Uttarayan Complex : It is situated in the north of Santiniketan Ashram. This complex boasts of five abode of immense historical significance as Rabindranath spent his later part of life here. He started living at Uttarayan from 1919. Konarak was the first brick house at Uttarayan and thereafter Udayan, Shyamali, Punachha & Udichi were built up one by one as per the plans of Tagore’s son Rathindranath Tagore. Visiting Hours: 10.30am-1pm & 2pm-4.30pm(Thursday to Monday)10.30am-1pm(Tuesday)
Udayan : Rabindra nath stayed here till leaving for Calcutta for treatment in 1941.
Shyamali : It is in the east of Konarak & built with only clay and 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.
Chitrabhanu Cave House : It is situated in the south of Uttarayan & the ground floor is known as Cave House (Guhaghar), it was office of Rathindranath. The first floor is known as Chitrabhanu, which was a studio of Pratima Devi. From outside the ground floor is looks like a Cave & inside like a cabin of a ship.
Rabindra Bhavan (Bichitra) : It is on the left side of main entrance of Uttarayan & it was constructed on the birth centenary of Rabindranath in 1961. 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.
Chatimtala : It is just opposite of Uttarayan. Debendranath Tagore during his travel to Raipur took rest & performed meditation (Upasana) at Chatimtala in 1862. Moved by the peace and tranquility of this place Debendranath decided to set up Santiniketan Ashram right there.
Santiniketan House : In 1863, this two storied house was constructed on the right side of Chatimtala which is the oldest of all houses in Santiniketan. In front of this house, a Sculpture by Ramkinkar Baiz known as ‘Anirban Sikha’ is situated.
Glass House : The Glass House (Upasana Griha) is situated in front of Santiniketan House.
Aamra Kunja : Between Glass House & Salbithi, classes are held under lush green garden full of Mango trees. Annual convocation is also held here.
Deholi : A two storied house in east of Natun Bari (New House) where “Mrinalini Ananda Pathsala” (school) is operating now. Rabindranath stayed here with family in first floor from 1905 to 1918.
Natun Bari (New House) : At the east end of Salbithi, a straw roofed house was established in 1902 where at present Alapini 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 shift there to live.
Salbithi : A red morum road up to Chaiti passing through Deholi & Madhabibithan Arch (Toran) is known as Salbithi, named by Rabindranath.
Singha Sadan : At the north of Gour Prangan, in this house on the roof, at one end Bell (Ghanta) room & other end Clock room are situated. Oxford University conferred D-Lit title to Tagore here.
Patha Bhavan : In front of Singha Sadan & north of Gour Prangan, Patha Bhavan is situated. Rabindranath named this house as ‘Balvi Kuthir’. Later it was renamed as Patha Bhavan.
Ghanta Tala : In the middle of Salbithi & at the south of Madhabi Toron under a banyan tree in Gour Prangan, Ghantatala is situated. It is developed as per design of Sachistupa.
Hindi Bhavan : In 1938, Hindi Bhavan was started functioning. Degree and Post-graduate studies in Hindi literature are conducted here. A well-equipped Hindi literature library is also housed here.
China Bhavan : At the west of Hindi Bhavan, a double storied house where Research and higher studies in Chinese Language is conducted.
Mukut Ghar : In front of China Bhavan a thatched roofed tiny house is known as Mukut Ghar. The name was given as the drama Mukut written by Rabindranath was first staged here.
Santoshalaya : At the north of Mukut Ghar, a tile shaded house is known as Santoshalaya, where at present, a Child Students’ (Girls) hostel of Patha Bhavan is situated.
Benikunja : At the north of Dinantika, a thatched house is situated where Rathindranath lived some days after his marriage & now it is office of Alumni Association of Viswa Varathi.
Dinantika : By the side of Benikunja, an octagonal small two storied house is situated where Dinendra Smiriti Tea-Party was organized in the evening, where the then teachers were taken part.
Chaiti : Chaiti was built as per Buddhist culture with the mixture of Clay & Tar and designed by Surendra nath Kar & Nandalal Basu. New handicrafts made by students are displayed here.
Kala Bhavan : In Kalabhavan complex, many buildings are situated where wall paintings, sculptures, frescoes & murals of renowned artists like Ramkinkar Baiz, Nandalal Basu, Binod Behari Mukherjee, Somnath Hore are displayed
Black House (Kalo Bari) : In between Sangeet Bhavan & Kala Bhavan, Black House (Kalo Bari) is situated where students of Kala Bhavan were residing. This Bhavan is built in 1934 as per wish of Tagore & planning of Nandalal Basu, Surendranath Kar and Ramkinkar Baiz.
Sangeet Bhavan : Sangeet Bhavan is situated at the west of Black House (Kalo Bari) where primarily music classes are held for B.Muse & M.Muse courses.
Nippon Bhavan : This house is utilized to teach Japanese language & literature.
Khoai : Situated along the canal after Shyambati, which is a valley of un-even red soil and beautiful trees (Sonajhuri). Bondangar Haat, a fair is organized in Saturdays between 3 pm to dusk on a piece of land at Sonajhuri. Local artisans sell their products, sitting under trees with products ranging from handmade clothes to paintings, green vegetables to wooden ornaments. The tranquil ambience is enhanced by the baul song only.
Kalor dokan : It was a cold winter morning in 1892 and Tagore and his colleagues had just finished morning prayers at the kanch ghar. As they emerged, Tagore asked his old help Kalo to see if he could arrange for some tea. Kalo swung into action, begged and borrowed utensils and ingredients and gave his master the morning cuppa. And thus was born Kalor dokan as the story goes.
Sriniketan : Rabindranath started a rural reconstruction center at Sriniketan in 1922 at 3 km from Shantiniketan. Later Siksha Satra, Silpa Sadana, Palli Siksha Bhavana, Santosh pathshala etc came up here. There is a centre for traditional handicrafts like Kantha embroidery, Dokra artifacts. The Batik print clothes, bags are popular buys from this place.
Kankalitala : (Preferably by Auto) One of the sacred Satipithas. There is a temple. It is one of the fifty two pithas where a part of the dismembered body of Sati fell. In this case the waist (Kankal)
Deer Park : Spotted deer, jackals, and a variety of water birds are found here. Located within the Ballavpur forest range, beside the canal. The lake inside also has many freshwater turtles seen tanning themselves on the banks. A watch tower, to view the feathered guests without disturbing them and seats in the deepest recesses of the forest allow the explorers on the trail of the not-so-elusive deer to take it easy.
Itonda : Driving 19 km down a road through hard red laterite and farmland to Itonda could be quite exciting. The terracotta temples are truly magnificent after the dusty drive past Panchshwa village.
