Visva-Bharati University - University in Bolpur - Birbhum, India

Visva-Bharati (Bengali: [bishbbhaartii]) is a public central university and an Institution of National Importance located in Shantiniketan, West Bengal, India. It was founded by Rabindranath Tagore who called it Visva-Bharati, which means the communion of the world with India. Until independence it was a college. Soon after independence, the institution was given the status of a central university in 1951 by an act of the Parliament. The Hindu writes, "Santiniketan in many ways is still quite different compared to other universities in the country. Located at Bolpur in Birbhum district of West Bengal, the university still has the rural trappings that Tagore dreamt of. The classes are still held in the open under the shade of huge mango trees and students and tutors alike still travel by cycles to keep pollution at bay. The old buildings, even those that were made up of mud walls and thatched roofs, are still intact and find a place within the main campus. While some are preserved for historical value, others are functional in all aspects. While for tourists the place could only be place for sight-seeing, the studious and the academically-inclined can easily feel the scholastic vibrations. Many, especially the Bengalis, have deep reverence for the place and take the visit as a pilgrimage to pay their respects to Tagore. Almost every festival, be it the local ' Poush mela' or the more universal 'Raksha Bandhan' or 'Holi,' is celebrated in its originality by the students, locals and staff on the campus... Tagore visualised it as a 'seat of learning', and his vision was taken forward by Gandhiji and Jawaharlal Nehru. Both played a stellar role in its becoming a Central University in 1951.

It is fabulous and full of history of Great world poet Rabindranath Tagore

Shantiniketan (Abode of Peace) was established by Maharshi Devendranath Tagore, father of Rabindranath Tagore, the great writer, poet, songwriter and educationalist of his time and India's first Nobel Laureate. He also happened to be one of the prominent members of Bengali Renaissance. Shantiniketan is one of the best gifts given to people of India by Rabindranath Tagore. It was the year 1901 and Rabindranath opened a school in Shantiniketan which would later go on to become the nucleus of Bengali culture and art and would become one of the most renowned universities in the world. The Visva- Bharati University at Shantiniketan founded in the year 1921, is the epitome of revolutionary tradition of breaking barriers of all kinds, be it castes, religions, class, creed, genders, cultures with principal focus on humanities, arts, and contact with nature. Even today, Shantiniketan follows Tagore's principles of equality. It houses a little over 10,000 students in its campuses who comprise Indian and international students within a co-educational facility. The trend of Gurukul (open air classes) is still practised under the campus trees. Shantiniketan is also famous for its many festivals. Some of them include the grand Poush Utsav (fest) celebrated on the Foundation Day of the University. The Basant Utsav is celebrated on Holi. Students make artworks and display them during the Nandan Mela, and attempt to sell them during the fest. Initially, the Nandan Mela had started as a fund-raising event to raise money for covering medical needs of poor students. Other festivals which are celebrated with equal pomp and zest in Shantiniketan are the Sarad Utsav (Autumn Festival), Maghotsav (Magh Utsav - Founding Day of the Sriniketan campus) and Vrikhsharopan Utsav (Tree Planting Festival). The tourist footfall in Shantiniketan is numbered to be way above 2 million per year. Places to visit and Things to do in Shantiniketan - 1. Tagore's Ashram 2. Rabindra Bhaban Museum or Tagore Museum 3. Vishwa Bharati University 4. Uttarayan Complex 5. Upasana Griha 6. Kala Bhavan 7. China Bhavan 8. Nippon Bhavan 9. Chhatimtala 10. Amar Kutir 11. Kopai River 12. Kankalitala Temple 13. Srijani Shilpa Gram 14. Buddha Vihar 15. Khoai Shanibarer Haat 16. Deer Park Shantiniketan

Superb location for the Literature and History lovers... And those who are coming for Acadamic purpose too.. Rest of the people plz stay away... Dont make this place noisy!! Most of the People who comes here either doesn't know What is Santiniketan or never Interested in Knowing what it is!

World'of the beast University,good performance.good conditions,rent room available in nearly, outside under green forest, polution free areas.beast compatible feel for all students,I like this

Santiniketan, popularly known today as a university town, a hundred miles to the north of Kolkata, was originally an ashram built by Debendranath Tagore, where anyone, irrespective of caste and creed, could come and spend time meditating on the one Supreme God. Debendranath, who was father of the Poet, Rabindranath, was also known as Maharshi (which means one who is both saint and sage) was a leading figure of the Indian Renaissance. In a trust deed prepared in 1888, he declared: 'Apart from worshipping the Formless, no community may worship any idol depicting god, man, or animals; neither may anyone arrange sacrificial fires or rituals in Santiniketan.... No insult to any religion or religious deity will be allowed here. The sermons given here will be such that will be appropriate to the worship of the Creator and Father and will help in ethics, benevolence and brotherhood...' It was in this area that the Maharshi had a spiritual realization while meditating under a glade of Chhatim trees (Alstonia scholaris), which were the only vegetation in this arid land of Birbhum. These trees still stand with a plaque that says, He is the repose of my life, the joy of my heart, the peace of my soul. Chhatimtala as it is called is the spot that symbolizes the starting point of Santiniketan, which was to become his son Rabindranath's home and base fro activity. It is considered to be a hallowed spot and prayer services are held here on very special days. Rabindranath, too, like his father before him would sit in meditation here, under the chhatim trees during sunset.

Visva-Bharati is one of the greatest University in India... It's a cultural heritage,you will find some of the best artworks here... Very peaceful,good environment,well maintained... One of those place where you roam alone and you will never feel bored... You will fall in love with this place for sure...

Totowala's brother smiled sweetly and said, "Didibhai, have you visited the museum?" I immediately remembered, "If I didn't come to Santiniketan and go to Visva-Bharati, what else did I do?" Run Toto Visva-Bharati, I shouted. Totovai Sumon played the role of guide. The journey started with seeing a 180 year old banyan tree. Then, one by one, Toto crossed the sixth floor, the synagogue, the building, and proceeded towards the museum. I entered the museum after crossing the garden with the entrance fee of 60 rupees per person. There are many prizes, gifts, spectacles, painting tools and other items used by Ravi Tagore in his memory, genealogy of Thakurbari and personal correspondence.