[haisaikat]

Day 2
Before I speak volumes of the unlimited Luchi (Puris) breakfast next morning, want to inform that last night had a sudden power cut past midnight. We informed the caretaker who came immediately and informed the owner. Calls were made by them while myself and Tanmay sat in the lawn enjoying the night breeze. To our surprise the owner did arrange for electric supply board technicians who came around 1 am and fixed the fault and power came back. The owner was all along helpful and supportive although he was some place remote.

Morning breakfast was nicely settled and we buckled up to get ready for outing


Toa had a fantastic mood, captured her amidst fast changing dance stances out in the green lawn


While others were still getting ready, Toa and Pupu headed for the terrace


Another bonus of the day, duet by Toa and Pupu

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=yBZtK66Mj1s

A little later we gathered at the lawn to gear up for answering the call of the day, Sonajhuri. A brief photo session, myself with better half


By 12-40 pm we arrived at Sonajhuri Haat and thankfully found a parking, it was already crowded enough and the haat was running in full swing


The next 2 hours seemed to pass in the blink of an eye spontaneously over shopping, the mischiefs of our little ones, and some soul searching over the vibrant ambience of Sonajhuri, the place does exceed its expectation, everytime, for everyone.


























It was nearing 3pm so we headed towards Ram Shyam restaurant for our lunch


Food was excellent and thereafter we headed for Vanalakshmi Unmesh Samiti, Tanmay was dying to get some Brinjal pickle. We reached Vanalakshmi by 4-45 pm and Tanmay went inside while the rest of us stayed back in the car parked under this huge banyan tree


Our stay was short lived as Tanmay returned just in time before it suddenly started raining heavily. We were partially drenched but managed to return to the car


During our return to the home stay villa we detoured via Biswabharathi again and caught a glimpse of the Kanch Mandir (Upasana Ghar)


We returned back to the villa by 6 pm, had our evening tea and did some initial packing since we would be checking out the next day. Realizing that we are short of bags and some left over shopping still to be completed, by 730 pm we headed out once again to Bolpur Super market near Biswabharathi and spent till 9 pm there. Thereafter we returned back and wrapped up the packing post dinner and called it a day.

Day 3

Next morning, post another grand breakfast we checked out from the villa and headed for Kopai Haat, less for shopping but more for the experience. It was bright and sunny and the sky was blue all over


Time did not stop and neither did any of the locals engaged in their different daily chores in and around the place . .


. . but everyone enjoyed to their fullest in their own way, beating the heat


We gathered around the Baul, same person we found even last time


Everyone was drawn to his rendition of the songs, it was the icing on the cake for completing our trip to Shantiniketan this time


We parted with loads of memories and Toa and Pupu's super excited and energetic conversations testing the NVH of our car through the rest of journey




Halted for few minutes on the way to catch a glimpse of the Guskara Institution where Tanmay's father had been a student, once upon a time.


Rest of the return was uneventful, we discovered a very good restaurant on GT Road of Burdwan, Pearl Restaurant where we completed a late lunch by 330 pm. Post another halt at Saktigarh for some Langcha and other sweets and thereafter dodging the potholes on the return stretch of Durgapur expressway, we dropped Tamnay and family around 6-15pm at their Rajarhat home. Spent around 45 minutes at Tanmay's house savoring one of his handpicked collection of tea breeds before eventually returning our home by 8pm. Thus a 450 KM round trip during the course of the weekend was complete.


We pray for the departed soul of our dearest friend Indrani to rest in peace, she left for holy abode at an early age of 39, just 2 months after our joint trip to Shantiniketan last time depicted in this same thread earlier. We miss her deeply and mourn her loss even today.
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Well, all is not over, saved the best for the last, here is Tanmay's vlog for day 2 and 3. While you begin watching it, signing off until next time, take care and drive safe !!

https://youtu.be/WmXmHinzRo4

[thirugata]

Crisply written blog dotted with excellent photographs. Thanks for sharing.

[edunata]

Our good old Shantiniketan. But the pics are fantastic. Your photography skills are getting better day by day.

[Neversaygbye]

Originally Posted by haisaikat

Prologue
The best times we spend in our lives are with like minded people. On the other hand there are some places that provide ample opportunity to connect to our cultural soul and roots. In recent past I was fortunate enough to experience the best of both, a trip to Shantiniketan, the cultural hub of Bengal along with school buddies and family.

While I don't really enjoy trips to Shantiniketan much (since I don't like shopping and the haat seems to be the most important location for everyone else), your photos are so good that they make me feel like going there right away! The joy in everyone's faces is palpable. Loved the description and the pics, of a place that I have become very familiar with over the past few years, and one that remains one of the more convenient drives from Calcutta. Sorry to read about your friend. A grim reminder of how fragile our lives are.

[ron82x3]

While I love visiting Shantiniketan, I don't love the drive that much.
But your pictures make up for everything. Loved it. Also loved the duet by Toa and Pupu.
Thanks for sharing

[haisaikat]

Originally Posted by ron82x3

While I love visiting Shantiniketan, I don't love the drive that much.

The road has improved a lot in the recent times, we took the Guskara route and it was very scenic. While I agree for similar distances there are better drives, we visit Shantiniketan for the serenity and shopping experience combined. Probably we go more often to Dipuda than Shantiniketan.

Originally Posted by Neversaygbye

a place that I have become very familiar with over the past few years, and one that remains one of the more convenient drives from Calcutta.

Thank you Sumanta da. We visit here only once in every 2-3 years. But the charm of this place never fades.

Originally Posted by edunata

Our good old Shantiniketan.

Thank you Atanu da.

Originally Posted by thirugata

Crisply written blog dotted with excellent photographs. Thanks for sharing.

Thank you Thirugata.

[itwasntme]

Excellent travelogue and updates!

Has anyone been to Shantiniketan recently? How are the roads now? Further, are there any issues with taking a self-drive rental vehicle there?