Shantiniketan, meaning the home of
peace resonates its meaning in full. Going there from the chaos of the city
rejenuvates one’s being. Shantiniketan has been made famous for Rabindranath
Tagore, as this was his abode for literary pursuits. His home has been
converted into a museum and the Vishwa Bharti vishwavidyala where he used
to teach the tribal children under the mango trees has now become a huge
complex.
Though we didn’t stay there for long, the trip was amusing and
enchanting as ever. It was the month of December. We had booked our train tickets
in the ... express for reaching Bardhaman, and from there we had arranged a
paid taxi to stay with us for two days.
We woke up early in the morning to catch the train from Howrah
station at 8:00 A.M. On a cold winter morning when the city was still trying to
wake up, we were out on the roads of Kolkata. The cold air hitting our faces
though the car window. There was not much traffic on the road and we reached
the station just on time to catch the train. Our train no. was blinking on
the board happily but Lo! Behold!!!!!!! . It was cancelled!!! EARLY IN
THE COLD MOIRNING WE WERE STANDING AT THE STATION LOOKING AT THE RED LETTERS ON
THE ELECTRONIC BOARD TELLING US OUR TRAIN WAS CANCELLED??!! . NOW WHAT WOULD WE
DO?!? We asked around to people, the station master, the ticket checker for any
other way as to what could be done and so got an alternative. The famous LOCAL
trains of West Bengal - to Bardhaman. So, there we went. we took the ticket for
the local trains which cost us only Rs 20.00 per head compared to the Rs 400+
of the express train that was cancelled. (What a Difference!!) and boarded the
Bardhaman local, which was standing (as if for us). Luckily it was a weekend
and there was not much rush in the train, which is usually present on regular days,
people clambering over each other jostling for space. Although we were four
people sitting on a three seater, it was comfortable enough. We spent the 5
hours sitting like that (it hurts sitting so long like that) and ultimately we
reached Bardhaman by 1:00 PM. The car was waiting for us outside the station.
We packed our things in the car and there we go!!!!!. towards the Abode of
peace.
The scenery around from Bardhaman to Shantiniketan was fabulous in
the winter sun. Fields and trees meet the eyes, with the winter sun trying to
warm the earth as much as it could. The small rice mills stand like gaurds in
the middle of the fields. Crossing the fields, meadows and small towns in
between, we reached Shantiniketan after an hour and half.
Chuti Resort in day time |
After lunch we went to "Kankali tala" 9 km from
Shantiniketan. The area has changed a bit from what I had visited previously.
The temple has been barricaded now and the pond is being cleared of the mud and
grime and is being dug out to remake it. It is believed that when the furious
lord Shiva was dancing with goddess sati's charred body on his shoulder, lord
Vishnu with his chakra had to piece goddess sati's body. The skeleton or the
rib cage of goddess sati fell in this place.
Ma Kankali Debi |
From there we went for a long ride through Prantik, looking for an
old Neel bari, which is supposed to be haunted, but we couldn’t find it, so we
returned back as it was getting dark and we were quite tired also. After reaching
the resort, I remembered that we have missed the Khowai Haat, when we came by
the Sonar Jhuri (golden basket) forest. The Khowai haat (market) is held every
Saturday from 3:00 Pm till dusk and it was already 5:30 p.m nearing darkness,
so we decided to take off for the day and rest at the resort.
The cold night at the silent resort was a welcome change from the
daily rush of the city and office life. I wandered in the garden of the resort
at night. This was after a long long time that I could come in contact with
such serene and calm environment. I was with nature. I felt free and serene
.... to talk to myself, to think about things and to muse on life. The silence
was beautiful. The sky was clear. The trees seemed to be singing their own song
as the cold wind blew through them rustling their leaves. Even the insects
seemed to have gone silent to listen to them. I spent a long time between
nature, rejenuvating myself , drinking in the silence as much as I could. No
doubt Guru Rabindranath Tagore could write such world acclaimed poetry.
The night fell deeper and we had dinner at the resort restaurant.
The good food made our moods better.
Chuti Resort at night |
Ma Tara Debi |
Queue to pay homage at Tarapeeth |
"Bakreshwar" is devoted to Lord Shiva and also to Adi
Shakti Sati. It is said that the forehead of the goddess fell here when her
charred body was dismembered with Lord Vishnu's chakra. Bakreshwar is also
famous for its hot water springs beside the temple area. People bath in these
hot springs as they are known for their mineral water which is said to cure
many skin aliments.
Returning from Bakreshwar, we went for a search for the Kopai
River. We went round and round in Shantiniketan asking directions from people,
some of whom could direct us and some misdirected us till dusk, when
ultimately an old man could tell us which way to go with a comment that
reflected his surprise "Why you people want to go there at this time of
the day?"
Hmmm ... we mused on his comment on the way towards the rivers
which was still 4 - 5 kms away (maybe more). And it was quite dark when we
ultimately reached there. Thanks God!! But it was to see a stream but not a
river any more now. The banks were full with people who were arranging their
things to go back home from their winter picnic. Yups.. It is a picnic spot for
the winters, with few trees and plain ground. Now that was why the old man was
surprised. Maybe he thought we wanted to go for picnic in the dead of night,
which we would never plan. It would be quite scary after all.
Hot water pond at Bakreshwar |
Baul |
We had to catch a train in the afternoon. We had to pack our bags.
But I HAD to go to the fair grounds again. I became a pest till I was taken
there. :-) So, in the cold and cloudy morning, at 8:00 AM after breakfast, we
left for the grounds again. The ride towards the grounds was also very
exciting. The rickshaw took us through lanes and short cuts, in between lanes
of beautiful houses, through the university grounds and to the fair. Many
stalls had opened, many were still arranging their wares, there was sound of
songs of Guru Rabindranath Tagore and there were people idly roaming around
enjoying the weather and the sound. We hopped and shopped for articles for
family and friends in that cold weather enjoying our tea along with it.
Alas !! We had to return. I didn’t want to go back. I wish we
could have stayed one more day, but tickets were not available for the next
many days. Ans So we had to leave.... but .....
this trip remains in my mind not only for the places we have
visited, the resort and the Pous Mela but also because of the bone chilling
weather we got to enjoy.
Katha stitch shawl from Shantiniketan |
Pous Mela |