Indian Places Associated with Rabindranath Tagore!

The Nobel Laureate, Rabindranath Tagore has contributed to the Bengali literature and Indian art that is and will be celebrated till the existence of humankind. The Bengali Polymath, who was a writer, poet, writer and philosopher is celebrated all across the country and the globe for his work. But do you know this renowned personality sought beauty while creating the masterpieces and those he found in hills and various other places? Let's check out these places that are greatly associated with him!

Shantiniketan, West Bengal 

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Shantiniketan, which has also got the UNESCO heritage tag is a university town established by Maharshi Devanand Tagore, the father of Rabindranath Tagore. While he lived here for very long, his contributions to the place got it the tag. He established the Viswa Bharti University where the unconventional ways of education merged with art. Apart from that, it was the calmness of the place that always attracted Tagore and reportedly, he loved the patchy forests and rivers here, which often find their place in Tagore's writings. 

Almora, Uttarakhand

Tagore Bhavan stands still in the memory of Rabindranath Tagore where he would keep getting back to, in search of silence. He had written some parts of Gitanjali here that later got him the Nobel Prize in 1913. It might be the beauty of places like these that his writings describe the beauty of hills and nature!

Shillong, Meghalaya

While staying in a cottage called, 'Brookside', Tagore fondly mentioned the gaps of tall deodar trees, clouds and fragrant roses. He also gave the name to the stream Umshyrpi, as 'Nirjharini'. The hills of Shillong are also mentioned in Tagore's writings. He wrote a play, 'Rokto Karobi' and 'Shilong Er Chitthi' inspired by the place!

Ramgarh, Uttarakhand

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Tagore often visited Ramgarh, other than Almora in Uttarakhand. A few parts of 'Gitanjali' were written here as well. He lived in a cottage on a hilltop named 'Tagore Top'. Although this cottage is in ruins now, the 'Writer's Bungalow' where he lived, is now known as 'Neemrana'. Many travellers trek from the Writer's Bungalow to the Tagore Top!

Kalimpong, West Bengal

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The poet lived in his Kalimpong's Gauripur house for various summer holidays including his 78th birthday. In the poem that he wrote on that day, the last lines go like, "When the light of the new dawn marks my time to leave." It is said that he had even recited the poem from Kalimpong's All India Radio and he was moved by the natural beauty surrounding his place!

Mongpoo, West Bengal

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Mongpoo was another summer retreat for Tagore. Reportedly, he visited and kept coming to Mongpoo at the invitation of Maitreyi Devi. She even recorded Tagore's stay in her house in her book 'Monpoote Rabindranath'. He would love to sit at the fireplace at the bungalow. Later, it was converted into a Tagore Museum!

With inputs from Times of India, Travelogue of Kuntala