulged in spiritual pursuits as well. Places like Tagore's ashrama, Chattimtala, Rabindra Bhaban Museum and Uttrayan complex make up for great tourist attraction. They play a significant role as a tie between the present and the history. These places can provide great stimulation to history lovers, as many of the old items related to the Tagores are also available for the visitors.

Restaurants and Local Food in Santiniketan

Santiniketan has a variety of eating places and cuisines to offer. The campus of Visva Bharati and the surrounding town has a number of small and medium restaurants.
Beer and wine shops are sparsely located but a drink that is worth trying is the rice beer, especially popular during all the fares. It's much lighter than normal beer but is brewed in the region and not easy to find elsewhere.
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One Day Itinerary

Day 1: Reach Santiniketan and freshen up at your hotel. Visit Tagore's ashrama which was built by Debendranath Tagore on his arrival at Santiniketan. Then, go to Chattimtala which is known as his meditation spot. Head towards Rabindra Bhaban Museum which is the home to the remaining valuable items of the Tagore family.

Day 2: Dedicate the day to artistic revelations. Visit Kala Bhavan which empowers artistic ability among students. Then go to Amar Kutir where handcrafted items are exhibited. Go to Uttrayan Complex which was an abode to Rabindranath Tagore. Visit Nippon Bhavan which is dedicated to strengthening India and Japan's diplomatic relations.

Best Time to Visit Santiniketan

Commuting within Santiniketan

Santiniketan Photos

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Holidify's Opinion

What's Great?

Rich in culture. Reflects the heritage of India due to its strong historical roots. Home to gorgeous gardens. Events like Pousmela and Basanta Utsav also attract a lot of tourists.

What's Not So Great?

No airways connectivity. Not an all-weather tourist spot. Quite small in area so fewer options for sightseeing. Not easy to reach from other parts of the country directly.

For Whom?

Santiniketan is the perfect place for those people who like to travel to unpopular places and explore the unknown. It can also stimulate those individuals who like to indulge into history and heritage. Moreover, Santiniketan is the right place for those people who want to understand how different festivals are celebrated in West India.

How To Reach Santiniketan

Santiniketan cannot be reached directly via airways due to the lack of air connectivity. You have to rely on Kolkata's international airport if you are travelling via plane. Santiniketan doesn't have a railway station either, but Bolpur's railway station is quite near Santiniketan and can be used as the deboarding place. Santiniketan has an excellent connectivity via roadways, as taxis and buses are available.

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Santiniketan Reviews

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Partha Khan 1 month ago

Another beautiful weekend destination where you can find cultural heritage meeting with nature's grace. Simply entertaining and relaxing. "Link Hidden"

Saikat Das 10 months ago

Beautiful place for one or two days.

Sukanya Ghosh 11 months ago

This is a perfect on-budget place for a weekend getaway with homely accommodation and food. I recommend visiting during winter or spring, also not staying for more than a week. There are historic sites such as Tagore's house, the university he founded, Khoyi haat, etc. only drawbacks are there are frequent power cuts and plenty of mosquitoes.

Santiniketan

"Rabindranath Tagore's Eternal Abode"