Maharshi Debendranath, father of Rabindranath Tagore, had founded an Ashram here in 1863 AD. Almost 40 years later, Rabindranath started an open-air school at Shantiniketan that gradually developed into an international university named Visva Bharti where the cultures of the East and the West meet in common fellowship and thereby strengthen the fundamental conditions of world peace. Shantiniketan is 211 kms from Kolkata and there are regular bus services.

100 kms northwest of Kolkata, is yet another exciting and hitherto unexplored holiday destination. Bishnupur houses unique terracotta temples, each more beautifully embellished than the other. Once the capital of the Malla kings, Bishnupur is renowned for its crafts such as intricate Balucheri saris, the rare ganijifa (circular Indian playing card), delicate carving on shells and bell metal artifacts. Bishnupur is renowned for its crafts such as intricate Balucheri saris, the rare ganijifa (circular Indian playing card), delicate carving on shells and bell metal artefacts. It has a rich architecture, music tradition and handicraft legacy of pottery and weaving. Some unique terracotta temples can be found here.

Just 3 hrs. drive from Kolkata along with a short cruise will take you into a different and mysterious world of mangrove forest on the coast of Bay of Bengal with its world famous creature The Royal Bengal Tiger. Two or three nights stay at the forest lodge with full day cruise through the creeks of the forest will certainly meet you with the unknown feelings ever felt. Stop while you find the watch towers & search through the dense forest to meet with the man-eater along with Deer, Snake, monkey, Wild Bore, varieties of Birds and many more. Situated on the lower end of the Gangetic West Bengal, the Sunderbans comprise of a land of 54 tiny islands, crisis-crossed by innumerable tributaries and branches of the River Ganga and creeks and backwaters all over.