Natungram located at Kalna block in Purba Bardhaman is the hub of Wooden Doll artists and has evolved as a quite popular Cultural Tourism destination for art lovers, both for workshop/ demonstration and also to procure souvenirs/ gifts directly from the source. People can travel to Natungram from Santiniketan and also from Kolkata anytime during the year and may ask us at toureast@banglanatak.com for details.
Knowing yourself is the essence of BaulFakiri music, which reflects the joy, love and longing for mystical union with the Divine. Living the life of an esoteric, denouncing the material world, they urge people to rise above the divides created by caste, creed and religion to find peace. After working with about 1500+ Baul Fakirs across Nadia, Murshidabad, Birbhum, Bardhaman and Bankura, we felt the need of developing an Akhra in Bardhaman-Birbhum area, where visitors can also stop by and listen to Baul songs,and thus we developed a Baul Fakir Ashram at Bannabagram in Ausgram near Guskara. For details, please contact toureast@banglanatak.com.
Kushmundi is home of Wooden Mask makers and also has Dhokra weavers, Pottery, Basketry artists around. Mahisbathan – Wooden Mask, Kulator, Dehat, Pottery village – Kunoor, Basketry village – Daspara, Bamboo Mask – Baishyapara will give you a unique craft experience. Explore the villages, interact with artists, participate at workshop and see Community Museum at Kushmandi Wooden Mask Resource centre. Kushmundi also holds the Geographical Indication (GI) for the Wooden Mask art form. For details, please contact toureast@banglanatak.com.
Naya village in Pingla in West Medinipur is home of 100+ Patachitra families. Visitors to Pingla will learn about Patachitra tradition and making & usage of natural colours, along with listening to the Patachitra songs, i.e, ‘Pater Gaan’ to know the stories of the paintings. Enjoy the Community Museum of the village. One can visit nearby village Sabang to see Madur weavers also. For details, please contact toureast@banglanatak.com.
Tepantar is a theatre village with a four-acre campus. In the last few years, it has evolved as a dynamic cultural hub. Lush greenery, chirping of birds, buzzing of bees make your stay really nice. Nearby places of visit includes Baul music hub Joydeb Kenduli, Shantiniketan, Kantha hub Nanoor, Bannabagram Baul Ashram, Dokra hub at Bikna in Bankura and Terracotta temples at Bishnupur. For details, please contact toureast@banglanatak.com, or, get in touch with Kallol Bhattacharya at ebongamraindia@gmail.com for accommodation at Tepantar. Tepantar also celebrates Dol/ Folk Holi, next edition on 18-20 March, 2022.
Purulia is a pied panorama of nature, people, culture and heritage. It is the land of the spectacular Chau dance inscribed in the Representative List of Intangible Cultural Heritage of Humanity by UNESCO in 2010. Chau is a colorful, martial mask dance of eastern India. Nearly 180 families of Chau mask makers live in Charida village. This has evolved as a major Tourism destination for art lovers, both for workshop/ demonstration and also to procure souvenirs/ gifts directly from the source. They hold the annual mela in winter also. Charida also holds the Geographical Indication (GI) for the Chau Mask art form. For details, please contact toureast@banglanatak.com, or, get in touch with Pinaki Ganguly at rose.ngo@rediffmail.com for accommodation at Charida itself.
Balarampur in Purulia is famous for Chau dance. Royal Chau Academy and Maldi Chau Shibir are quite known places for Chau practitioners. Chau dance inscribed in the Representative List of Intangible Cultural Heritage of Humanity by UNESCO in 2010. Maldi Chau Shibir located next to Kumari dam has the Chau Resource Centre and also holds regular Chau training between 3 and 5 pm under the leadership of Jagannath Chowdhury and Biren Kalindi. For details, please contact toureast@banglanatak.com.
Situated on 20 acres of land, Nimdih Gandhi Ashram is located at the foothills of the Dalma range of hills and offers a picturesque and enchanting view of the region. Nimdih offers simple stay arrangements with cottages and rooms, with provision of attached toilet for the cottages & rooms and common clean toilet for dormitories. Spending a day or two is an ideal way to experience Nimdih’s greenery. Nimdih also celebrates Dol/ Folk Holi, next edition on 18-20 March, 2022. For details, please contact toureast@banglanatak.com.
Sunderbans is a UNESCO World Heritage site and is renowned for its bio-diversity, unique landscape and the iconic mangrove forests. This landscape of the Sunderbans inspires the folk traditions of this land, such as Bonbibir Pala, a mythological play that revolves around the age-old conflict of man and animal. The mystic rivers of the Sunderbans inspire soul-stirring Bhatiyali songs. Likewise, another local tradition, Jhumur dance and songs, resonates through time. The land offers visitors an experience of a lifetime. For details, please contact toureast@banglanatak.com.
TourEast, an initiative of banglanatak dot com, promotes cultural tourism destinations of rural Bengal which offers authentic experience of heritage traditions and simplicity of rural life.
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