Bolpur (Shantiniketan)

Shantiniketan is located at 87.68° E 23.68° N on an average elevation of 187 feet. This area is guarded by two rivers, the Kopai and the Ajay. When Shantiniketan was founded, this area was dense with multiple forests. But environmental issues caused soil erosion and resulted in a barren outlook. But with the help of Botanists, many trees am plants flourished with their old essence by their consistent efforts. In Shantiniketan, a tree named 'Chhatimtala' under which Debendranath used to meditate; this place is still reserved and reminds people of a serene open space for knowledge and peace. Shantiniketan is also a neighborhood of Bolpur city situated in West Bengal. In maps, Shantiniketan is not mapped as a separate place; rather, it lies under Surul and other parts under the Bolpur municipal area.

The weather condition of Shantiniketan is generally warm. Summer lasts from March to May and is followed by heavy rainfall from June to September. December brings the soft winter till the last week of February. The ideal time to visit is during its winter and monsoon period

When someone talks about the people of Shantiniketan, one must know that a part of lies within Bolpur, and most of the people living here are natives from Bolpur. Another part of the population belongs to the institutional group of people studying in the university, including many famous scholars and the people who grew up surrounded by the trees of knowledge. This town is known for its artistic and literary heritage, with popular scholar figures like Nandalal Bose and Rabindranath Tagore. Visva-Bharati can also be considered at the cultural center of Shantiniketan. 

Shantiniketan holds the essence of old Bengali culture and has many festivals of its own, including those celebrated commonly in India but in its way. 'Holi' is a festival celebrated with colors; in Shantiniketan, it is celebrated with 'abir' (colored powder), dance, and music on the tunes of Tagore by students with the arrival of spring and is called 'Basanta Utsav.' 'Barsha Mangal,' songs and poems on rain by Rabindranath Tagore, are also celebrated and ghee festivals. 'Baisakh' is celebrated along with the birth anniversary of Rabindranath Tagore and also is after 'Bengali New Year.' Nandalal Bose's birth anniversary brings 'Nandan Mela,' a special celebration for art lovers. 'Halkarshan' and 'Briksharopan' are celebrated to emphasize human's connection to divine nature. 

Bengali Cuisine, Veg, and non-veg Thali, and Continental food items are famous here. There are many types of 'mishtis' and 'sandesh' to enjoy with delicacy. 

Like the above festivals, on Mahalaya day, students organize a handicraft fair known as 'Ananda Bazar.' In the Birbhum district, a fair named 'Poush Mela' takes place in Shantiniketan for about three days. It's a place for business trading purposes and a good place to gather together to look around the fair. The best about this fair is that one can enjoy Bengali folk music here. These fair tales place during the harvest season. 

Apart from the special events to attend, there are many monuments, libraries, sculptures, paintings, museums, and a collection of five different types of houses built by Rabindranath Tagore. These houses are: Shyamali, Konark, Udayan, Punascha, and Udichi. Each household a different story of its making and is filled with classic arts. Other artistic places are Patha Bhavana, Jorasanko Thakur Bari, Guha Ghar museum, Kalo Bari, and a 60x30 feet hall construction with a tiled roof and white marbled floor rest of the structure with glass by Debendranath Tagore for Brahmo prayers. This hall is exceptionally beautiful and aesthetic to the eyes