Bolpur, Santiniketan

Discover the rich history and heritage of Bolpur and Basanta Utsav

Bolpur, a municipality located in the Birbhum district of West Bengal, India, is renowned as an academic and cultural center of the region. Bolpur also serves as the administrative headquarters of the Bolpur subdivision. Within the Bolpur municipal area are Santiniketan, Sriniketan, and Prantik. Bolpur and Santiniketan Police station have jurisdiction over the city. Bolpur is the largest and most populous city in Birbhum district and the 28th most populous city in West Bengal. Bolpur is situated on the banks of the Ajay River and the Kopai (Sal) River and has been a significant human settlement for many years. Bolpur is well-known for Visva Bharati, the University established by Nobel laureate poet Rabindranath Tagore, which is located in the city.

According to a mythical story, Supur was the capital of Raja Surath, who lost his kingdom while on conquests but regained it with the blessings of goddess Bhavani. In gratitude, Raja Surath organized the sacrificial slaughtering of one lakh goats. The place where the sacrificial offerings were made was named ‘Bolipur,’ which later became Bolpur over time.

About 150 years ago, Bolpur was a small village located in the Supur Porgana region. Kalikapur, a well-known place in Bolpur, was the origin of the typical village of the past. At that time, there were no rail lines or developed roads, and paddy land was seen around the village. “Lalmati” (red soil) was ubiquitous in the area. Many villages, including Sian, Dihipara, Khoskadampur, Paruldanga, Goalpara, Ballavpur, Bandhgara, Surul, Supur, and Raipur, formed the boundary line around Bolpur.

The East India Company established the first railway line in 1859 when the Sahebganj loopline was extended beyond the Ajay River. Bolpur railway station was established in 1860. Along with this, court, police station, sub-registry office, etc., were established in the old Bolpur. After that, people started residing in the area. Christian missionaries arrived and founded a church known as the Mission compound. Paddy storage houses, stationary shops, grocery shops, garment shops, etc., were located on the east side near the Bolpur railway station. At that time, there were about 19 husking machines in the area.

Maharshi Debendranath Tagore founded a religious mediation center in Bolpur, and Rabindranath Tagore established Visva Bharati Viswavidyalaya in 1921. These were the main reasons for Bolpur’s massive expansion, development, and popularity.

The provincial names of Bolpur reflected its gradual development. Kachharipatti is located right next to the court house, Trishulapatti is the commercial paddy trading center, and Kalibaroarytala was the service place for Bolpur established by some initiative people. Netaji held a conference in the area, and Harisava stood against “Bramhopasana.” Every week, these two conferences were held in Bolpur. Religious advice was given by Bijaykrishna Ghoswami, Shivnath Shastri, Shasibhusan Basu, and others. Additionally, a prayer committee was established.

The climate in Shantiniketan, Bolpur, is moderately warm, with summer temperatures reaching around 35-42 °C (maximum) and winter temperatures ranging from 6-15 °C (minimum). Summer is experienced during March, April, and May, while

winter occurs in December, January, and February. Heavy rainfall occurs during June, July, August, and September, which are known as the monsoon or rainy season, with a dry and humid climate. Shantiniketan witnessed its highest temperature of 47.0 °C on June 10, 1966. The lowest temperature ever recorded in the area was 5.0 °C on January 15, 2003 (refer to the weather box below). The annual average temperature is 26.2 °C, and approximately 1480mm of rain falls per year, with 76 days experiencing rainfall. The area is classified as an “Aw” (tropical savanna climate) under the Köppen Climate Classification.

If you are planning a visit to Bolpur, there are several places you can stay, ranging from budget-friendly guest houses to luxury hotels. Some popular options include the Visva-Bharati Guest House, Hotel Poushali, Hotel Ratan Palli, Hotel Sonajhuri, Hotel Upasana, Hotel Tagore’s Abode, and Hotel Shantiniketan. All of these accommodations offer a range of amenities and are conveniently located within easy reach of the town’s attractions.