The Nobel Prize-winning poet and philosopher abindranath Tagore was also an avid environmentalist. Most of his life was spent in his family’s beautiful ancestral mansion in Kolkata, known as Jorasanko Thakur Bari. Tagore considered the natural world to be the ultimate wellspring of inventiveness.
The majority of the structures in his neighbourhood were constructed from mud, straw, and bamboo and were set in green lawns and wooded areas. The homes were designed to seem open and airy by including plenty of windows that let in sunlight and looked out over the lush landscaping. Tagore’s view that humans should live in peace with nature and that nature was an essential component of our life can be seen in the design of these homes.
If you are ever in West Bengal, you owe it to yourself to visit these three locations dear to the poet’s heart and contemplate how they may have influenced his writing.
This is the Gouripur Bhavan in Kalimpong.
Tagore had a penchant for the serene and beautiful, thus he owned a number of residences spread out across India, each with its own special appeal. The Gouripur Bhavan in Kalimpong, a West Bengali hill station, is one such hidden treasure. The mansion, situated as it is in the heart of the Himalayan Mountains and surrounded by verdant vegetation, emanates the kind of serenity and tranquilly that so greatly appealed to the Bard. The house’s inside is just as beautiful as its outside, with beautiful murals and stained glass windows decorating the walls. Tagore stayed at Gouripur Bhavan for a long time because he like it so much and found inspiration in the natural beauty of the area for his writing. The house is now open to the public as a living tribute to the poet’s love of the arts, the outdoors, and architecture.
Shantiniketan: Tagore’s Five Homes
Rabindranath Tagore’s devotion to Shantiniketan is on full display in the five stunning homes he erected there and in his oeuvre. Every home exudes Tagore’s passion for the arts, literature, and environment. Tagore spent the majority of his life at Udayana, a stunning red-brick building surrounded by verdant gardens and trees. The Konark, a spherical home modelled after Orissa’s sun temple, features ornately carved windows and walls. The yellow Shyamali, with its unusual triangular design, was once utilised as a guest house for Tagore’s guests. The Punascha, a two-story home, is surrounded by a magnificent garden and veranda. Lastly, the Udichi is a modest house that Tagore utilised as a refuge and writing studio towards the end of his life.
Kolkata’s Jorasanko Thakurbari
It’s no secret that Rabindranath Tagore adored his childhood home in Jorasanko. The mansion served as both an emblem of his family’s wealth and a creative catalyst for him. Tagore’s creative development was greatly aided by the expansive house, with its elaborate design and rich gardens. Many of his formative years were spent there, immersed in Bengal’s storied culture. Tagore used the house as a sanctuary, a place to get away from the bustle of life and focus on his own thoughts among the many rooms, courtyards, and balconies. Tagore’s creative process was aided by his affluent environment and his family’s appreciation for the arts, resulting in some of his most acclaimed works. Today, Jorasanko stands as a tribute to Tagore’s excellence and an encouragement to future generations.
