This is the concluding part of my travelogue on Shantiniketan trip in January, 2015. If you missed the earlier posts here are the links Weekend Trip to Shantiniketan: Day-1 and Day-2: Exploring Visva Bharati and Tagore’s abode in Shantiniketan.
Day 3 – Exploring the locality and the villages nearby
I got up early that morning and set out to explore the village nearby. I wandered along the village road to feel the essence of the place. It’s been a long time I have been to a village. Here are some moments of a morning spent in rural Bengal. Hope you like them.
When I started the sky was pale blue.
I passed the green rice fields
and followed the village road
to find haystacks on both sides, a common thing to see in rural areas.
The village was waking up slowly. Women were already at the pond, doing dishes and washing
while these ducklings kept vigil on them. 🙂
The stray dogs seemed tired and busy in resting after nightlong watch.
The farmer sets out for the fields.
The sun was already above the horizon and it reminded me that I had to go back to hotel.
While returning I stood by this fishpond to see nice reflections of palm trees in the water.
With the sun shining bright the rice fields looked greener and lovelier to me.
And I collected a souvenir from the groves beside it.
Beautiful! Isn’t it? 🙂
P.S: We boarded Howrah Express from Bolpur-Shantiniketan at 1:10 pm and reach Howrah comfortably at around 3:30 pm. Cost of the trip was Rs 2300 per head. It includes train fare, accommodation, food, sightseeing and pick and drop – all of which I mentioned in detail in my previous two posts – Weekend Trip to Shantiniketan: Day-1 and Day-2: Exploring Visva Bharati and Tagore’s abode in Shantiniketan.
Excellent pictorial travelogue! It will surely help me plan a trip coming Jan. Thanks so much!
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Glad to know that. Thanks for visiting my blog.
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Liked your photos so serene!
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I am glad you liked them. Thank you for stopping by.
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Hi Moon. I’ve stumbled upon your blog late at night and boy am I happy I did. Your pictures of the beautiful countryside have brought peace and serenity to me and I can say…..Ahhhhhhhhhhh! Delightful. Thank you for sharing:)
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I am glad you stumbled upon my blog Arti and liked the photos. 🙂 You too have got a nice blog. Your Ordinary Moments come alive with extraordinary photographs 🙂
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Absolutely gorgeous photography. You’re a remarkable storyteller with your camera. 🙂
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So nice of you, Tom…this is a big compliment for me 🙂 Matters a lot… Thank you so much!
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It looks so serene and peaceful out there!
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Peaceful indeed 🙂 Hence the name. You know “Shantiniketan” is a Bengali term derived from Sanskrit meaning ‘Peaceful abode’ [Shanti -> Peace and Niketan -> home/abode] 🙂
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Some VERY nice shots!
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Thank you 🙂
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Some places never lose their charm! Great pics Moon…loved the post… 🙂
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Exactly 🙂 and I am happy you loved it 🙂
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Rustic Bengal!
So, so beautiful. Such lovely pictures, Moon.
I must say, Thank you for these sights. 🙂
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I am so glad you liked them. Do visit someday you’ll love the place 🙂
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Villages in India are so different from rural area in Ukraine, my homeland. I’ve been to an Indian village only once – it was a part of my trip around Maharashtra in rainy season, and the experience was absolutely charming. Your village looks similar to the one I visited.
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Yes…absolutely. Indian villages are way too different than Ukrainian village landscapes due to geographical reasons. I have read a lot about rural life in Russia and Ukraine (as part of Soviet Union) in story books and seen images of your homeland. Very picturesque. Always dream of visiting the land …someday. 🙂
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beautiful pics Moon, well captioned and well presented too. I hope to visit Shantiniketan some day 🙂
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Visit soon. You’ll like it. 🙂 …and thank you for kind appreciation
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Nicely captured! The village looks so charming through your lens. 🙂
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Thank you, Renuka. The village atmosphere was indeed charming. I am glad to share the charm through my lens 🙂
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Beautiful pics so well captioned ! Loved the greens and the browns … Tranquil .
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Yes… Tranquil is the apt word 🙂 I am happy you liked the pics and the captions, 🙂
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The villages are so beautiful – it feels like an Emily Dickinson poem 😉
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So nice of you to say that, Tenny. These villages are beautiful indeed … 🙂
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Great Photography….A nice Presentation!
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Thank you for kind words of encouragement, sir. I am glad you dropped by 🙂
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Gorgeous. Loved the green fields, the haystacks, the ducks, everything.
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yeah… I loved them too 🙂 I wish I had such refreshing mornings everyday 🙂
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Beautiful photos!
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Glad to know you liked them 🙂 Thank you for stopping by, Manisha.
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My pleasure!
I really enjoy going through your posts. Keep sharing a good stuffs. 🙂 🙂
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Didn’t know such places still exist– must visit Shantiniketan the next time I’m in West Bengal
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Yes..still exists 🙂 and you’ll love the place when you actually visit it, Damyanti
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A village captured with the diurnal mornings. But, I doubt they are this beautiful every single day or they might be? The clear sky pics look so serene 🙂 Villages have their own aura, don’t they?
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Absolutely… village life has a different charm. You may miss the urban entertainment and facilities but there is fresh air to breathe and greenery to behold … Well, people from Rajasthan may not agree with me on this … 🙂 Anyway, a weekend in the lap of nature is well spent.
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