Approximately 200 Kilometres North of Kolkata, Santiniketan is connected by road and rail. The nearest railway station is Bolpur. Santiniketan means abode of peace. In 1863, a meditation center was founded at Santiniketan by Maharshi Debendranath Tagore, the father of the world famous bengali poet Rabindranath Tagore. He had founded the Brahmo Vidyalaya and in 1901 another open air laboratory school. In 1921, it had elaborated into Visva Bharati University. Visva Bharati is a residential university with International body, hostels and extensive grounds. It includes distinguish colleges for fine arts and crafts, dance, music, teachers training, Asian Languages, technology, post graduate studies and research. Rabindra Sadhana is the university's museum and the center for the study of Tagore. There is another institution for rural reconstruction, health, social welfare, and the revival of the folk arts at Sriniketan , which is very close to Santiniketan. This institution also founded by Tagore in 1922. Santiniketan is the shape of peace of mind and peace, far removed from the cover jungle. Here inflicting graves of Ram Kinkar greet you at every turn of the road. Paintings of Nandalal, Abanindranath and Binod Bihari captivate your senses.Uttarayan is the complex where Rabindranath lived, has a museum and art gallery. Sriniketan, a centre for traditional handcrafts like batik, pottery, weaving kantha embroidery and dokra tribal handcrafts is situated three kilometers from Santiniketan. His hall, a prayer hall for the community, the school, the university, and various areas for cultural activities. The Ashram area presents the encouragement and belief of Tagore even though it seems overshadowed by the university. A visitor usually takes cycle rickshaw rides in and around the area. What would draw your care would be boards that say Heritage Complex. Although the impressed state of the buildings do not have the basic paint jobs done and does not fit with the image of a heritage complex, you would not really mind it. The Ashram area presents the encouragement and belief of Tagore even though it seems shadowed by the university. There are plenty of places to stay in Santiniketan. On contacting there, be sure to ask any of the locals. People all over Bengal are known for giving good direction.
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