Shanti Niketan

Shantiniketan is closely associated with Rabindranath Tagore and his vision of education in an open, natural setting. Located near Bolpur in Birbhum district, it later grew around Visva-Bharati, the university founded by Tagore in 1921. The campus is known not only for its academic history, but also for its sculptures, murals, distinctive buildings and strong connection with Bengali art and culture.

But there is more to explore beyond the university.

The villages around Bolpur preserve a surprisingly rich collection of old brick and terracotta temples. Supur, for instance, is known for its twin Shiva temples, where the terracotta panels carry religious scenes, figures and decorative motifs.

Further away, Kalna in Purba Bardhaman has one of Bengal’s most unusual Shiva temple complexes, with 108 shrines arranged in two concentric circles.

Explore these places:

Shantiniketan

Shanti Niketan University

Visva-Bharati is at the heart of Shantiniketan. Tagore’s ideas about learning, art and nature can still be seen across the campus in its buildings, open spaces, murals and sculptures.

Around Shantiniketan

Supur Terracotta Temples

Supur, near Bolpur, has a group of old brick temples known for their terracotta work. The twin Shiva temples are particularly interesting, with panels depicting sacred narratives, human figures and floral designs.

Kalna

108 Shiva Temples, Kalna

The 108 Shiva Temple complex at Kalna was built in 1809. Its small Shiva shrines are arranged in two concentric circles, creating one of the most distinctive temple layouts in West Bengal.