santiniketan tourist lodge online booking

LOGIN SIGNUP

• +91 81455 84286 +91 94348 60604
• Government Resorts
• Shantobitan Tourism Property

Shantobitan Tourism Property (Shantiniketan Tourist Lodge)

Inquire Now!

You can call us at our helpline +91 81455 84286 +91 94348 60604

Have a convenient stay at Shantobitan Tourism Property on your visit to Shantiniketan. This is an initiative of the West Bengal government to provide a wonderful ambiance through accommodation. Shantiniketan is quite popular for its ancestry. As we all know, this is the place where Nobel laureate Rabindranath Tagore made his own school. Later, the place became a university-town enriched with historical essence. Therefore, this place attracts numerous tourists across the globe. Previously known as Shantiniketan Tourist Lodge, this niche offers you a perfect place to unwind at this pristine place. You will have a great experience here with all sorts of imposing services as well as a placid ambiance. Enjoy the serene vicinity and explore the mind-blowing surroundings of Shantiniketan by staying here. As the location of the tourist lodge is very near to Shantiniketan, you can easily get there and explore the classical aura of the place. There are plenty of attractions here. Have a look into the old paintings of Rabindranath Tagore, Nandalal Bose, Ramkinkar Beij, etc. Moreover, you can see the old appliances used then as well as the ancient constructions. Return back to the lodge after having a blissful roaming at Shantiniketan and spend a relaxing time here. From a cozy bed to luscious food at the restaurant, this lodge will definitely satisfy you with its great service and offerings. It is so comfortable that you will like to spend more days to stay here.

Amenities of Shantobitan Tourism Property

After you check-in to the tourist lodge, you will be overwhelmed by the gentle gesture of the staff. They assure you to fulfill your gratification with their effort of service. Shantobitan Tourism Property offers you numerous facilities to make your stay a wonderful time to remember. Apart from the basic needs they offer some useful amenities, for example-

• Room service
• Color television
• Free internet access
• Laundry service
• Good and clean rooms
• Attached bathrooms with western toilets
• Local sightseeing
• Restaurant, etc.

How to reach Shantiniketan Tourist Lodge

Train is the most convenient way of transport to reach Shantobitan Tourism Property. Bolpur, under Birbhum district, is the nearest station to reach here. From the station, you can get a cab or any public transport. From Bolpur it is just 2-3 kilometers. On the other hand, if you are planning your trip here by flight, then the nearest airport is the Kolkata airport. Netaji Subhas Chandra Bose International Airport, Dum Dum is the option for flights. From the airport, you can avail either a train from the railway station or by road covering 160 long kilometers you can reach the tourist lodge.

How to book Shantobitan Tourism Property

You can book your accommodation here through us. We offer an amenable service to book your room according to your preference. Shantiniketan is a well-known tourist attraction here; hence, Shantiniketan Tourist lodge remains full most of the time. But, we can book rooms depending on the availability of the rooms in an early manner.

Other Government Resorts In Dooars

HOLLONG TOURIST LODGE

GORUMARA ECO-VILLAGE KALIPUR

GORUMARA ELEPHANT CAMP, DHUPJHORA

GORUMARA RHINO CAMP, RAMSAI

CHAPRAMARI WILDERNESS CAMP, PANJHORA

BANANI FOREST BUNGALOW MURTI

MURTI TOURIST LODGE

MENDABARI JUNGLE CAMP

BARODABRI (MALANGI- LODGE)

RAJABHATKHAWA (BUXA-JUNGLE LODGE)

NEORA JUNGLE CAMP LATAGURI

JALDAPARA TOURIST LODGE

TILOTTAMA TOURISM PROPERTY

JHALLONG RIVER CAMP

SUNTALEKHOLA (SAMSING)

SAMSING FOREST REST HOUSE

MONGPONG (NATURE EDUCATION AND WILDERNESS RESORT)

PAREN NATURE RESORT

GORUMARA TENTS, MURTY

LOLEGAON NATURE RESORT

LAVA NATURE COTTAGE

LEPCHAJAGAT FOREST BUNGALOW

MOUCHUKI CAMP (SAMSING)

RASIKBIL ECO RESORT

GORUMARA HORNBILL NEST, BICHABHANGA

BHORER ALO TOURISM PROPERTY

BATABARI TOURISM PROPERTY

BONOLOKKHI TOURISM PROPERTY

MAINAK TOURISM PROPERTY

SOUTH KHAYERBARI

MANEBHANJAN TREKKERS' HUT

CHATAKPUR ECO HUT

DARJEELING TOURIST LODGE

MORGAN HOUSE TOURISM PROPERTY

KURSEONG TOURIST LODGE

TASHIDING TOURISM PROPERTY

TEESTA SUNDORI TOURISM PROPERTY

MALDA TOURIST LODGE

NEORA VALLLEY JUNGLE CAMP

BODAGANJ ECO TOURISM CENTRE

GORUBATHAN FOREST REST HOUSE

JAYANTI TOURIST LODGE

KALIMPONG SHAILABAS

SUNTALEKHOLA RIVER CAMP

BALUTOT TOURISM PROPERTY

BISHNUPUR TOURISM PROPERTY

BOHOR TOURISM PROPERTY

DIGHALI TOURISM PROPERTY

DINANTEY TOURISM PROPERTY

GARCHUMUK ECO TOURISM CENTRE

JHARGRAM PROKRITI PORJOTON KENDRO

JHARGRAM RAJBARI TOURISM PROJECT

KALIGHAT PILGRIMAGE FACILITATION CENTRE

MANGALDHARA TOURISM PROPERTY

MATLA TOURISM PROPERTY

MRITTIKA TOURISM PROPERTY

NATARAJ TOURISM PROPERTY

RANGABITAN TOURISM PROPERTY

ROOPMANJARI TOURISM PROPERTY

SAGORIKA TOURISM PROPERTY

SHANTOBITAN TOURISM PROPERTY

SHOILPIK TOURISM PROPERTY

SONAJHURI PRAKRITI BHRAMAN KENDRA

UDAYACHAL TOURISM PROPERTY

Santiniketan Tourist Lodge

View prices for your travel dates

• Excellent 22
• Very Good 34
• All languages ( 74 )
• English ( 74 )

" Avoid this place. Better places would be available for similar cost. "

" Close to the main market. It has a Vishal mega Mart and smart bazar right outside "

" Book in advance from WBTDC website and select higher floor rooms with balcony or cottage "

" Cottages away from the entrance are good. Rooms in 1st floor or 2nd floor are good. "

" Choose the cottage rooms "

Own or manage this property? Claim your listing for free to respond to reviews, update your profile and much more.

Santiniketan Tourist Lodge - UPDATED 2024 Reviews & Photos

Santiniketan Tourist Lodge

View prices for your travel dates

Reviews we perform checks on reviews. tripadvisor’s approach to reviews before posting, each tripadvisor review goes through an automated tracking system, which collects information, answering the following questions: how, what, where and when. if the system detects something that potentially contradicts our community guidelines , the review is not published. when the system detects a problem, a review may be automatically rejected, sent to the reviewer for validation, or manually reviewed by our team of content specialists, who work 24/7 to maintain the quality of the reviews on our site. our team checks each review posted on the site disputed by our community as not meeting our community guidelines . learn more about our review moderation..

• Excellent 22
• Very Good 34
• All languages ( 74 )
• English ( 74 )

" Avoid this place. Better places would be available for similar cost. "

" Close to the main market. It has a Vishal mega Mart and smart bazar right outside "

" Book in advance from WBTDC website and select higher floor rooms with balcony or cottage "

" Cottages away from the entrance are good. Rooms in 1st floor or 2nd floor are good. "

" Choose the cottage rooms "

Own or manage this property? Claim your listing for free to respond to reviews, update your profile and much more.

SANTINIKETAN TOURIST LODGE: 2024 Reviews (Bolpur, West Bengal) - Photos of Lodge - Tripadvisor

Bolpur Lodge

Enjoy your stay to the fullest extent, rest & relaxation, we're here to help you enjoy your stay.

WELCOME TO BOLPUR LODGE

Relaxing Pleasure

Best Peaceful place to rest at Santiniketan, Bolpur Lodge . Santiniketan, This beautiful place bestows its people with the golden dusts of Sonajhuri trees that leaves people with a happy heart and complete bliss. Santiniketan was lovingly modelled by Tagore on the principles of humanism, internationalism and a sustainable environment. He developed a curriculum that was a unique blend of art, human values and cultural interchange. Even today, in every step, in every brick and in every tree at Santiniketan, one can still feel his presence, his passion, his dedication and his pride in the institution.

BOLPUR LODGE, ADOBE OF PEACE AND CALM AMBIENCE

Peaceful Stay Experience in Santiniketan

Non ac deluxe room, ac deluxe room, “she is our own, the darling of our hearts, santiniketan. our dreams are rocked in her arms. her face is a fresh wonder of love every time we see her, for she is our own, the darling of our hearts.”.

~ RABINDRANATH TAGORE

Enjoy & Remember Great Times with us

BOLPUR LODGE, SANTINIKETAN

Our Highlights

Delicious food, 24 hour parking, surveillance system, room service, 24 hrs electricity.

Santiniketan Tourist Lodge

View prices for your travel dates

• Excellent 22
• Very Good 34
• All languages ( 74 )
• English ( 74 )

" Avoid this place. Better places would be available for similar cost. "

" Close to the main market. It has a Vishal mega Mart and smart bazar right outside "

" Book in advance from WBTDC website and select higher floor rooms with balcony or cottage "

" Cottages away from the entrance are good. Rooms in 1st floor or 2nd floor are good. "

" Choose the cottage rooms "

Own or manage this property? Claim your listing for free to respond to reviews, update your profile and much more.

SANTINIKETAN TOURIST LODGE: UPDATED 2024 Hotel Reviews and 79 Photos (Bolpur, India) - Tripadvisor

Search Flights X

Call us: 1860 200 1000

Book rooms at shantiniketan tourist lodge.

• Age(s) of Children
• Age 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12
• Age of Children
• Hotel Booking
• Hotels in India
• Bolpur Hotels

Shantiniketan Tourist Lodge

Post and Police Station Bolpur, Near Lodge More, Birbhun , Bolpur , 731204  |  Show on Map

No rooms available

for (1 Night)

Change your dates or try another property

Rating From 203 Review(s)

• Check-in From 12:00 PM
• Check-out Until 11:00 AM

Best ever prices for your stay

Save your money now by making a reservation today.

Choose Room

• Check-out 1 Night
• 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12

Shantiniketan Tourist Lodge Bolpur Map View

Amenities at Shantiniketan Tourist Lodge

Safety & Security

• Fire Extinguisher
• Security Guard Timings - 24x7
• CCTV camera installed inside/outside hotel premises
• CCTV camera installed on each floor
• Doctor on Call

Languages Spoken by Hotel Staff

Parking & Transportation

• Airport//Railway station pickup available (Chargeable)
• Airport/Railway station drop (chargeable)
• Car rental (Chargeable)
• Bus Parking
• Travel counter
• Airport Shuttle (surcharge)

Payments Modes Accepted

• Net-Banking
• American Express
• Room Service (24 Hours Available)
• Special occasion arrangement
• Dry cleaning
• Waiting area
• Wheelchair accessible ramp
• Wheelchair accessible elevator
• Ground floor reserved for special need guests
• Hot water available 24x7
• Luggage storage
• Laundry facilities
• Ironing Service
• Wake up service/Alarm clock
• 24 Hour Power Supply
• Conference Room

Reviews for Shantiniketan Tourist Lodge

• View Hotel Reviews
• View Yatra Reviews

Overall Rating

Excellent ( 203 reviews)

5.0/5 Poulami Pramanik

Sat September 16 12:20:08 IST 2023

Very hospitable people, very accommodating and helpful too. Well maintained rooms and well decorated with flowers and trees. They have a neat and clean bengali in house restaurant too that serve very tasty food.

5.0/5 Anshuman Kumar

Fri July 15 14:36:36 IST 2022

Bolpur is a city and a municipality in Birbhum district in the state of West Bengal, India. It is the headquarters of the Bolpur subdivision. Bolpur municipal area includes Santiniketan. The city is known as a Cultural and Educational hub of the Birbhum district. On 22nd December 1901, Rabindranath Tagore established his school at Santiniketan with five students (including his eldest son) and an equal number of teachers. He originally named it Brahmacharya Ashram in the tradition of ancient forest hermitages. Santiniketan was earlier called Bhubandanga (after Bhuban Mohan Sinha, the Zamindar of Raipur in WB), and was owned by the Sinha family. In 1862, Maharshi Debendranath Tagore, while on a visit to Raipur, showed interest in land near Birbhum. Rabindranath Tagore set up an educational institution called Visva -bharti at Shantiniketan ('abode of peace') , near Calcutta. the school started with only five students and aimed to bring the learning process closer to Nature . as opposed to the strict rote learning of British schools, here creativity was encouraged. Tagore was one of the first to support and bring together different forms of arts at Santiniketan. He invited artists and scholars from other parts of India and all over the world to live together at Santiniketan on a daily basis and share their cultures with the students of Visva Bharati. Rabindranath Tagore established Shantiniketan because he thought that the education should be provided in the nature so the students could understand the topic better. He was impressed by the peace and serenity of Shantiniketan. Tagore was one of the first to support and bring together different forms of arts at Santiniketan. He invited artists and scholars from other parts of India and all over the world to live together at Santiniketan on a daily basis and share their cultures with the students of Visva Bharati. Even July, August and September is a preferred time to visit as its a shoulder season offering moderate rainfalls with high humidity levels for tourists. You can enjoy the best of both worlds during this time. March, April, May and June is the off season for tourism in Shantiniketan. Tagore envisioned a center of learning which would have the best of both the east and the west. His Nobel Prize (1913) not only enhanced the pride of India but also the prestige of Santiniketan. The concept of open-air education, as opposed to being cloistered in the four walls of a classroom, became a reality here. The Shantiniketan region in West Bengal is famous for its beautifully handcrafted leather handbags and other accessories available in unique colours and patterns with traditional motifs. Shantiniketan products are world famous for their appliqu��, batik and embossed craft work using touch dying. Shantiniketan, a veritable abode of peace and tranquility, is famous for the world renowned Viswa Bharati University founded by Rabindranath Tagore in 1921. The university has a unique setting for imparting education, with classes held in the open. Classrooms in Shantiniketan were under the skies, so even if a student's mind wanders, it would dwell on the cosmos. He believed that by having classrooms in the open and under the trees, the students would be closer to nature and would learn from the environment.

4.0/5 Saikat Ghosh

Thu February 14 10:29:33 IST 2019

Location is good. Staff beaver is very good. Room decoration is normal with attached toilet. Overall the guest house is good.

5.0/5 Sumita Chakaborty

Tue April 16 02:24:58 IST 2019

Exemplary place! Impeccable hospitality and food! My experience was too good to be described in words. Hope to come back again soon!

5.0/5 Arghya Roy

Sat January 14 12:21:47 IST 2023

Very good place to stay in Bolpur. Homely atmosphere with good food.

Hotel Policies of Shantiniketan Tourist Lodge Bolpur

• Check-in From 12:00 AM

Cancellation/prepayment

Cancellation and prepayment policies vary according to room type. Please check what room conditions may apply when selecting your room above.

• The primary guest must be at least 18 years of age to check into this hotel.
• As per Government regulations, It is mandatory for all guests above 18 years of age to carry a valid photo identity card & address proof at the time of check-in. In case, check-in is denied by the hotel due to lack of required documents, you cannot claim for the refund & the booking will be considered as NO SHOW.
• Unless mentioned, the tariff does not include charges for optional room services (such as telephone calls, room service, mini bar, snacks, laundry etc). In case, such additional charges are levied by the hotel, we shall not be held responsible for it.
• All hotels charge a compulsory Gala Dinner Supplement on Christmas and New Year's eve. Other special supplements may also be applicable during festival periods such as Dusshera, Diwali etc. Any such charge would have to be cleared directly at the hotel.
• In case of an increase in the hotel tariff (for example, URS period in Ajmer or Lord Jagannath Rath Yatra in Puri) the customer is liable to pay the difference if the stay period falls during these dates.
• Yatra.com will not be responsible for any service issues at the hotel
• Invoice for hotel stay must be collected at the time of checkout, directly from the hotel

FAQs About Shantiniketan Tourist Lodge Bolpur

Q: What are the Services provided at Shantiniketan Tourist Lodge Bolpur ?

• . Room Service (24 Hours Available)
• . Special occasion arrangement
• . Dry cleaning
• . Waiting area
• . Wheelchair accessible ramp

Q: What are the Check - In and Check - Out timings at Shantiniketan Tourist Lodge Bolpur ?

Q: Does Shantiniketan Tourist Lodge Bolpur have any parking space?

Q: Please suggest some options to book hotels by landmark near Shantiniketan Tourist Lodge Bolpur ?

• . Hotel Near bolpur shantiniketan railway station
• . Hotel Near kopai river
• . Hotel Near bolpur bus stand

Q: What are the payment modes accepted by Shantiniketan Tourist Lodge Bolpur ?

Our Company

• More About Us
• Leadership Team

Our Products

• Customer Testimonials
• Press Releases
• Support & FAQs
• Terms & Conditions
• Privacy Policy
• User Agreement
• Retails Stores
• Visa Information

Trending Hotel Cities

• Hotels in Goa
• Hotels in Delhi
• Hotels in Mumbai
• Hotels in Bangalore
• Hotels in Shimla
• Hotels in Jaipur
• Hotels in Manali
• Hotels in Mussoorie
• Hotels in Puri
• Hotels in Hyderabad
• Hotels in Mount Abu
• Hotels in Udaipur
• Hotels in Lonavala
• Hotels in Mahabaleshwar
• Hotels in Kolkata
• Hotels in Chennai
• Hotels in Pune
• Hotels in Lucknow
• Hotels in Digha
• Hotels in Nainital
• Hotels in Nasik
• Hotels in Siliguri
• Hotels in Vijayawada
• Hotels in Dalhousie
• Hotels in Madurai
• Hotels in Kochi
• Hotels in Gokarna

Top Hotel Cities

• Hotels in Ooty
• Hotels in Pondicherry
• Hotels in Tirupati
• Hotels in Chandigarh
• Hotels in Ahmedabad
• Hotels in Alibaug
• Hotels in Varanasi
• Hotels in Agra
• Hotels in Rishikesh
• Hotels in Katra
• Hotels in Shirdi
• Hotels in Darjeeling
• Hotels in Gurgaon
• Hotels in Saputara
• Hotels in Mandarmani
• Hotels in Visakhapatnam
• Hotels in Diu
• Hotels in Matheran
• Hotels in Kodaikanal
• Hotels in Prayagraj
• Hotels in Gorakhpur
• Hotels in Gulmarg
• Hotels in Raipur
• Hotels in Nagpur
• Hotels in Dwarka
• Hotels in Noida
• Hotels in Araku Valley

Best Hotel Cities

• Hotels in Coimbatore
• Hotels in Daman
• Hotels in Mysore
• Hotels in Kasauli
• Hotels in Patna
• Hotels in Munnar
• Hotels in Bhubaneswar
• Hotels in Dehradun
• Hotels in Indore
• Hotels in Amritsar
• Hotels in Pachmarhi
• Hotels in Gangtok
• Hotels in Surat
• Hotels in Haridwar
• Hotels in Tiruchendur
• Hotels in Guwahati
• Hotels in Kanpur
• Hotels in Ranchi
• Hotels in Bhopal
• Hotels in Jodhpur
• Hotels in Vadodara
• Hotels in Tiruchirappalli
• Hotels in Vrindavan
• Hotels in Ludhiana
• Hotels in Coorg
• Hotels in Shantiniketan

Other Important Links

• Resorts near me
• Homestays Near Me
• Oyo Rooms Near Me
• Grand Hyatt Mumbai
• Hyatt Regency Mumbai
• Hyatt Ahmedabad
• The St Regis Mumbai
• Hilton Jaipur
• Holiday Inn Jaipur City Centre
• Crowne Plaza Gurgaon
• Jaipur Marriott Hotel
• Vaabi Saabi Gurgaon
• Radisson Blu Plaza Delhi Airport
• Sheraton Hyderabad
• Grand Mercure Mysore
• DoubleTree by Hilton Ahmedabad
• Hyatt Regency Lucknow
• Crowne Plaza Mayur Vihar Delhi
• Radisson Hotel Agra
• Hilton Garden Inn Lucknow
• Taj Lands End Mumbai
• Taj Mahal Tower Mumbai
• ITC Royal Bengal Kolkata
• The Westin Gurgaon
• JW Marriott Mumbai Sahar
• Le Meridien Delhi
• JW Marriott Mumbai Juhu
• Taj Holiday Village Resort Goa
• The Leela Palace Bangalore
• Taj Aravali Resort Udaipur
• ITC Grand Goa Resort & Spa
• ITC Grand Bharat Delhi
• The Oberoi Mumbai
• Taj Fort Aguada Resort Goa
• Goa Marriott Resort & Spa
• The Leela Goa
• Taj Exotica Resort Goa
• Azaya Beach Resort Goa
• The Diwa Club by Alila Goa
• International Flights
• Domestic Flights
• Domestic Airlines
• Cheap Flights
• Flight Schedule
• Flight Status
• Web Check In
• Hotels Near Me
• Bus Booking
• Cab Booking
• Outstation Cabs
• Indian Railways
• Distance Between
• Train Running Status
• Train PNR Status
• IRCTC Forgot Password
• Domestic Tour Packages
• State Wise Travel Guidelines
• International Tour Packages
• Monuments of India
• Charter Flights
• Qutub Minar
• India Tourism
• Visa at Your Doorstep
• Uk Visa At Your Doorstep
• Armed Forces Flight Booking
• Senior Citizen Flight Booking
• Student Quota Flight Booking
• No Cost EMI on Flight Tickets

• Things to Do
• Restaurants
• Holiday homes
• Travel Stories
• Add a Place
• Travel Forum
• Travellers' Choice
• Help Centre

Best government hotel - Review of Santiniketan Tourist Lodge

• Asia    
• India    
• West Bengal    
• Birbhum District    
• Bolpur    
• Bolpur Speciality Lodging    
• Bolpur Lodges    
• Santiniketan Tourist Lodge

Best government hotel

Club Central

Pubali Homestay

Emblic Hotel & Restaurant

OYO 30449 Green Chilli

The Garden Bungalow

Rangamati Garden Resort

Lodge Lipika

Upasana Eco Resort

Kristi Guest House

Asian Grand Villa

We had visited Santiniketan recently and had booked the Santiniketan Tourist Lodge online through wbtdc site. Our room was the AC Standard one. Once we reached there we were quite happy with the staff behaviour and was quite satisfied with the environment. The AC cottages are very nice. The rooms are quite big for 2 people. The room, bathroom, bedsheets, curtains, chairs, tables were totally neat and clean. We are typically particular about the hotel bathrooms, and was quite pleased here with the big and clean bathrooms. The food that was served was quite good, except felt it to be a bit pricey!! Breakfast was complimentary, for which we were given butter toast, omlet, luchi (bengali version) and aloo matar sabji which were quite tasty alongwith the tea. The best part was the location of the lodge. It was just 10 mins walking distance from the University campus which was really great. Overall we had a great and friendly stay. Hope everyone would enjoy their stay here :-) Happy Journey!!!

• Cleanliness

"If you wish you will do it" - this is proved by Govt. run Santiniketan tourist lodge. The rooms clean and comfortable but need to be maintain regularly. Staff also helpful. Surroundings is charming. Food quality also very good but little slow service (but if you order the food well in advance, they provide that on time). Overall satisfied.

• Sleep Quality

This is one of the good government run hotels I have been to. The location is excellent, particularly for those without a car/vehicle. Easily accessible from the rail station as well as the Vishwa-Bharti. The rooms were nice and comfortable. Overall surroundings and layout is charming. Service is quite ok for a government run place.

You don't expect much from State Govt. run hotels and lodges, but what a pleasant surprise awaited us when we booked the West Bengal Govt. run tourist lodge at Santiniketan. The online booking was a breeze. When we called up the reception a couple of days before we arrived, the person on the other side was extremely polite and arranged for a vehicle to pick us up at the railway station. Its a short drive from the railway station and close to the tourist attractions with easy availability of rickshaws and autos. The AC cottages we had booked were extremely clean, with all the basic facilities and hot water availability. The lodge had quite a bit of open space for morning/evening walks, play area for children and ample parking space for those driving down from Kolkata. Room service is also available although for dinner/lunch they prefer that you visit the restaurant in the adjoining administrative building. Snacks we ordered were excellent, as were the meals served during lunch/dinner. The breakfast quantity was quite adequate and well prepared. The lodge had arranged for the transportation facilities for sight-seeing etc and the service provided by the transport agency was again very good. Overall, there are really no negatives which are mention-worthy and full marks to WBTDC for maintaining such high standards

This is one of the few Govt. tourist lodges operated by the tourism dept. that can boast of their services in terms of quality! Convenient location,well maintained property, nice & homely AC & non-AC cottages and rooms, AC lounge & restaurant,ample free parking place, a little playing arena for kids etc. make it a all time favourite choice for staying in Shantiniketan.The online booking facility has made the booking procedure much easier although it is really difficult to get a booking in this lodge during the Pous Mela,Basanta Utsab & such other festivals.Now a little cautions... 1)Room service Don't expect to get any room service. Taking more than 10 minutes(and that's after 1 or 2 reminders) to deliver a jug of drinking water is quite natural!Besides, they insist on taking chilled water which may not be suitable for all. Getting a pot of normal water is a Herculian task . 2)House keeping dept. needs to be improved Bed sheets,pillow covers & bath linens were not changed during my 4 nights stay over there. 3)Limited scope for choice of food Whatever may be printed on the menu card, all you can expect to get are limited nos. of items for lunch & dinner. The complementary breakfast items are also fixed---puri-sabji & bread-omelette and for evening snacks they won't serve anything but pakoras!I must say that the food is tasty but it comes in huge quantity and a little costlier compared to other eateries in the neighbourhood.And last but not the least, please watch your food bill carefully as the restaurant staff often make mistake by placing wrong items on the bills.(I myself watched such an incident during lunch on the very first day to a boarder & to my utter surprise the same incident happened to myself during dinner on that very day when they brought bill for some chicken items instead of my actually ordered ruti-alu potol.After a few minutes, they finally acknowledged their mistake but it was a irritating experience for me).

Search hotels in Shānti Niketan

Enter your dates to see the latest prices and deals for shānti niketan hotels, star rating, review score, shānti niketan – 12 hotels and places to stay.

Kristi Guest House, Shantiniketan

Kristi Guest House, Shantiniketan is offering accommodation in Shānti Niketan. Among the facilities of this property are a restaurant, room service and a 24-hour front desk, along with free WiFi.

Dip Holidays

Featuring free WiFi, Dip Holidays is situated in Shānti Niketan. Boasting room service, this property also provides guests with a year-round outdoor pool.

SANTINIKETAN KALPATARU RESIDENCY

Located in Shānti Niketan, SANTINIKETAN KALPATARU RESIDENCY features a restaurant. Featuring a garden, the 3-star hotel has air-conditioned rooms with free WiFi, each with a private bathroom.

Kopa Ville Resort

Kopa Ville Resort features air-conditioned accommodation in Shānti Niketan. There is a restaurant serving Indian cuisine, and free private parking is available. At the hotel, all rooms have a...

HOTEL RAJMANDIR

Set in Shānti Niketan, HOTEL RAJMANDIR offers 4-star accommodation with a garden, a shared lounge and a terrace.

RNR Homestay

Featuring garden views, RNR Homestay in Shānti Niketan features accommodation, free bikes and a garden. This property offers access to a terrace and free private parking.

Bolpur Shantiniketan Bungalow on Kopai River

Featuring air-conditioned accommodation with a balcony, Bolpur Shantiniketan Bungalow on Kopai River is located in Shānti Niketan. The property features garden views.

PARUL - Elegant Heritage Home at the Heart of Shantiniketan

Situated in Shānti Niketan, PARUL - Elegant Heritage Home at the Heart of Shantiniketan provides accommodation with seating area. This property offers access to a balcony and free private parking.

SHANTINIR HOMESTAy

SHANTINIR HOMESTAy is offering accommodation in Shānti Niketan. Featuring a 24-hour front desk, this property also provides guests with a picnic area.

Ram Shyam Village Resort

Located in Shānti Niketan, Ram Shyam Village Resort features a garden and a restaurant.

Most booked hotels in Shānti Niketan in the past month

Popular with guests booking hotels in Shānti Niketan

The Pearl Club Resort

Hotel Version Regency

What guests said about Shānti Niketan:

Shantiniketan is and will always be permanent draw for any....

This resort is very good.. zero disturbance, hassle free...

The town is a historic town and the home of Tagore.

A place full of deep magic, serene nature, and generous...

Best is ofcourse that it was the Karmabhoomi of our Gurudev...

Shantiniketan as a place is rich with history and rural...

Research, refine and make plans for your whole trip.

List your property

• Mobile version
• Your account
• Make changes to your booking online
• Customer Service help
• Booking.com for Business
• Places of interest
• Guest Houses
• Unique places to stay
• Discover monthly stays
• Travel articles
• Seasonal and holiday deals
• Traveller Review Awards
• Flight finder
• Restaurant reservations
• Booking.com for Travel Agents
• Coronavirus (COVID-19) FAQs
• About Booking.com
• Partner help
• Sustainability
• Press centre
• Safety resource centre
• Investor relations
• Terms & Conditions
• Partner dispute
• How we work
• Privacy & Cookie Statement
• Cookie Settings Manage cookie settings
• MSA Statement
• Corporate contact
• Content guidelines and reporting

Booking.com is part of Booking Holdings Inc., the world leader in online travel and related services.

Verified reviews from real guests.

We have more than 70 million property reviews, and they're all from real, verified guests .

How does it work?

It starts with a booking.

The only way to leave a review is to first make a booking. That's how we know our reviews come from real guests who have stayed at the property.

Followed by a trip

When guests stay at the property they check out how quiet the room is, how friendly the staff are and more.

And finally, a review

After their trip, guests tell us about their stay. We check for naughty words and verify the authenticity of all guest reviews before adding them to our site.

If you booked through us and want to leave a review, please sign in first.

Check-in date

Check-out date

• Destinations
• Hotels & Homestays
• Food & Drink
• People & Culture
• Mindful Travel
• Readers' Travel Awards
• Escape to Rajasthan
• READERS TRAVEL AWARDS
• #LOVEGREATBRITAIN
• TAJ SAFARIS
• BOUTIQUE HOTELS
• CNT TOP RESTAURANT AWARDS
• DESTINATION WEDDING GUIDE
• DON’T TRAVEL WITHOUT IT
• #UNDISCOVERAUSTRALIA
• ESSENTIALLY RAJASTHAN

Santiniketan: all you need to know to go

By Anubhuti Krishna

Santiniketan is known world over for its contribution to education, arts, and literature, but Rabindranath Tagore's town in Bholpur, West Bengal is much more than that. While the Visva-Bharati University that is located in the town brings in the young crowds, Santiniketan's origins date back to 1883. It was then that Rabrindranath's father, Debendranath Tagore built a home/gurukul for spiritual and meditative purposes. He found the area exceptionally peaceful and called his home Santiniketan, the abode of peace. Rabindranath Tagore later lived in the same house, before going on to establish the university and build many more homes in the vicinity. Like his father, he had also found peace here, and used it to create Nobel Prize winning literature and art. The entire area of home, town and university is commonly referred to as Santiniketan.

Much has changed since then, but the soul of Tagore and his work still lives on. With instagrammable spots, quiet bookstores, quaint cafés, colourful bazaars, sparkling rivulets and golden forests, there is a lot to do and see in the seemingly small town. Here's how you can make the most of your trip to Santiniketan.

How to get to Santiniketan

Santiniketan is well connected by rail and road from Kolkata. The train journey is short and scenic, and is best enjoyed via a non-ac coach to enjoy the local food, music, and sometimes, shopping too. It is best to reserve your seats a few weeks in advance. Best trains: Ganadevta Express (13017), Kavi Guru Express (13016).

The road from Kolkata to Santiniketan is well laid and it takes about three hours to get here should you decide to drive. Within the town, e-rickshaws called Totos, take you everywhere. They can be found easily and are quite reasonable. Most drivers offer to show you around and stay with you for the whole day for a price of Rs500-600. You can also hire a bike and peddle around the town and onward to Sonajhuri Khoai Forest and Kopai River. The town is best explored on foot, to soak in all the local delights.

Ghanta Ghar at Santiniketan. Photo: Dinodia Photo/Getty Images

What to see and do in Santiniketan

Begin your day at Uttarayan Complex where Udyan, Konark, Shyamali, Punasche, and Udichi, five houses built during different phases of Rabindranath Tagore's life stand proud. The sixth, Bichitra, built by his son in 1961, was inaugurated by Jawaharlal Nehru. It serves as a library and museum with Tagore's manuscript, title deeds, letters, pictures and paintings. His awards are displayed here too. At a close distance, Tagore's car, a black Humber can also be seen. Fascinated tourists peeping through the windows, discussing Tagore's life with great passion are also a sight to behold.

Vishva Bharati university campus, the most important place in town, opens for visitors after 1pm. There are no guides but some students do offer to show you around for a small fee. The university offers a range of courses across fields, but is most famous for Sangeet Bhavan, the music department, and Kala Bhavan, the arts department. Famous alumni include former Prime Minister Indira Gandhi, Nobel laureate and economist Amartya Sen, filmmaker Satyajit Ray and Maharani Gayatri Devi.

Chhatimtala, the birthplace of the Santiniketan gurukul, Upasanagriha, a prayer house made with Belgium glass and a marble floor, Santiniketan, the original home built by Debendranath Tagore in 1863 and Amrakunja, the open air class rooms, are some interesting places to see on the campus. The arts department, Kala Bhavan, is a must visit. Wandering through its dusty path, you can witness works of some of India's most renowned artists and watch students engrossed in creating their own masterpieces.

Portrait of a Santiniketan sculptor. Photo: Design Pics Inc/Getty Images

What to buy in Santiniketan

Home to an amazing variety of handicrafts, Santiniketan is a shoppers paradise. Leather bags, jewellery, pottery, terracotta, stoneware, books—the list of things you find here is extensive, the prices unbelievable. Produced in and around town by local craftsmen and artisans, the products are not only popular with the tourists, but are also sought after in urban areas such as nearby Kolkata.

By Arundhati Ail

By Geetika Sachdev

By Condé Nast Traveller

Subarnarekha, a bookstore as beautiful as its name is highly recommended for soulful browsing of used and new books. Aalcha, a boutique store set in a beautiful house is home to an array of handmade products: apparel, bags, home décor, stationery, and other knick-knacks. Lipi's Pottery Studio, close to the Kopai river, is hard to locate but worth getting lost for. Run by Lipi Biswas in her mud and thatch home, it is home to exquisite modern stoneware made entirely by the locals. Khoai Boner Annya Haat, the Saturday market by the river in Sonajhuri Forest, is a must visit too. Every Saturday, craftsmen from adjoining villages collect and display their wares. It is a great place to shop directly from artisans at throwaway prices and is high on local culture.

The Baul singer with a musical instrument called 'éktara' Baul singers perform during the Basant festival in Santiniketan. Photo: Veena Nair/Getty Images

Where to eat in Santiniketan

Banalakshmi, located a few kilometres off the main town, is popular for its authentic Bengali menu. Kasahara, located inside the Sangeet Bhavan in Vishva Bharati campus, is a great choice for lunch. Set up in 2015 by Debojit Roy, the café is a tribute to Kim Taro Kasahara, a Japanese artist known for his relentless contribution to Santiniketan. The café serves up everything from Bengali meals to Chinese cuisine. Trust us, you wont be disappointed. Tanzil Café, on the main Bolpur road, is a delight to hang out in the evenings and has a beautiful boutique attached to it.

When to visit Santiniketan

Santiniketan is popular all year round, but the best time to go is between September to March. This is also when the town hosts fairs and festivals and its narrow streets are filled with travellers, tourists and students. Craftsmen, musicians, singers and artists assemble from all over Bengal to showcase their skills and trains full of Tagore's devotees make way into the town.

Poush Mela—known for its celebration of music and crafts—is celebrated between the months of December and January, and the Basant Festival in March, during Holi.

Where to stay in Santiniketan

Santiniketan has something for everyone—quaint home-stays, government run tourist houses, small budget hotels, and quiet guesthouses. Most are reasonably priced and are available for booking online.

Sangeet bhavan. Photo: Dinodia Photo/Getty Images

Rater Tara Diner Robi has clean rooms, in-house dining, and a genteel manager. The large iron swing set amidst flowers and the birds on the terrace come free of cost. Ask for a room on the first floor and you can have your morning tea in the balcony overlooking the rising sun and blooming flowers. (doubles from Rs2,000,  website ). Nayana's Homestay is perhaps the most beautiful homestay in Santiniketan. Replete with artefacts and bric-a-brac from all over the country, it should be your go to place if you love great conversations, good food, and a well stocked bar (doubles from Rs4,000,  website ). Santisudha Guesthouse in Sonajhuri Palli has sprawling lawns and large balconies, parking and in-house dining (doubles from Rs2,000, website ). Santiniketan Tourist Lodge run by WBTDC is newly-built with independent cottages and is located right opposite the Vishva Bharati. It comes with parking, meals, and spacious sunlit rooms (doubles from Rs2,000,  website ).

All products are independently selected by our editors. If you buy something, we may earn an affiliate commission.

Santiniketan

• 1.1 Climate
• 2.1 By plane
• 2.2 By train
• 3.1 By rickshaw
• 3.3 By bicycle
• 9.2 Mid-range
• 9.3 Splurge

Understand [ edit ]

In 1863, Debendranath Tagore took on permanent lease 20 acres (8.1 hectares) of land, along with two chātim (ছাতিম) trees from zamindar Bhuban Mohan Sinha. The leased area was a small village and the den of a gang of notorious dacoits. After the leader of the gang surrendered to Debendranath, they started helping him in developing the area. Debendranath built a guest house there and named it Santiniketan (literally the "abode of peace"). Gradually, the whole area came to be known as Santiniketan.

In 1901, Rabindranath Tagore established a school in Santiniketan, called Brahmacaryāśram (ব্রহ্মচর্যাশ্রম), which became the Visva-Bharati University in 1921. A brainchild of Rabindranath, the Visva-Bharati University is a unique learning centre in the sense that the education takes place under a tree, instead of in a classroom. It got the status of a central university by 1951.

Several artists are also closely associated with Santiniketan other than Rabindranath Tagore and his father, including Nandalal Bose, Ramkinkar Baij and Benode Behari Mukherjee. Their works can be found throughout the town.

Climate [ edit ]

The climate of Santiniketan is moderately warm, with summer temperatures at around 35–42 °C (maximum) and winter at 10–15 °C (minimum). Summer is felt for three months, March, April and May. December, January and February are the winter months. June, July, August and September see heavy rainfall. The annual average temperature is 26.2 °C. About 1480 mm of rain falls per year, with 76 days seeing the rain.

Read [ edit ]

• Rabindranath, Santiniketan, Sriniketan by Tapan Kumar Basak. Available locally.

Get in [ edit ]

By plane [ edit ]

The nearest airport is Kazi Nazrul Islam Airport ( RDP  IATA ) at Durgapur , but flights are infrequent. Netaji Subhas Chandra Bose International Airport ( CCU  IATA ) in Kolkata is the nearest major airport that is close to Santiniketan.

By train [ edit ]

Santiniketan is two to three hours by train from Kolkata . Vande Bharat Express and Shatabdi Express offer the fastest service. For schedules check with Indian Railways .

If you are travelling with a lot of baggage, you may struggle for space even in reserved cars, and hiring a car may be a better alternative to reach Santiniketan.

Express trains that stop at Bolpur Shantiniketan:

• From Howrah , Kolkata (HWH): Ganadevta Express, Jamalpur Express, Kavi Guru Express, Malda Intercity Express, NJP Shatabdi Express, NJP Vande Bharat Express (fastest, non-stop), Saraighat Express and Shantiniketan Express (the only train that originates and/or terminates at HWH and BHP, so you a better chance of finding seats on this train if you buy unreserved tickets).
• From Sealdah (SDAH), Kolkata: Darjeeling Mail and Kanchenjunga Express.
• From New Jalpaiguri (NJP), Siliguri : Darjeeling Mail, Howhrah Shatabdi Express, Howrah Vande Bharat Express and Kanchenjunga Express.

By bus [ edit ]

From Kolkata, there are two options: The Asansol bus (alight near Panagarh) and the Suri bus (alight near Ilambazar). From both places, local buses are available for Santiniketan.

• 23.6658 87.6813 3 Bolpur Bus Stand .  

By car [ edit ]

Santiniketan is 212 km (132 mi) from Kolkata by road. Good drivers can cover the distance in about 3 hours.

Santiniketan is connected with Kolkata by an excellent 4-lane expressway. From Kolkata, travel to Dankuni and take the Durgapur Expressway (NH 19). It will bypass Saktigarh, Bardhaman and Panagarh. At Panagarh (Darjeeling More), turn right. After crossing the Ajay River, take the road to the right at Ilambazar and proceed towards Bolpur. At the Santiniketan–Sriniketan junction (also called Surul More) take the road to the left. Coming from the direction of Kolkata, one can also take the NH 114 route via Talit, Guskara, Bhedia and Surul More by taking a right turn from the Durgapur Expressway just after crossing Bardhaman on the right (where the Renaissance Township is on the left) and taking this route via Nababhat More. It saves time and the distance is less from the above route by about 50 km.

Get around [ edit ]

You can also look at the map of the Visva-Bharati campus in Santiniketan.

By rickshaw [ edit ]

Electric rickshaws (locally known as totos ) are the most convenient and cheap means of transportation these days. The older cycle rickshaws are still available and can be availed, though it would cost more. If you are a tourist, don't get on the cycle rickshaws in front of the museum that are manned by persistent teenagers as they will take you on a farcical circulatory route to make you spend more. Choose the older guys. Or just walk round the town.

Hired cars and taxis are not always readily available.

By bicycle [ edit ]

If you are planning an extended stay, it may be worth your while to purchase a bicycle from one of the many local cycle shops. A brand new bicycle costs ₹3,200-3,600.

See [ edit ]

Santiniketan has several buildings associated with the Tagore family—Santiniketan Griha, Nutan Bari, Dehali etc. School classes and major functions are held in the Amra Kunja (mango grove). Some distance away on the eastern side is a small hillock with a large banyan tree. It was a favourite of Maharishi Debendranath Tagore. Visitors are not allowed to loiter around educational centres during working hours as these disturb the classes being held.

• 23.68014 87.68569 6 Gour Prangan ( Sinha Sadan ). The old buildings of the Visva-Bharati University, named after the Sinha zamindar family. ( updated May 2023 )
• 23.6789 87.6881 7 Hindi Bhavana ( হিন্দি ভবন Hindi Bhaban ). Hindi study centre. There's a mural in the building painted by Benode Behari Mukherjee.  
• 23.6897 87.6648 11 Prakriti Bhavan ( প্রকৃতি ভবন Prakr̥ti Bhaban ), Amar Kutir Rd, Kabi Mohanpur . 9AM–5PM daily . India's only nature art museum with an impressive indoor display of natural sculptures in driftwood, and dry wood and a sprawling open-air garden of natural rock sculptures. Set in the most picturesque part of Santiniketan it is an aesthetic manifestation of the legacy of Tagore's Santiniketan in linking people with nature through art, music and poetry. ( updated May 2023 )
• 23.6718 87.6685 14 Shilpagram ( near Ballavpur Wildlife Sanctuary ). It is designed very nicely and showcases traditional handicrafts of eastern and north-eastern India (including Bihar , Assam , Odisha , Manipur , Andaman and Nicobar Islands and Jharkhand ). Each state is represented by a traditional house which has a collection of paintings and articraft. The place is maintained neatly and has a good collection of cultural elements.  
• 23.66255 87.6672 16 Surul Rajbari ( সুরুল রাজবাড়ি Surul Rājbāṛi ). 8AM–6PM . The palace of the Sinha zamindars. The small temples with terracotta carvings are to the left of the Rajbari as one faces the Rajbari. Durga Puja still takes place here in a complete home fashion as it used more than 250 years back when it was started. ( updated Aug 2022 )

Do [ edit ]

In Santiniketan, seasonal changes bring their own colours and beauties with various festivals. The festivals are organised on traditional Indian forms and rituals.

• Barṣāmangal ( বর্ষামঙ্গল ). Festival of rains during August/September. Tagore was a poet of nature and some of his finest creations were about the rain.  
• 23.6792 87.6836 1 Basanta Utsab ( বসন্ত উৎসব ). Santiniketan's own style of Holi and it welcomes the arrival of spring. The students dance and sing their way through Amrakunja, followed by open-air variety programmes. Accommodation is heavily booked during this period. Anybody wanting to visit during his period will have to plan. ( updated Aug 2022 )
• Māghotsab ( মাঘোৎসব ). Anniversary of Brahmo Samaj celebrated on the 11 Magh (25 January), with prayers and songs at Chhatimtala.  

Buy [ edit ]

A favourable time for shopping is during the Poush Mela. The unique style of embroidery associated with Santiniketan is known as the 'Kantha stitch'. 'Sudha Karu Shilpa' in Andrews Palli, 'Amar Kutir' at the Kopai River, and 'Basundhara' in Sonajhuri offer quality Kantha stitchwork in the form of sarees, and dupattas throughout the year. Other handicrafts like dhokra (artistic brassware from nearby Ausgram ), leather bags, bamboo toys and locally handwoven cotton are also worth a look.

• 23.6915 87.6711 2 Sonajhuri Hat ( সোনাঝুড়ি হাট Sonājhuṛi Hāṭ ), Sonajhuri . Sa–Su 3PM–5:30PM . This is a village market and one can buy local handicrafts and listen to baul songs. Sonajhuri Hat is a great place to see and collect wooden crafts, terracotta crafts, raw metal ornaments, dhokra (ডোকরা ḍokrā ) art and local made clothes. It is an excellent place to experience the local culture of Santiniketan. ( updated May 2023 )

Eat [ edit ]

• 23.66666 87.69505 1 Madhurima , Santiniketan Rd . A sweet shop on the way to Santiniketan. ( updated Aug 2022 )
• 23.66504 87.68295 2 SK Restaurant , Bolpur-Santiniketan Rd , ☏ +91 9434132416 . 10AM-10PM daily . This restaurant, near Jambuni Bus stands opposite Gitanjali Prekhagriha, and is very good, both in terms of food quality and quantity. Look for "morabba", a Suri speciality (type of sweet meat). ( updated Aug 2022 )

Drink [ edit ]

Santiniketan and the surrounding areas offer a few bottle shops for wine and liquor purchases. A few restaurants have permits to serve beer (Kharimati restaurant, Park Hotel restaurant) and one local bar with a liquor licence is the Moon Bar at the new Kharimati Hotel. During tribal festivals, the Santals enjoy rice beer which is served warm, is quite tasty and has a low alcohol content.

Sleep [ edit ]

• 23.683281 87.649924 1 Rangabitan Tourism Property , ☏ +91 86979 84960 . Run by West Bengal Tourism. ( updated Dec 2022 )

Budget [ edit ]

• 23.6701 87.6894 2 Bolpur Lodge , Bhubandanga , ☏ +91 3463 252662 , +91 3463 252737 . ₹150-300 .  
• Country Roads Home Stay ( adjacent to Mela Math ), ☏ +91 9903398059 . American breakfast included. Well maintained. 24 hr cold water available and fridge. ₹750 .  
• 23.685728 87.693356 3 Krishna Chura Homestay , Purbapally , ☏ +91 9748445544 . Hospitable family home with modern facilities.  
• 23.6834 87.6575 4 Maharshi Niwas , ☏ +91 3463-202821 . 10 AC double-bedded cottages ₹1050 per day per cottage .  
• Manashi Lodge , ☏ +91 3463 254200 . ₹250-500 .  
• 23.6852 87.6778 5 Park Guest House , ☏ +91 3463 226286 . ₹472 for non-A/C, ₹850 for A/C rooms .  
• Rangamati Tourist Lodge , Bolpur Rd , ☏ +91 3463-252305 . ₹310-₹750 .  
• 23.6732 87.6881 6 Hotel Sathi , Bhubandanga . From ₹750 . ( updated Aug 2019 )
• 23.670818 87.677141 7 Hotel Basundhara , Baganpara, Simantapally , ☏ +91-9434132549 , [email protected] . Hotel Basundhara is a highly reputed name as the Best Hotel in Bolpur, Santiniketan. A fully equipped AC conference hall is available with all modern facilities and amenities. ₹450 Non-AC - ₹750 AC . ( updated Dec 2019 )

Mid-range [ edit ]

• 23.6944 87.6927 8 Camellia Hotel , Prantik , ☏ +91 3463 262043 , +91 33 2334 4069 , +91 3463 2321 9688 , +91 9007030199 . Check-in: 8AM . ₹950-2000 .  
• 23.6689 87.6895 9 Hotel Royal Bengal , Bhubandanga , ☏ +91 90 0798 2002 , +91 97 4810 2002 , [email protected] . Check-in: noon , check-out: 11AM . 40 A/C rooms with attached western toilets with Hot & Cold water, cable TV in rooms, WI-FI, Telephone, Room service & House-keeping facilities. The multi-cuisine restaurant has continental, Indian & Chinese options, car parking, IDD telephones and, Landscaped garden along with a children’s play area, banquet/conference facilities, and Live cultural shows can be arranged (fee). 24-hr security and off-street parking. ₹1550-2,650 .  
• Jiraan-The retreat , ☏ +91 9333510012 , +91 9332083644 . ₹700-1,500 .  
• 23.6914 87.6848 10 Rater Tara Diner Rabi Guest House ( Star at Night, Sun During Day ), Tinni House, Phul Danga, Taltor Rd, Behind PHE Bungalow ( 1 km from university campus near to the canal and Bird Sanctuary ), ☏ +91 98 3004 8007 , +91 94 3301 4277 . Check-in: 1PM . A double-storied garden guesthouse having AC rooms, CTV, Refrigerator, attached western toilets with hot water, fan etc. All rooms & toilets are well maintained & linens are cleaned. Separate driver accommodation is available on nominal charges, car parking is free. From ₹1250 .  
• 23.6702 87.6912 11 Shantobitan Tourism Property ( Santiniketan Tourist Lodge ), ☏ +91 3463-252398 , +91 9732100920 , [email protected] . Run by West Bengal Tourism. ₹700-900 Non-AC, ₹1900-2400 AC .  

Splurge [ edit ]

• 23.68 87.68 12 Chutti Holiday Resort , 241 Charupalli, Jamboni ( off Sriniketan Rd ), ☏ +91 34 6325 2692 , +91 34 6325 5015 . Reservation from Kolkata: +91 33 99 0357 0921 Ilaco House, 3/1 Brabourne Road ₹1,650- 3,540 Special packages available .  
• 23.6665 87.6689 13 Mark & Meadows Resort , Sriniketan Rd ( Gurmukh Jethwani ), ☏ +91 94 3400 7777 . Check-in: 9AM , check-out: 9AM . 3 star property spread over 5 acres with swimming pool, fishing pond, games room, children's park, multi-cuisine restaurant, banquet halls, conference halls, 32 cottage style A/C rooms with running hot/cold water. ₹1,450-3,500 .  
• 23.668291 87.615652 14 Raktokorobi Karugram ( রক্তকরবী কারুগ্রাম Raktakarabī Kārugrām ), Ruppur ( 7 km from Surul More (Sriniketan) ), ☏ +91 9903392484 . Check-in: 11AM , check-out: 10AM . There are 9 AC duplex huts, all designed traditionally so that visitors can feel at one with the natural space around them and to promote local artistry. The duplex huts have been created using mud, and murals have been painted by various tribal artists. Each cottage has a living room, a bedroom, a changing room, a bathroom, and an open terrace. The multicuisine restaurant serves quality Indian and Chinese dishes. Parking and driver's accommodation free. ₹3500 .  
• Sonajhuri Homestay , Sonajuhri , ☏ +91 9830011715 , [email protected] . ₹3200 . ( updated May 2019 )

Nearby [ edit ]

Go next [ edit ]

• Bakreshwar — 58 km, Shaktipitha, also famous for the Bakranath Shiva temple and hot springs.
• Durgapur — 60 km, the steel city. You can travel on to Bishnupur another 70 km in the same direction or on to Asansol , another 30 km, along NH 19.
• Kendubillo — 30 km, on the bank of the river Ajay, believed by many to be the birthplace of 12th century Sanskrit poet Jayadeva, author of the masterpiece Geeta Govinda . A fair is held here on Makar Sankranti (mid-January). Baul songs are the principal attraction of this meal. There is a temple with terracotta decorations.
• Labhpur — 30 km, the birthplace of Tarashankar Bandyopadhyay and home to the Fullara Temple, a Shakti Pitha.
• Massanjore — 75 km (in Jharkhand), a dam across the river Mayurakshi with a picturesque reservoir. You can travel on to Deoghar another 98 km in the same direction.
• Nalhati — 100 km, another Shakti Pitha
• Nanoor — 20 km, birthplace of Chandidas, 14th century Sanskrit poet, famous for his Vaishnava Padavalis . There is a temple dedicated to Devi Basuli.
• Sainthia — 44 km, another Shakti Pitha
• Tarapith — 88 km, another Shakti Pitha, famous temple of Tara Devi
• Dubrajpur — 44 km, Rajbari (Palace), terracotta temples and natural rock formation

• UNESCO World Heritage Sites
• UNESCO tag to be fixed
• Has custom banner
• Has map markers
• Has mapframe
• Do listing with no coordinates
• Has caution box
• Has caution box with no date
• Sleep listing with no coordinates
• Has Geo parameter
• All destination articles
• Usable cities
• Usable articles
• City articles
• Pages with maps

Navigation menu

• Lodging Information
• Leather Bag Manufacturers
• Banquet Halls in Shantiniketan
• Bolpur Station Train Schedules
• Visva-Bharati University
• BITM Santiniketan
• Kala Bhavana
• Sangit Bhavan
• The Ashram Complex
• Santiniketan’s History
• Shantiniketan Quotes
• Why is Santiniketan so Famous?
• Basanta Utsav
• Sonajhuri Haat
• Kolkata to Santiniketan
• Durgapur to Santiniketan
• Santiniketan Homestays
• Santiniketan Tourist Lodge
• Maa Sarada Lodge
• Panthashala, Shantiniketan
• Mayas Santiniketan
• Debendranath Tagore
• Mrinalini Devi
• Rathindranath Tagore – A Polymath’s Journey in Santiniketan
• Shamindranath Tagore

Empowering Artisans and Enriching Lives at Shantiniketan: The Amar Kutir Way

Welcome to Amar Kutir, a haven of creativity and craftsmanship nestled on the picturesque banks of the Kopai River, a mere 15 kilometers from Santiniketan in the Birbhum district of West Bengal, India. Amar Kutir, meaning “my cottage” in Bengali, was once a refuge for brave activists of the independence movement and has now transformed into a thriving cooperative society dedicated to the promotion of arts and crafts.

Early Years: A Vision Takes Shape at AmarKutir

The story of Amar Kutir traces back to the year 1922 when a young man named Sushen Mukherjee had a life-changing encounter with Mohandas Karamchand Gandhi, popularly known as Mahatma Gandhi. Mukherjee, who had been actively involved in the revolutionary movement for Indian independence, met Gandhi during his visit to Santiniketan , which was extended through an invitation from the eminent poet and philosopher, Rabindranath Tagore.

Mukherjee, a visionary and wanderer at heart, had embarked on a spiritual quest to unravel the purpose of life. During his extensive travels across India, he became deeply influenced by the idea that the foremost purpose of one’s life should be to liberate the nation from foreign rule. Inspired by this noble ideology and the surging freedom movement led by luminaries like Mahatma Gandhi, Netaji Subhas Chandra Bose, and Ballav Bhai Patel, Mukherjee immersed himself in the fight for India’s freedom. It was during this time that he met Mahatma Gandhi and Subhas Bose, the stalwarts of the movement.

Driven by the vision of creating a sanctuary where young freedom fighters could sustain themselves amidst the struggle, Mukherjee scoured the remote regions of Birbhum district in West Bengal until he discovered a pristine expanse of 100 acres along the serene banks of the Kopai River. This secluded paradise, not far from the present-day Bolepur and Shantiniketan, became the foundation of Amar Kutir. Mukherjee’s mission was clear—to establish a cottage industry that would empower the freedom fighters with the means of livelihood while concealing them from the vigilant gaze of the British police.

Mistaken Attribution to Tagore: A Clarification

It is worth mentioning that Amar Kutir’s journey and contributions to the cause of rural reconstruction were carried out independently of the renowned institution, Visva Bharati, set up by Rabindranath Tagore at Sriniketan in 1922. Despite their geographical proximity, Tagore never visited Amar Kutir, nor did the institution receive any formal recognition from his esteemed establishment at Shantiniketan . While the two entities pursued their respective missions, Amar Kutir flourished as a hub of revolutionaries and village crafts under the tireless efforts of Sushen Mukherjee and his associates.

Revolutionaries and Village Craft: Fostering Art and Ideals

During his intermittent periods of respite from the ardor of the freedom movement, Sushen Mukherjee embarked on diverse endeavors to sustain the activities of Amar Kutir. He engaged in door-to-door sales, offering quality tea, unique handicrafts, and antiquities to nobles and well-wishers. He also ventured to cities like Bombay and Madras, exploring avenues for revenue generation to support the nascent establishment. Through these experiences, Mukherjee developed expertise in waxing, cracking, and printing techniques, particularly in the art of Batik Print on fashionable leather goods such as handbags, purses, and briefcases—a pioneering craft that he acquired through interactions with traders from Malaysia and Indonesia in the late 1930s and early 1940s.

Mukherjee’s time in prison provided him with an opportunity to connect with several revolutionary leaders, including Moni Ganguly and Panna Lal Dasgupta. The British authorities’ prisons of that era became hotbeds of Marxist discussions and training. When the British government eventually relaxed its rules and released many revolutionaries in 1938, a significant number of them found their way to Amar Kutir. These revolutionaries played a pivotal role in organizing night classes and disseminating Marxist ideas among the rural masses. The outbreak of the Second World War in 1939 further propelled their involvement, as they actively participated in organizing peasant movements and were at the forefront of the Quit India movement in 1942.

Post-Independence Years: Empowering Rural Handicrafts

With India’s independence from British rule in 1947, Amar Kutir underwent a transformative phase and emerged as a cooperative committed to rejuvenating and developing rural handicrafts. This new chapter resonated with the ideals of self-help and sustainable rural development championed by Rabindranath Tagore . In 1978, the Amar Kutir Society for Rural Development was officially registered, solidifying the organization’s commitment to empowering local communities through craftsmanship and economic opportunities.

Sushen Mukherjee, a man who had touched the lives of numerous individuals during his lifetime, recognized the exceptional potential of two brothers, Kamalaksha Bose and Alok Bose. Impressed by their dedication and humility, Mukherjee adopted the brothers as his own sons and entrusted them with the responsibility of carrying forward his selfless work. Through a deed of conveyance, he transferred the property and its legacy to Kamalaksha Bose and Alok Bose, who continued to manage Amar Kutir from 1955 until the late 1970s or early 1980s. Eventually, they facilitated the transfer of the property to create the autonomous body known as Amar Kutir Society for Rural Development, ensuring its self-sufficiency and continued benefit to the local population. The society now serves as a platform where local artisans can showcase their exquisite merchandise, including needlework, leather handicrafts, and more, selling their creations to visiting tourists or exporting them to foreign markets.

Activities: Unleashing Artistic Brilliance

Amar Kutir stands as a thriving cooperative unit dedicated to producing an array of artistic treasures. Its craftsmen and craftswomen skillfully create leather goods, kantha-stitched saris, bamboo crafts, and exquisite batik pieces, all offered at reasonable prices. The leather-craft unit, in particular, provides employment opportunities to a predominantly female workforce, empowering them economically and socially. Moreover, Amar Kutir houses a batik unit, a needlecraft unit, and shola and lac crafts units, each preserving and promoting traditional artistic techniques.

Recognizing the importance of skill development, a craft development center was established at Amar Kutir in 1992 through a Central government initiative. Additionally, in 1993, a hand-block printing training center was inaugurated, further nurturing the legacy of craftsmanship in the region. The kantha-stitch sarees produced here find appreciation in both national and international markets, serving as a testament to the timeless beauty and craftsmanship nurtured by Amar Kutir.

In conclusion, Amar Kutir’s journey from its revolutionary roots to becoming a catalyst for rural development through artistic brilliance has been truly remarkable. The cooperative’s commitment to preserving cultural heritage, empowering local communities, and fostering sustainable craftsmanship shines through its exceptional products and initiatives. As Amar Kutir continues to inspire and uplift, it remains a testament to the indomitable spirit of creativity and the pursuit of freedom.