The sprawling house, with its intricate architecture and lush gardens, played an important role in shaping Tagore’s imagination. (Image: shutterstock)
Today, these houses stand as testimony to Tagore’s love for nature and his belief in its power to inspire and transform
Nobel laureate poet and philosopher Rabindranath Tagore was a true nature lover. He spent most of his life in Kolkata at his ancestral home, Jorasanko Thakur Bari, which was surrounded by lush greenery. Tagore believed that nature is the source of all inspiration and creativity.
Most of the buildings where they lived were built using local materials, such as mud, straw, and bamboo, and were surrounded by gardens and trees. The homes were built to be airy and spacious, with large windows that let in natural light and provided views of the surrounding greenery. The architecture of these houses reflects Tagore’s belief that man should live in harmony with nature and that nature is an essential part of our existence.
If you are visiting West Bengal, it is imperative that you visit these three places where the poet loved to live and try to understand how these places influenced his work.
- Gauripur Bhavan, Kalimpong
Tagore’s love for the beautiful and the serene led him to own quite a few houses across India, each with its own unique charm. One such gem is the Gauripur Bhawan in Kalimpong, a small hill town in West Bengal. The house, surrounded by lush greenery and situated in the middle of the Himalayan Mountains, exudes a sense of peace and tranquility that the bard cherished. The interiors of the house are equally mesmerizing, with intricate wood carvings, stained glass windows and stunning murals adorning the walls. Tagore’s love for Gauripur Bhawan was evident from the fact that he chose to stay here for an extended period, drawing inspiration for his literary works from the surrounding natural beauty. Today, the home stands as a testimony to the poet’s passion for art, nature, and architecture, inviting visitors to experience its beauty and serenity. - Tagore’s 5 houses in Santiniketan
Rabindranath Tagore’s love for Shantiniketan is evident not only from his works but also from the five beautiful houses he built. Each house has its own unique charm and reflects Tagore’s love for art, literature and nature. Udayan, the house where Tagore spent most of his life, is a beautiful red-brick building surrounded by lush gardens and trees. Konark, a circular house inspired by the Sun Temple in Orissa, has intricately designed windows and walls. Shyamli, a yellow colored house, has a unique triangular shape and was once used as a guest house for Tagore’s visitors. Punashcha, a two-storied house, has a beautiful verandah and a lush green garden around it. Finally, Udichi is a small house built later in Tagore’s life that he used as a retreat and writing studio. - Jorasanko Thakurbari, Kolkata
Rabindranath Tagore’s love for his ancestral home Jorasanko is not hidden from anyone. The grandeur of the mansion was not only a symbol of his family’s status but also a source of inspiration for his work. The sprawling house, with its intricate architecture and lush gardens, played an important role in shaping Tagore’s imagination. He spent many of his formative years there surrounded by the rich cultural heritage of Bengal. The house, with its many rooms, courtyards and balconies, served as a retreat for Tagore, a place where he could escape the noise of the world and immerse himself in his thoughts. His family’s affluent environment coupled with a love of literature and music contributed to Tagore’s creativity and gave rise to some of his most famous works. Jorasanko has become a symbol of Tagore’s legacy, a testimony to his greatness and a source of inspiration for generations to come.
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