Places to visit
in shantiniketan
Uttarayan Complex
It is situated to the north of Santiniketan Ashram. This complex has immense historical significance as Rabindranath spent second part of his life here. He and his family members started living in Uttarayan from 1919. Konarak was the first brick house at Uttarayan and thereafter Udayan, Shyamali, Punashcha & Udichi were built one after another as per the plans of Rathindranath (his son), Surendra Nath Kar & Nandalal Bose.
Konarak
Situated in the north-west corner of Uttarayan complex, this house was built by Rabindranath between 1919 & 1922 for residence of his son Rathindranath and daughter-in-law Pratima Devi.
Shyamali
It is in the east of Konarak and built entirely by clay & tar. Rabindranath on his 74th birthday in 1935 shifted to Shyamali. The house was developed under the guidance & direction of Nandalal Bose & Ramkinkar Baiz. Famous personalities like Mahatma Gandhi, Lal Bahadur Shastri, Mother Teresa & many others stayed here on different occasions.
Punascha
Punachcha is situated to the east of Shyamali, which was constructed as per desire of Rabindranath and he shifted to this house in 1936.
Udichi
It is in the south-east of Punashcha & it was inaugurated on the birthday of Rabindranath in 1938. Earlier it was known as ‘Sejuti’ but as the house is situated to the north of Uttarayan, Rabindranath renamed it as Udichi. The rose garden made by Rabindranath still exists outside Udichi.
Chitrabhanu Cave House
It is situated to the south of Uttarayan & the ground floor is known as Cave House (Guhaghar). It was Rathindranath’s office. The first floor is known as Chitrabhanu, which was a studio of Pratima Devi. From outside, the ground floor looks like a Cave & from inside like a cabin of a ship.
Rabindra Bhavan
It is on the left side of main entrance of Uttarayan & it was constructed on the birth centenary of Rabindranath in 1961. Pandit Jawaharlal Nehru, the then Prime Minister of India, inaugurated it. This building houses a Library and a Museum. In the Museum, one will find Tagore’s manuscript, Title Deeds, Letters, Pictures & Paintings, Tagore’s belongings, Prizes & Medallions etc. In north-east of Bichitra Bhavan, Tagore’s own car, Humber is displayed.still exists outside Udichi.
Chhatimtala
It is just other side of the main road opposite of Uttarayan & an important landmark of Santiniketan. Rabindranath’s father, Debendranath Tagore during his travel to Raipur took rest & performed meditation (Upasana) at Chhatimtala in 1862. Moved by the peace and tranquillity of this place Debendranath decided to set up Santiniketan Ashram right there.
Santiniketan House
In 1863, as per direction of Debendranath, a two storied house was constructed on the right side of Chhatimtala which is the oldest of all houses in Santiniketan. In front of this house, a sculpture by Ramkinkar Baiz known as ‘Anirban Sikha’ is positioned. In 2009, Dr. Manmohan Singh, Prime Minister of India, inaugurated a museum in this building.
Glass House (Upasana Griha)
As per wisdom & planning of Debendranath, this house was established on 23 December, 1891 in front of Santiniketan House. At all important festivals of Santiniketan, Upasana or Prayer is performed here either in the early morning or evening.
Three Hills (Tin Pahar)
Situated to the east of Glass House, this is a huge mud accumulation due to digging of a pond for supplying water to the residents of Santiniketan. A big banyan tree is visible in the middle of the mud accumulation.
Taladhwaj
It is situated to the east of Upasana Griha (Glass House). Taladhwaj, a round mud hut with a thatched roof around a Taal tree (toddy palm) was built for Tejeschandra Sen, a tree lover who would even shared his lodging here.
Aamra Kunja
Situated to the east of Glass House, this is a huge mud accumulation due to digging of a pond for supplying water to the residents of Santiniketan. A big banyan tree is visible in the middle of the mud accumulation.
Natun Bari
At the east end of Salbithi, a straw roofed house was established in 1902 where at present Alapani Mahila Samity (Ladies Society) is functioning. This house was constructed as dwelling house for Rabindranath but due to sudden death of Mrinalini Devi, wife of Rabindranath, the poet didn’t move there.
Deholi
A two storied house was built in the east of Natun Bari (New House) in 1904 where “Mrinalini Ananda Pathsala” (school) is operating now. Rabindranath stayed here with family in the first floor from 1905 to 1918.
Salbithi
A red morum road up to Chaiti passing through Deholi & Madhabibithan Arch (Toran) is known as Salbithi. The name was given by Rabindranath.
Singha Sadan
To the south of Gour Prangan, this house was constructed in 1927 with the financial help of Lord Satyendra Prasanna Singha and planning of Surendranath Kar. There is a Bell (Ghanta) Room at one end of the roof and a Clock Room at other end of the roof. Students know about the timing of any programme in accordance with the number of times the bell is rung. On 7th August 1940, Oxford University conferred D-Lit title to Tagore in this house.
