Jorasanko Thakur Bari
The Bengali name for the House of the Thakurs, the Jorasanko Thakur Bari is the ancestral home of the Tagore family that is located in Jorasanko, north of Kolkata in West Bengal in India. This is an enjoyable and exciting place to visit, especially for lovers of history and Bengali literature. The 700 paintings that are exhibited in this ancestral home especially capture the attention of the visitors. What enthralls them, even more, is the self-composed invite to Rabindranath Tagore's wedding. The museum also houses three different galleries, manuscripts, books, and other antique items.
All know the contributions of Rabindranath Tagore to the world of literature, and it is in this house that this exceptional poet was born and where he spent most of his life and then left for his heavenly abode. This ancestral home was built in the year 1784, and now houses the Rabindra Bharati Museum, which is commonly known as Jorasankho Thakurbari in the local language. The Rabindra Bharti University is also located in proximity to the Jorasanko Thakur Bari, and the university was started to impart quality education to the students.
Detailed knowledge about the first Non-European Nobel Laureate, Rabindranath Tagore, can be obtained when one decides to visit the Jorasanko Thakur Bari. And then, of course, the chance to explore the history and lifestyle of such an eminent personality who has greatly shaped the literature that we know today is indeed unparalleled. This is precisely why the Jorasanko Thakur Bari should be at the top of your list of places to visit while in Kolkata!
History of Jorasanko Thakur Bari
The Jorasanko Thakur Bari was built in the 18th century in Jorasanko in the north of Kolkata. The land on which this ancestral home stands today was donated by the famous Sett family of Burrabazar to Prince Dwarkanath Tagore, who was the grandfather of Rabindranath Tagore. Rabindranath Tagore was born in this place in 1861 and spent his entire childhood in this home itself.
Architecture of Jorasanko Thakur Bari
The name is Jorasanko came from the fact that there are twin Shiva temples near the home.
The Jorasanko Thakur Bari is spread over 35000 square meters. The palatial brick red mansion was first started from a small house where different wings and alleys were added slowly to the original architecture.
The rounded verandah adds to the advantage that members could watch programs of the Natya Manch that was at the center of the house. Even at a time when the purdah system was at its prime, the Tagores never followed it at their home. The women of the family were equally entitled to open discussions regarding culture, literature, art, business, and sundry. This very outlook of the family later contributed to greater cultural changes in society.
Jorasanko Thakur Bari Light and Sound Show
An interesting light and sound show takes place at Jorasanko Thakur Bari on Tuesdays, Wednesdays, Fridays, Saturdays, and Sundays. The timings for the shows are as follows:
1. November to January:
Bengali: 6:00 AM - 6:40 PM
English: 7:00 PM - 7:40 PM
2. February to June:
Bengali: 7:00 PM - 7:40 PM
English: 8:00 PM - 8:40 PM
