boban’sbeat
The sensory pleasures of
Shantiniketan
O
ne of my stopovers this
month was Shantiniketan
in West Bengal. This
famous meeting ground
for people from Kolkata and beyond
is pleasantly ‘untouristy,’ thanks to its
‘intellectual’ air. But tell you what: I, who
don’t consider myself an intellectual,
thoroughly enjoyed myself in this
beautiful place.
Bolpur-Shantiniketan, the municipality
in Birbhum, is a two-and-a-half hour train
ride from Kolkata and a perfect place
for some R&R. Though the prices might
seem a little steep, finding some sweet
shelter isn’t difficult at all.
Everybody will tell you to go to
Tagore’s ashram, Rabindra Bhawan, and
other guide-book favourites. I stumbled
upon ‘Sonajhuri haat,’ a Saturday market
set in the midst of a forest with tall
Sonajhuri trees all around.
Artisans from nearby villages come
here to sell handmade products such
as dolls, jewellery, musical instruments,
56 Travel Secrets March-April 2015
printed sarees, pencil stands, wall hangings
and much more. It was so refreshing to
shop here, basking in the soft rays of
th