We were spending a couple of days in Durgapur my second home for almost three decades now. And that’s when I received a call from a longtime colleague and friend of mine. “I heard you are in Durgapur. Why not visit and stay in my place in Shantiniketan? It’s so close from there, she said”. For the traveler in me this was an offer which I just could not refuse as I had been searching for a place like this for a while. A home amidst the green. So our plans were made and the next day we were heading to this beautiful homestay in Shantiniketan.
Road journeys are refreshing
Winter months are very special in India and rural Bengal at its greenest best during this time. As the new crops start getting sowed in this part of India after harvesting of rice and potatoes, the most beautiful of sights are the green and yellow mustard fields as you drive around the countryside. And then it was time for our chai.
Our stop midway
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Homestay location
Shanti Shristi is one of the most beautiful residential complexes in Shantiniketan having seen a few in recent years. As the tagline suggests, it is truly an abode of peace. With most owners having invested in the apartments or villas as their second homes and visiting occasionally, the campus has a cool calmness about it be it morning, afternoon, evenings or late in the night. Experience it with us as we walk in and check out our homestay.
The beautiful campus
Shantiniketan, the land of nobel laureate Rabindranath Tagore is all about art, sculpture, music, dance, culture, beliefs, traditions and beauty. You can get a feel of it in almost every home that you see when you walk around the campus.
Odyssey- the Club
A family of Guards
They are all around the place in groups of two, three and later in the night four together mom included. Only one guy loves to go solo. The good thing is that they won’t follow you, just look at you sweetly and wag their tails. They don’t shout or bark except for once when we heard all the kids screaming just outside our door. Had a tough time separating them. After all they were the young warriors fighting for their share of the mat, the best way to keep warm in the freezing cold of Shantiniketan.
Our Apartment
The homestay is a two bedroom apartment with large beds, air conditioners, a television, two toilets with geyser in one, a balcony, a small sit-out lawn and a kitchen with basic utensils, cutlery, tea and coffee. It also has an electric kettle, RO purifier and a small gas stove to prepare your breakfast if you so wish. The bread and omelettes.
You also have the services of a maid who cleans up the place, utensils and makes your morning and evening tea/coffee if you ask her to. Also she can organize food from a nearby dhaba if you love your roti subzi, tarka or chicken kasha. Additionally there are few good Bengali restaurants nearby who do home delivery be it breakfast, lunch or dinner. Come let’s check out the place.
A fresh coat of paint in the kitchen soon to remove isolated stains and a mirror missing now in one of the toilets will make it just the perfect home for you and your family. We just loved our two nights stay here amidst the green and peace. The owners are great people who are keen for your feedback and are always looking for suggestions to make your stay most comfortable and memorable. The only necessity that most of us expect but they don’t provide are towels because they believe it’s best using our own.
Our celebrations while there
It was January 22nd our first night there in Shantiniketan and it was such a very special day for all followers of Hinduism around the world. It was the day Ram Mandir was inaugurated in Ayodhya and we celebrated in our own small way by lighting some candles and welcoming the deity home.
Shanti Shristi at night
Experience the heavenly peace of the place as we walk around the complex a little late on a really cold and breezy winter night. Enjoy the trip with me.
Bong Food Around??
Just a 5 minute walk away from Shanti Shristi is this nice restaurant Mache Bhate Bangali with an impressive menu of Bengali delicacies including the Thali. The young guy at the cash counter Megh Nath Ghosh was all welcoming and promised quick delivery of breakfast, lunch, dinner if we wanted it at our homestay apart from dining there. You can connect with the restaurant on +91 8617014657
Must Visit for breakfast
If you love to get the local flavor of the land when traveling and love kachoris, this shop is a must visit if you are staying in and around Prantik area. Even otherwise while in Shantiniketan a visit to Kankalitala Mandir is a must for praying and offering Puja to Goddess Kali. And to reach there you got to go through Prantik area passing the Prantik station.
While returning after offering your Pujas, you will be crossing the tracks near Prantik station and turning right. The road immediately turning left takes you to this shop which is only a few meters away. Ask anyone Sanatda, Sanat Adhikary’s shop.
And if you are totoing around this side in the evenings stop by for their hot Singharas. They are nice. And totos the best way of experiencing this lovely city and its pride the Visva Bharati University.
Totos
Shantiniketan is an eco-friendly city and totos the electric vehicles its lifeline. The best way to go around if you wish to do sightseeing is to hire one for the day. It will work out cheaper than hiring a new one everytime while hopping between landmarks. And the drivers are all great guides as well.
We were lucky to have Prashanto with us who stays almost next door and who turned out to be an exceptional guy. Passionate about taking us to newer landmarks and the ones we had never visited despite so many trips earlier. He helped us to rediscover Shantiniketan during our two days there and made our homestay so much more sweeter.
Does this homestay sound exciting? It surely was such a great stay for us. You too could make it your home for a couple of days at a great price. And it is good to host 4 adults and a few children including teenagers. Send Travelwisesr your enquiry with your name, dates and number of persons.
For Bookings What’s App on +91 99106 60937
Shantiniketan. A cultural paradise that you’ll love going back to again and again. And again.
If you loved being in Shanti Shristi homestay, PIN it for booking & forward for friends!
