Thanks to a travel-loving friend, planning a last-minute trip to Shantiniketan was a breeze! We boarded the early morning Vande Bharat Express from Howrah on one fine Saturday and reached Bolpur on time. Special mention must be made of the yummy breakfast that was served. This was my 2nd trip aboard the Vande Bharat express.
After a quick check-in at our resort (Aayes Resort), we visited the Kankalitala Kali temple and the adjacent handicraft flea market. We loved the tribal dancers who were more than happy to click some lovely pics with us. The pretty terrain and the paths adorned with reddish soil gave us plenty of photo ops!
After a quick visit to the Nature Museum (where we were treated to an amazing performance by a local Baul singer), we headed to the Adibasi gram, a pretty village of local artisans.
After a sumptuous Bengali lunch at Bonobithi, we headed to Shaal bon, for some more awesome clicks!
We spent the evening having a casual chitchat, while enjoying a slurp-worthy Continental dinner at Amoli.
Apart from the cafe, the property also has a boutique stay option and is home to the owner and his family. The super-articulate owner had a friendly chat with my friend and me, over a smoke, and we ended up clicking tons of pretty pics here. Definitely a must-visit on your next Shantiniketan trip!
Sunday was all about shopping! We shopped our hearts out at the famed Sonajhuri flea market! We got some amazing deals. For instance, a Baul kantha stole I had bought for around 1k online a few years back is available here for a mere 200 bucks (after bargaining)! Yes, that's how affordable it is here. Loved the bustling vibes of the place.
You'll get handicrafts, home decor items, artsy patchwork stoles, kurtas, harem pants, sarees, bags of all kinds (including leather), and other accessories at steal deals. You'll also get all sorts of fabrics, from kantha and khesh to gamchha and batik! Bought a few jackets, earrings, bracelets, and bags.
On our way to lunch, we chanced upon a standalone ceramic handicraft store that was equally appealing!
Shantiniketan didn't disappoint when it came to cute cafes and eateries! This one for instance was no way less than any cool cafe in Kolkata. It's called 9X9. The food was awesome (and pocket-friendly), and so was the hospitality!
And then...it was time to visit the Vishwa Bharati museum. The museum gives a holistic idea of the life and times of Tagore, along with snippets of life inside the "Thakur bari" Photography is prohibited inside the museum, but the compound had some pretty corners.
Srijani Shilpagram was a revelation! An artists' village and workshop, this place showcases various forms of art, such as dance and theater, not just from Bengal but from all across the country.
Overall, our Shantiniketan trip was a hit! And the pleasant weather added to our glee. If anyone is planning to visit the place, the best time is around November to February.