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Bolpur (বোলপুর Bōlpur) is a major commercial centre in the Birbhum district of West Bengal, on the north bank of the Ajay River. Although the city is best known for the nearby Santiniketan, a 
UNESCO World Heritage Site, Bolpur has managed to develop its own charm.
Get in
[edit | edit source]By plane
[edit | edit source]The nearest airport is Kazi Nazrul Islam Airport (RDP IATA) at Durgapur, but flights are infrequent. Netaji Subhas Chandra Bose International Airport (CCU IATA) in Kolkata is the nearest major airport that is close to Santiniketan.
By train
[edit | edit source]- 1 Bolpur Shantiniketan ER (code: BHP). Bolpur is two to three hours by train from Kolkata. Vande Bharat Express and Shatabdi Express offer the fastest service. Local trains from Bardhaman or Rampurhat can be crowded, depending on whether you are travelling on peak times or not. If you are travelling with a lot of baggage, you may struggle for space even in reserved coaches of express trains.
Express trains include:
- From Howrah (HWH): Ganadevta Express, Jamalpur Express, Kavi Guru Express, Malda Intercity Express, NJP Shatabdi Express, NJP Vande Bharat Express (fastest, non-stop), Saraighat Express and Shantiniketan Express (the only train that originates and/or terminates at HWH and BHP, so you a better chance of finding seats on this train if you buy unreserved tickets).
- From Sealdah (SDAH): Darjeeling Mail and Kanchanjungha Express.
- From New Jalpaiguri (NJP): Darjeeling Mail, Howhrah Shatabdi Express, Howrah Vande Bharat Express and Kanchenjunga Express.
By bus
[edit | edit source]- 2 Bolpur Jambuni Bus Stand, Pravat Sarani. From Kolkata, there are two bus options: The Asansol bus (alight near Panagarh) and the Suri bus (alight near Ilambazar). From both places, local buses are available for Bolpur.
By car
[edit | edit source]Bolpur is 212 km (132 mi) from Kolkata by road. Good drivers can cover the distance in about 3 hours.
Bolpur is connected with Kolkata by an excellent 4-lane expressway. From Kolkata, travel to Dankuni and take the Durgapur Expressway (NH 19). It will bypass Saktigarh, Bardhaman and Panagarh. At Panagarh (Darjeeling More), turn right. After crossing the Ajay River, take the road to the right at Ilambazar and proceed towards Bolpur. At the Santiniketan–Sriniketan junction (also called Surul More) take the road to the left.
You can also take NH 114 via Talit, Guskara, Bhedia and Surul More, by taking a right turn from the Durgapur Expressway just after crossing Bardhaman on the right (where the Renaissance Township is on the left) and taking this route via Nababhat More. It saves time and the distance is less from the above route by about 50 km, with the cost of numerous speed bumps on the way.
Another option is to take the Bardhaman-Palitpur stretch of the 2-lane NH 116A by taking a right turn from the Durgapur Expressway at Telipukur. At Palitpur, turn left to take the road leading to Bolpur. Although the route is longer than NH 114, it is far less congested and has fewer speed bumps.
Get around
[edit | edit source]
By rickshaw
[edit | edit source]Electric rickshaws, locally known as ṭōṭō (টোটো), are the most convenient and cheap means of transport these days. The older cycle rickshaws are still available and can be availed, though it would cost more.
See
[edit | edit source]- 1 Dangali Kalitala (ডাঙ্গালী কালীতলা). An old and popular Kali temple.
- 2 Gitanjali Rail Museum (গীতাঞ্জলি রেল সংগ্রহালয় Gītānjoli Rel Songrohāloy), Station Rd (opposite Bolpur station). 9AM–1PM and 2:30PM–5PM (closed Wed). The museum showcases some aspects of the life of Rabindranath Tagore, other than railways.
- 3 Raipur Rajbari (রাইপুর রাজবাড়ি Rāipur Rājbāṛi). The old zamindar palace that belonged to Bhuban Mohan Sinha, who gave his 20 acres (8.1 hectares) of land to Debendranath Tagore, the founder of present-day Santiniketan. The palace is partly in shambles, as of 2021.
Do
[edit | edit source]- 1 Dak Bungalow Ground. Hosts some Santiniketan events.
- 2 Gitanjali Cinema, Pravat Sarani (next to Jambuni Bus Stand).
- 3 Lalpool Park (next to Lalpool Bridge). A beautiful park with an elevated view of the Sahibganj Loop.
Buy
[edit | edit source]- 1 Santiniketan Road. Bolpur's major shopping district.
Eat
[edit | edit source]- 1 Madhurima, Santiniketan Rd. A sweet shop on the way to Santiniketan.
- 2 SK Restaurant, Bolpur-Santiniketan Rd, ☏ +91 9434132416. 10AM-10PM daily. This restaurant, near Jambuni Bus stands opposite Gitanjali Prekhagriha, and is very good, both in terms of food quality and quantity. Look for "morabba", a Suri speciality (type of sweet meat).
Drink
[edit | edit source]Sleep
[edit | edit source]| This guide uses the following price ranges for a standard double room: | |
| Budget | ₹1000 |
| Mid-range | ₹1000–3000 |
| Splurge | ₹3000 |
Bolpur is a backpackers' area with many budget accommodations.
Budget
[edit | edit source]- 1 Bolpur Lodge, Bhubandanga, ☏ +91 3463 252662, +91 3463 252737, +91 98001 19894. ₹150-300.
- Bolpur Youth Hostel.
- 2 Hotel Rangamati, Pravat Sarani, ☏ +91 3463 252 305, +91 94743 09784. Check-in: 12:30PM, check-out: 11:30AM. ₹310-₹750.
- 3 Hotel Sathi, Bhubandanga. Check-in: 2PM. From ₹750.
Mid-range
[edit | edit source]- 4 Hotel Dinantika International, School Bagan, ☏ +91 81006 24200. Check-in: noon, check-out: 11AM. ₹1,400.
- 5 Hotel Royal Bengal, Bhubandanga, ☏ +91 90 0798 2002, +91 97 4810 2002, mail@hotelroyalbengal.com. Check-in: noon, check-out: 11AM. 40 A/C rooms with attached western toilets with Hot & Cold water, cable TV in rooms, WI-FI, Telephone, Room service & House-keeping facilities. The multi-cuisine restaurant has continental, Indian & Chinese options, car parking, IDD telephones and, Landscaped garden along with a children’s play area, banquet/conference facilities, and Live cultural shows can be arranged (fee). 24-hr security and off-street parking. ₹1550-2,650.
- 6 Shantobitan Tourism Property (Santiniketan Tourist Lodge), ☏ +91 3463-252398, +91 9732100920, tourismcentre.kol@westbengaltourism.gov.in. Run by West Bengal Tourism. ₹700-900 Non-AC, ₹1900-2400 AC.
Splurge
[edit | edit source]- 7 Chutti Holiday Resort, 241 Charupalli, Jamboni, ☏ +91 34 6325 2692, +91 34 6325 5015. Reservation from Kolkata: +91 33 99 0357 0921 Ilaco House, 3/1 Brabourne Road ₹1,650- 3,540 Special packages available.
Connect
[edit | edit source]Cope
[edit | edit source]- 1 Bolpur Police Station, ☏ +91 3463 252-228.
Hospitals
[edit | edit source]- 2 Bolpur Sub-Divisional Hospital (SDO Hospital). A government-run hospital.
- 3 Santiniketan Medical College and Hospital (SMC).
- Sian Hospital.
Go next
[edit | edit source]- Santiniketan
- Bakreshwar — 58 km, Shaktipitha, also famous for the Bakranath Shiva temple and hot springs.
- Dubrajpur — 44 km, Rajbari (Palace), terracotta temples and natural rock formation
- Durgapur — 60 km, the steel city. You can travel on to Bishnupur another 70 km in the same direction or on to Asansol, another 30 km, along NH 19.
- Kendubillo — 30 km, on the bank of the river Ajay, believed by many to be the birthplace of 12th century Sanskrit poet Jayadeva, author of the masterpiece Geeta Govinda. A fair is held here on Makar Sankranti (mid-January). Baul songs are the principal attraction of this meal. There is a temple with terracotta decorations.
- Labhpur — 30 km, the birthplace of Tarashankar Bandyopadhyay and home to the Fullara Temple, a Shakti Pitha.
- Massanjore — 75 km (in Jharkhand), a dam across the river Mayurakshi with a picturesque reservoir. You can travel on to Deoghar another 98 km in the same direction.
- Nalhati — 100 km, another Shakti Pitha
- Nanoor — 20 km, birthplace of Chandidas, 14th century Sanskrit poet, famous for his Vaishnava Padavalis. There is a temple dedicated to Devi Basuli.
- Sainthia — 44 km, another Shakti Pitha
- Tarapith — 88 km, another Shakti Pitha, famous temple of Tara Devi