It’s been a month of seeing some wonderful sunrises. And some beautiful sunsets as well. First on a dream solo holiday for 2 days to a rural Bengal farmhouse and then this WOW trip soon thereafter. Four friends together for a holiday after almost four decades in my little brother’s new second home. Subesh my brother, his wife Munni, Pratip our common friend and me with our friendship dating back ages. Moreover we had Munni’s two sweetheart elder sisters Didibhai and Bula with us all the while during our best of 2 nights in Shantiniketan. And how we waited for this moment to arrive.
The journey
We had booked our tickets for the morning Ganadevta Express departing Howrah station at 6.05 AM for my brother and myself. The others were to follow later by the 10.10 AM Shantiniketan Express. Our advantage was that we would reach early, organize the housekeeping part and also get more out of the day. And secondly our train had a stop at Prantik, the station after Bolpur from where the property was just a five minute walk. For the benefit of first time travelers, Bolpur is the main station in Shantiniketan, the home of nobel laureate Rabindranath Tagore.
A short walk from Prantik station was this roadside sweet shop, also famous for their Kochuri & tarkari. Therefore we decided to have our favorite breakfast first and some sweets before taking the walk further down to our sweet home for the next two nights.
The first feel of ‘Sonar Taree’
Sonar Taree is built up in a nice green natural ambiance with lot of open space. And it’s a second home to owners living mostly in Kolkata and visiting occasionally on weekends. It was 9 AM on a Wednesday morning and there was nobody around. Except the two of us, the guard, a lady who was probably a help, few gardeners and some artists doing a painting job in a few houses. The peace around was just what the heart had desired.
The walk to our home
And that’s our home
A beautiful home
With nature to give you company
And a garden full of flowers
Our fun time together
Watching the sunrise
Relaxed mornings
Cheerful afternoons
And lazy evening walks
Enjoying the sunset
Home delivered Dhaba food
Our time out
Sonajhuri Haat
On the banks of Khoai river, this open air shopping arena Sonajhuri Haat is famous for its Saturday haat. However even on weekdays there is enough variety of local handicrafts, textile dresses, quilts, shawls, bags, purses, sarees, paintings and fashion jewelry to choose from. Shop your heart out and then enjoy a Santhali tribal folk dance performance.
Amar Kutir
Amar Kutir was founded by freedom fighter Late Susen Mukhopadhya in 1923 with objectives as envisaged by Rabindranath Tagore in his experiments with rural reconstruction at Sriniketan.
After independence, Amar Kutir became a cooperative to rejuvenate and develop rural handicrafts, reflecting the ideals of self-help and sustainable rural development. The complex is quite interesting and a shopper’s paradise. Let’s look around a bit.
Shopping
Roaming around
Experiencing Malayasian Batic drawing
A walk to Kopai river next door
Rounding off with a short Baul performance
Bengali lunch at Amarkutir Henshel Ghar
A morning visit to Kankalitala Mandir
Kankalitala Mandir is a sacred Hindu temple and is recognized as one of the 51 Shakti Peethas in India. It is believed that the waist of Devi Sati fell in Kankalitala after the body was divided into pieces by Lord Vishnu’s Sudarshan Chakra. Attending an early morning Puja was truly a divine experience.
Stop by at a Nolen Gur (Date Palm Jaggery) Shop
Tips for first time travelers
Transport
Other must visit places
Visva Bharati Campus
Surul Rajbari
Our journey back
All part of life
A close friend of mine saw a few photographs of our beautiful home on Facebook couple of days back and messaged me. “Hi can I too have access to this homestay on a weekend? Well probably in the new year for selected family and friends. Those who would love and maintain the place as their own.
Till then Book your Shantiniketan hotel on Travelwisesr Holidays
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Really detailed and supported with beautiful photographs. Gives you a real feel of the place.
Thank you Chandrima.
I’m with you on leaving early! I’d rather get up and get started, especially before things get crowded. That was smart! The place you stayed looks so lovely with the creamy white outside, and it looks like you had plenty of time to relax there. I love all of the outdoor vendors — it seems like there was quite a selection to purchase from.
Yeah Jennifer early mornings are always so nice. And yes the variety of stuff on offer in Shantiniketan is just amazing.
Your little brother’s house is nice. I really like the garden where you hang out and had lots of fun making memories with family and friends. Lots of interesting places to visit around Shantiniketan. I want to try the fresh date juice. I have never tried it before.
Even I tried out the date juice Umiko for the first time. It was so fresh and tasty I had a second glass as well.
You stayed in a beautiful place. I have been wanting to visit Shantiniketan for years! Now, this post has got things clear in my head. I think from Delhi, I would keep a week for this blissful, green place. I like the slow travel experience–the haat, Amar Kutir, walks and only the breeze.
OMG I can’t believe this felt like I was reading my own trip that I made in 2013 April!!! I had visited the Kankalitala temple, the Rajbari temple, Amar Kutir, those souvenirs. Missed the Nolen Gur experience though, it is possible only in winters. I had visited the museum, where photography wasn’t allowed. Great post, loved reading it.
Thank you Indrani. So happy to hear that you could relive your trip through mine.
Two nights in Shantiniketan seems to be an excellent idea for chilling in this beautiful area. Especially as the houses are so charming and surrounded by nature, I would stay even a week in this scenery with this garden, palms, and a lot of space. I love the banana tree and lemon tree and their smell. Also, it’s great that the area is charming and you can enjoy sunsets together. I would love to try this Dhaba food and shop on Saturday Haat. I would love to experience Batic drawing as well.
Come over Agnes to India. There is so much to experience. Shantiniketan is in the eastern part of our country and there are many more exciting destinations this side.
What a lovely place to stay when you visited Shantiniketan to visit family – inside and outside. I can see why your friends would want to stay at this place. I love the variety of goods at the market. I would surely shop my heart out. It looks like you had a busy time on your visit.
Yeah Linda we made the very best of our two days there in Shantiniketan.
Shantiniketan is such an amazing and relaxing place. I have been to Shantiniketan thrice and I can’t help falling in love with the place each time I go. The handicrafts and tribal dance at shonajhuri, local cuisine at Amar kutir, the Tagore museum at Vishwabharati campus and the hustle and bustle of Poush mela. But we never visited the Kankalitala temple and saw the making of authentic nolen gur. I would definitely love to see it next time I visit.
Next time you plan do let me know and you two and we two can catch up there Puloma.
What a perfect way to spend time with friends. The food looks really good + love the idea of watching the sunset and lazy evening walks. I enjoyed reading this.
Thanks Clarice. Glad you enjoyed our journey.
I love the look of Sonar Taree, with the tree lined streets and white buildings. And the food looks amazing, too – especially the Chicken Roti dinner. I think it would be fun to cruise around the city in a toto! I am fascinated by the batik process and would love to try date juice!
Yes Jackie it’s a peace destination. And the name Shantiniketan means a peace abode. Do come over sometime to India to experience these fabulous destinations.
oh great tips. still on my travel list
Thanks Gederedita.
We would also like to visit at Shantiniketan. Kind help in booking Sonar tari GH
Hi Rajib.Unfortunately Sonar Tari is a residential property and was staying in my cousin’s place. However you can check out hotels in Shantiniketan on our travel booking website
http://www.travelwisesrholidays.com