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This was our last day at Shantiniketan. We left our hotel after breakfast at 8.30, our first stop was Kankalitala . The temple is about 9 Km from Bolpur station located next to Kopai river on Bolpur – Labhpur road. It is one of the Shakti Peethas where the waist (or kankal in Bengali) of sati fell.
From Kankalitala we came back to Visva Bharati and visited Niharika art gallery . Niharika exhibits work of Prof. Selim Munshi, an old Ashramik and a well known painter. The gallery is named with his wife’s name. he has painted the landscapes of old Shantiniketan on exact spots themselves. Many of the than spots either changed or demolished.
Our next stop was Uttrayan. Uttrayan was the adobe of the poet for last 20 years of his life. He started living here from 1919 till he was shifted to Calcutta in 1941 for treatment. This beautiful complex thrown around tree-lined avenues, graveled courtyards and exotic gardens boasts several buildings built in architectural styles varying from art decor to rural Bengal. The complex also houses Rabindra Bhavan museum. It consists of five houses namely Udichi, Udayana, Konarka, Shamali and Punascha. A prayer hall is also there which was constructed by Devendranath Tagore in 1863 where Brahmo prayers were performed.
Udayan: Rabindra nath stayed here till leaving for Calcutta for treatment in 1941.
Shyamali: It is in the east of Konarak & built by only Clay& Tar. Rabindranath on his 74th birthday shifted to Shyamali. The house was developed under direction of Nandalal Bose & Ramkinkar Baiz.
Punachcha: Punachcha is situated at the east of Shyamali.
Udichi: It is in the north-west of Punachcha. Earlier it was known as ‘Sejuti’ but as it is situated in the north of Uttarayan, Rabindranath renamed it as Udichi. The rose garden made by Rabindranath still exists outside Udichi.
We finished visiting Uttrayan by 12.20 , it was almost time to catch Shantiniketan express back to Kolkata. On our way we saw Purbasthali , some important buildings of Visva Bharati university and also the Bhuban Dangar Mtah where Poushmela is held every year. We picked our luggage from hotel and then came to station to catch our train at 1.10.
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How did I do it?
Day 1
Shantiniketan Express is at 10.10 from Howrah. Reached Shantiniketan at 12 . Visited Visva Bharati .
Day 2
Visited Sabuj Bon, Amar Kutir, Sirijani Shilpigram, Sriniketan, Parkriti Bhavan, 20 M Buddha Statue, Khoai, Sonajhuri, Boner Pukur.
Day 3
Kankalitala, Uttrayan and then Shantiniketan Express to Kolkata at 13.10 PM
