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Bolpur now an international city was merely a tiny village under Supur Porgana some 150 years ago. East India Company established the first railway lines here back in 1859 but the first railway station was built only in 1960. Subsequently the village witnessed the establishment of a court, Police Station, Sub Registry office and other official establishments which made Bolpur a preferred residential locality. However, Bolpur is known for Santiniketan and Vishwabharati University – the epicenter of culture and education created by the Nobel Prize Winner poet Rabindranath Tagore. His dreams of creating an education system inspired by the natural world itself and nurturing world citizens came to light at
Bolpur.
Location
Bolpur is located at south border of Birbhum district. Kalikapur was the place where the village originated. Dihipara, Khosakdampur, Paruldanga, Goalpara, Ballavpur, Bandhgara, Surul, Supur, Raipur are the villages that form the boundary line around Bolpur.
History
Maharshi Debendranath Tagore established the centre of Religious mediation in Bolpur. Rabindranath Tagore established Visva Bharati University. Development of further provincial names laid the foundation stones for gradual expansion of Bolpur. Trishulapatti, the commercial trading centre. Kalibaroarytala a place set up by some in genuine people turned out to be a place where leaders held conferences. Two conferences were held every week with wise men like Bijaykrishna Ghoswami, Shivnath Shastri, Shasibhusan Basu giving religious advices. Besides a prayer committee was also founded.
Attraction
Bolopur is famous for its Museum - Vichittra and Art Gallery - Nandan. Within the Uttarayana complex, there are five abodes of the Tagores - Udayana, Konarka, Shamali, Punassha and Udichi. Chhatimala, Upasana Mandir, and Shantiniketan, Bari are also one of the oldest sanctums worth a visit.
Santiniketan: The land of Santiniketan, the precincts of culture and heritage was formally owned by Rabindranath Tagore's father Maharshi Debendranath Tagore. Rabindranath Tagore established Santiniketan in the year 1901. He founded a Bramhacharya school here, which is known as the Patha Bhavan, the school of his ideals, whose central theme was learning in a natural environment. In 1913 he received the Noble Prize for Literature, which helped him expand the school into a university. Indira Gandhi, Satyajit Ray, and Amartya Sen are among its illustrious alumni.
Santiniketan also houses world famous institutes like Kala Bhavan, Vidya Bhavana, Shiksha Bhavana, Sangit Bhavana, Vinaya Bhavana, Rabindra Bhavan Palli-Samgathana Vibhaga; Palli Shiksha Bhavana, Nippon Bhavana, Rural Extension Centre, Silpa Sadana; Palli-Charcha Kendra, It also has Centre for Biotechnology, Centre for Mathematics Education, Centre for Environmental Studies and Computer Centre.
Sriniketan: In 1922, Sriniketan was established as a rural reconstruction center. There is an agricultural college here. It is 3 kms from Shantiniketan.
Deer Park / Ballavpur Wildlife Sanctuary: Black Buck, spotted deer, jackals, foxes and a variety of water birds are found here.
Events (Fairs and Festivals)
Paus Mela: (Seventh day of Paus in late December) a major landmark on the Bengali's culture calendar it marks the celebration of the day Maehashi Debendranath Tagore became a Brahmo. A fair is held at Shantiniketan and Visva Bharati observes its foundation day. Tribal sports, dances and folk songs including songs by Bauls - the-wandering minstrels of Bengal, are a part of the fair and festivities.
Rabindra Janmotsab: (mid April) Day marked for the celebration of the birthday of Rabindranath Tagore. Although his birthday is on May 8/9, it is celebrated with the Bengali New Year.
Briksharopan: (22nd and 23 of Sravana (August)) Day marked for the planting of saplings and Halakarshan - ploughing of fields.
Vasanta Utsav: (March) Celebrates Holi. The students dance and sing their ways through Amrakunja, followed by open-air variety programs.
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