Visva-Bharati University

It's the World's first living heritage University tagged by UNESCO, Established By Rabindranath Tagore.It is a central university run by Govt. Of India.Best for studying arts,music,literature,drama, foreign languages etc.Two schools are also running under visva bharati university-Patha-bhavana(Morning school) and Siksha-chatra(Day School).The place is popularly known as Santiniketan,a very famous tourist attraction in the Birbhum district of West Bengal.

You will be nostalgic after visiting this place. This is a memorial for Bishwa Kabi Rabindranath Tagore and his family. You will see how wonderful an university can be. You wish to be a student of this university.

Wonderful days I spent last month . I cannot explain the beauty of this place . I mesmerize the beauty of this place . I added some photos, so people , who want to travel will enjoy the scenario.
Tourist attraction : poush Mela , University campus ( close when Mela is going on ), the memories of Rabindranth Tagore ,
Dr. Amartya sen's house , for photography it is the best place . As a nature lover I have enjoyed a lot with the greenery view .

Superb location for the Literature and History lovers... And those who are coming for Acadamic purpose too.. Rest of the people plz stay away... Dont make this place noisy!!

Most of the People who comes here either doesn't know What is Santiniketan or never Interested in Knowing what it is!

Shantiniketan (Abode of Peace) was established by Maharshi Devendranath Tagore, father of Rabindranath Tagore, the great writer, poet, songwriter and educationalist of his time and India’s first Nobel Laureate. He also happened to be one of the prominent members of Bengali Renaissance.

Shantiniketan is one of the best gifts given to people of India by Rabindranath Tagore. It was the year 1901 and Rabindranath opened a school in Shantiniketan which would later go on to become the nucleus of Bengali culture and art and would become one of the most renowned universities in the world.

The Visva- Bharati University at Shantiniketan founded in the year 1921, is the epitome of revolutionary tradition of breaking barriers of all kinds, be it castes, religions, class, creed, genders, cultures with principal focus on humanities, arts, and contact with nature.

Even today, Shantiniketan follows Tagore’s principles of equality. It houses a little over 10,000 students in its campuses who comprise Indian and international students within a co-educational facility. The trend of Gurukul (open air classes) is still practised under the campus trees.

Shantiniketan is also famous for its many festivals. Some of them include the grand Poush Utsav (fest) celebrated on the Foundation Day of the University. The Basant Utsav is celebrated on Holi. Students make artworks and display them during the Nandan Mela, and attempt to sell them during the fest. Initially, the Nandan Mela had started as a fund-raising event to raise money for covering medical needs of poor students.

Other festivals which are celebrated with equal pomp and zest in Shantiniketan are the Sarad Utsav (Autumn Festival), Maghotsav (Magh Utsav - Founding Day of the Sriniketan campus) and Vrikhsharopan Utsav (Tree Planting Festival).

The tourist footfall in Shantiniketan is numbered to be way above 2 million per year.

Places to visit and Things to do in Shantiniketan -
1. Tagore’s Ashram
2. Rabindra Bhaban Museum or Tagore Museum
3. Vishwa Bharati University
4. Uttarayan Complex
5. Upasana Griha
6. Kala Bhavan
7. China Bhavan
8. Nippon Bhavan
9. Chhatimtala
10. Amar Kutir
11. Kopai River
12. Kankalitala Temple
13. Srijani Shilpa Gram
14. Buddha Vihar
15. Khoai Shanibarer Haat
16. Deer Park Shantiniketan

Visva-Bharati is one of the greatest University in India...❤

It's a cultural heritage,you will find some of the best artworks here...
Very peaceful,good environment,well maintained...👍
One of those place where you roam alone and you will never feel bored...🙆

You will fall in love with this place for sure...🤗

It is fabulous and full of history of Great world poet Rabindranath Tagore

Visva Bharati University, located in Santiniketan, West Bengal, India, is a renowned institution with a rich history and cultural heritage. Established by Nobel laureate Rabindranath Tagore in 1921, the university is known for its emphasis on holistic education, creativity, and the integration of arts, humanities, and nature.

The campus of Visva Bharati is a tranquil oasis, surrounded by lush greenery, vibrant flowers, and open spaces that inspire creativity and intellectual growth. The architecture of the university reflects a blend of traditional and modern styles, creating a unique and harmonious atmosphere that resonates with Tagore's vision of a place where education is integrated with nature.

One of the standout features of Visva Bharati is its emphasis on the arts and cultural heritage. The university is home to various museums, art galleries, and cultural centers that showcase the works of Tagore and other prominent artists. The annual Poush Mela festival, held in December, is a vibrant celebration of music, dance, and art that attracts visitors from all over the world.

Academically, Visva Bharati offers a wide range of undergraduate, postgraduate, and research programs in disciplines such as literature, philosophy, music, fine arts, social sciences, and more. The university's faculty members are renowned scholars and artists who provide students with a nurturing environment for learning and personal growth.

Overall, Visva Bharati University is a place of learning, creativity, and cultural exchange that continues to uphold Rabindranath Tagore's vision of an institution that fosters harmony between humanity and nature. Whether you're a student, artist, or visitor, a visit to this esteemed university is sure to be a transformative experience that leaves a lasting impression of beauty, creativity, and intellectual pursuit.

Woah! What a place and had a great experience. It is a calm and peaceful place where we get to know a lot about Rabindranath Tagore and his life. We can park our car and hire a Toto (auto) and the driver will take you around the campus and explain details about the significance of the place. Very friendly people. Clean and well maintained. Must visit to spend a day away from city life. Hand made artifacts are sold at a market nearby. The restaurant are next level there and serve amazing food at affordable prices.

Great campus
37 acres of land
Please get a tour guide (toto wala)if interested in knowing the history of Visva Bharati university

Visva-Bharati University(Bengali: [biʃːɔbʱaroti]) is a publiccentral university located in Santiniketan, West Bengal. It was founded by Rabindranath Tagorewho called it Visva-Bharati, which means the communion of the world with India. Until independence it was a college. Soon after independence, in 1951, the institution was given the status of a university and was renamed Visva-Bharati University. The English daily, The Nation, notes, "Using the money he received with his Nobel Prize for Literature in 1913, the school was expanded and renamed Visva-Bharati University. It grew to become one of India's most renowned places of higher learning, with a list of alumni that includes Nobel-winning economist Amartya Sen, globally renowned filmmaker Satyajit Ray and the country's leading art historian R. Siva Kumar, to name just a few."The origins of this eminent university date back to 1863 when Maharshi Debendranath Tagore, the zamindar of Silaidaha in East Bengal, was given a tract of land by Babu Sitikanta Sinha, the zamindar of Raipur, which is a neighbouring village not far from Bolpur and present-day Santiniketan and set up an ashram at the spot that has now come to be called chatim tala at the heart of the town. The ashram was initially called Brahmacharya Ashram, which was later renamed Brahmacharya Vidyalaya. It was established with a view to encouraging people from all walks of life to come to the spot and meditate. In 1901 his youngest son Rabindranath Tagore established a co-educational school inside the premises of the ashram.

From 1901 onwards, Tagore used the ashram to organise the Hindu Mela, which soon became a centre of nationalist activity. Through the early twentieth century the zamindars of Surul (Sarkar Family), another neighbouring village, a few minutes by cycle from the Uttarayan Complex, and the zamindars of Taltore, a village just north of the university town, continued to sell their lands and other properties to the ashram and the college that was being built on this spot.
On 23 December 1921, Tagore formally started the college with proceeds from the prize money of the Nobel Prize he received in 1913 for the publication of his book of poems Gitanjali. The college also became a centre of Brahmo learning in this period. It was granted full university status in May 1951 by the government of independent India. Rabindranath Tagore's eldest son, Rathindranath Tagore, became the first upacharya(vice chancellor) of the new university. Another member of the Tagore family who performed the role of upacharya was Indira Devi Chaudhurani, a niece of the poet.

Rabindranath Tagore believed in open air education and had reservations about any teaching done within four walls. This was due to his belief that walls represent conditioning of mind. Tagore did not have a good opinion about the Western method of education introduced by the British in India; on this subject, Tagore and Gandhiji's opinion matched. Tagore once said, "I do not remember what I was taught, I only remember what I learnt." Tagore's idea on education was that every person is genius and that all students may not bloom at the same time. So he devised a new system of learning in Visva-Bharati. He allowed students to continue their course till the student and his teacher both are satisfied.

At Visva-Bharati University, if a course demanded by a student is not available, then the university will design a course and bring teachers for that course. The university would not be bothered by the consideration of whether there is a demand for the course.

If you want serenity, must visit this place. Unless you visit it, can't imagine how Kabiguru Rabindranath Thakur has created a whole world of education right here in Shantiniketan.

Visva Bharat University is only central University in West Bengal. It was founded by kabiguru Rabindranath Tagore. So many bhavana and departments are there. Many language departments are in literature bivagas are there. In Siksha Bhavana(Department of science and technology) there are almost all science subjects are taught. There is a central library for all students and also so many bhavana library and departmental library are there. Art, fine art are also available in Kala Bhavana. Sangit bhavana is also famous for various types of sangit and dance. There were two pre degree school, Patha Bhavana and Siksha Satra. Agriculture department is also very good in Visva Bharati. At last Visva Bharati University is greatest University in West Bengal..

Just love this place . I visit here on a collage trip in 2014 . this place was peaceful . I can't write in sentence what I feel for this place. I want to go there again and again. The canteens food was very good . and the " Chatni " was delicious. It's taste in my tongue after so many years. I want to go there again and again.

A place where you will find peace. Get to know a lot about how the University was formed and life of Rabindranath Tagore. The oldest tree, garden, how the children are being taught, what are the cultural activities, prayer rooms, etc. A must to visit place in the lapp of nature. Recommended to look for a guide, they will charge you Rs 200 and will give you all information about the life of Rabindranath Tagore and the formation of the university. Sometimes Toto drivers will also suggests you that they can become the guide though don't trust them because i heard them mentioning a tree which was 300 years old as 160 years old, so don't go for it😂.

Nice ambience,calm and cool nature, pleasure to eyes,you can check this place out.

Visva-Bharati University is the one of the best University in India. Visva- Bharati is a central research University and an institution of National Importance located in Santiniketan, West Bengal, India. It was founded by Rabindranath Tagore who called it visva- Bharati, which means the communion of the world with India. Until independence it was a college. I think those who come to Santiniketan must visit this university ☺☺☺

This is not just a university, it's a whole complexion of culture,tradition,music that's based on Gurudev's philosophy. The modern education and natural environment are completely mixed with one another.l love this place very much. Truly this place covered with real peace that's why it's called by Tagore the 'Santiniketan'.

Easily accessible from Station. One of the must visit point sply the museum...

Excellent experience. Amazing place. With great historical importance. Soothing natural beauty, mind blowing view.