Santiniketan-Famous Tourist Spot of West Bengal
Santiniketan, hometown of great poet Rabindranath Tagore, is one of the most important tourist spots of West Bengal. Santiniketan is famous as a center of learning having its one of the well known Universities of world, Vishwa Bharati University. This place has many other tourist attractions spots, which are also worth visiting. Read this article to get more details to know how to reach this place, where to stay and what to see there.
Introduction of Santiniketan
Santiniketan is a small town situated in Bribhum district of West Bengal, very near to Bolpur. Santiniketan is the hometown of Nobel laureate Rabindra Nath Tagore and he founded here the Vishwa Bharati University in the year 1921. Santiniketan is a very beautiful place, which is surrounded by many gardens and parks and many other tourist spots.How to reach Santiniketan
By Rail
Santiniketan is easily accessible by rail form Howrah and Sealdah Stations in Kolkata. Bolpur Railway station is the nearest rail station to Santiniketan. Regular train services are available from Howrah, Sealdah Railway station to reach Bolpur Station. Some noted trains are Howrah-Bolpur Santiniketan Express, Sealdah-Mughalsarai Express, Kanchenjunga Express, Tarapith Passenger and Danapur Express.
By Road
Buses ply daily from Esplanade Kolkata to take you to Bolpur. You can also drive your own car and can take the Panagarh-Burdwan-Kolkata route to reach Bolpur. It is nearly 4hrs journey.Where to Stay in Bolpur
There are good numbers of lodges and hotels to stay in Bolpur. One can stay in Santiniketan Tourist Lodge runned by West Bengal Development Corporation. One can contact at 03463-252600/252398 for booking.
Some other hotels to stay in Santiniketan are Chutti Holiday Resort (03463-252692), Bolpur Lodge (03463-252661), Ranga Mati Tourist Lodge (03463-252305) and Hotel Camellia (03463-262043)Best Time to visit Santiniketan
The best time to visit this place is during months of October to March. One can visit this place during the Dol Jatra or Holi festival.\What to see in Santiniketan
Vishwa Bharati University
Vishwa Bharati University is the main attraction for the tourists in this place. All major disciplines are taught here and students from various parts of India and even outside India come here to gain knowledge on various disciplines. This university has various Bhavans, which are worth visiting. They are Kala Bhavan-college for crafts and fine arts, Sangeet Bhavan—college for music and dance and China Bhavan-center for Chinese studies.
Uttarayan Complex
This Complex is also a must see place. It consists of several buildings where Rabindranath Tagore used to lived. There is also a Prayer Hall inside this complex where Brahmo prayers are held on every Wednesday. This place is made of Belgiun glass and has a polished marble floor. Thisplace is very much neat and clean.
One can also visits some nearby places in Santiniketan. Some of the noted nearby places are Kankalitala (one of the Hindu Shrines), Deer Park (Ballabhpur Wildlife Sanctuary), Nanoor (small town near Bolpur and birthplace of famous poet Chandidas), Jaydev Kenduli (birthplace of Jaydev) and Tarapith.
One can also just spent their time by relaxing and walking in the gardens and parks surrounding Santiniketan.
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