Situated in the Gangetic plain and partly on the hills, bordered by River Ajay in the south, Birbhum is a district in the Burdwan division of West Bengal. Extending tourists the right combination of plains, hills and riverines, it boasts of rich cultural heritage and religious importance. Birbhum is also home to the world recognized university, Visva Bharati, at Santiniketan, established by Rabindranath Tagore. Apart from this, Birbhum forwards visitors several places that are worth visiting. In the following lines, we have provided detailed information on the tourist places in Birbhum.
Places To See In Birbhum
Santiniketan
Sited near Bolpur, in the Birbhum District of West Bengal, Santiniketan is a small town famous worldwide, as it was the hometown of the Nobel Laureate Rabindranath Tagore, a Bengali polymath. Better known as the university town in West Bengal, Santiniketan is a great tourist attraction, because Rabindranath Tagore wrote many of his literary classics here only. Though the place can be visited all throughout the year, the Poush Mela deserves special mention. A 3 day fair, it usually starts on the seventh day of the Bengali month Poush, which falls in the last week of December. More
Sriniketan
Merely 3 km from Santiniketan, the university town in West Bengal, is Sriniketan, a rural reconstruction center that was established in 1922. A sister unit of Shantiniketan, Sriniketan was mainly established to bring back life in its completeness to the villages and help people solve their problems on their own. Today, Sriniketan is a shopper's paradise, offering traditional handicrafts, such as batik, pottery, weaving kantha embroidery and dokra. Apart from this, major attractions in Sriniketan include Kala Bhavana, Rabindra Bhavana, Uttarayan Gardens and Deer Park.
Tarapith
Sited in the village Tarapur, Tarapith is a religious and sacred place. While some believe that Tarapith is so called because the eye ball (tara) of Sati fell here, the others are of the opinion that Sage Basistha worshipped Goddess Sati in the form of Tara, at this place. The latter belief says that the place is not a shaktipeeth and owes its sanctity to Sage Basistha. Whatever be the opinion, Tarapith is a must-see for tourists in Birbhum.
Suri
Suri, better known as Suiri, is just the place for those who want to taste rustic beauty and rich cultural heritage in Birbhum. The picturesque exquisiteness of the place, coupled with rolling green farms, blissful ambience and aromatic atmosphere, gives way to a perfect holidaying experience. Though Suri is the district headquarters of Birbhum, the city is a hidden gem of West Bengal and is far away from the evils of the city life. It boasts of a glorious past in the bygone era, the rich culture heritage and ancient monuments promising the facts.
Ballabhpur Wildlife Sanctuary
Birbhum offers explorers and those in quest of excitement and thrill an excellent opportunity to indulge in adventure escapade. Located near Shantiniketan, in Bolpur subdivision of Birbhum District, Ballabhpur Wildlife Sanctuary was established in 1977. Popularly known as Deer Park, the sanctuary is home to a number of wild animals, including the blackbuck and spotted deer. Apart from this, the fauna of the region includes jackals, foxes and a variety of water birds. The eco system of the sanctuary is excellent.