How to absorb the creative vibes of Jurasanko Thakur Bari in Kolkata

Kolkata is enriched by literature, food, music and art. One name that can describe this city is Jurasanko Thakur Bari – the ancestral residence of Rabindranath Tagore. The Tagore family was important in the socio-cultural map of India with business and commerce associations. They were also associated with Brahmo Samaj, the Bengal Renaissance and the Bengal School of Art.

Located within the Rabindra Bharti University, Jurasanko Thakur Bari was built in the 18th century. The palatial red brick mansion is spread over 35000 square meters. This is where polymath Nobel laureate Rabindranath Tagore was born, where he spent most of his childhood, and where he passed away. In 1961, the Rabindra Bharati Museum was established to preserve personalia and artworks from the family.

Jurasanko Thakur Bari – History and Architecture

The history of Jorasanko Thakur Bari goes back to 1784 when a piece of land was gifted to Nilmoni Tagore on the east side of Chitpur Road after he left his family home due to irreconcilable disputes within the family. Nilmoni Tagore built a small house at Jorasanko.

The Thakur Bari was later expanded by Prince Dwarkanath Tagore, the illustrious grandfather of Rabindranath Tagore in the 18th century. Situated in the north of Kolkata, the mansion is located in Jorasanko, near Girish Park on Chittaranjan Avenue. The land was donated to Prince Dwarkanath Tagore by the famous Seth family. Rabindranath was born here in 1861 and spent a major part of his life in this home. It is here that the Nobel laureate passed away in 1941.

Rabindra Bharti Museum

The Rabindra Bharati Museum has an overall collection of 2071 books, 770 journals, 16 paintings, 3297 photographs, 27 crafts and sculptures, 208 personalia and 3 pieces of furniture. Today this house is a museum that has three galleries dedicated to Tagore, other eminent members of Tagore family and Bengal Renaissance. The galleries provide glimpses of intimate family photographs, life-size portraits and Tagore’s evolution as a poet and philosopher.

Rabindranath Tagore’s room, his paintings and his car

Photography is strictly prohibited inside the house. The room where Tagore lived and died is preserved very well with all belongings in the same place and same way as they used to be. The self-composed wedding invitation card is also one of the highlights here.

Tagore’s original paintings are the most interesting of the exhibits. There are 40 original paintings on display which were acquired by the West Bengal Government from Rabindranath’s son. There are also the notebooks on which Tagore used to scribble. It is said that Tagore used to write and then blacken out the words that did not quite fit in. Doing so, he used to make paintings and sketches out of the blackened words.

Rabindranath’s Humber Car is parked in the backyard of the mansion and can easily be missed if one doesn’t know about it. 

Events at Jurasanko Thakur Bari

The most important of all events is the Panchise Baisakh, a cultural programme that takes place on the poet’s birthday. Other occasions, like Tagore’s death anniversary, marked as Baishe Shravan at the Jorasanko Thakur Bari, are also celebrated with equal fervor. The university also organises a festival of arts known as Aban Mela.

The light and sound show at Jorasanko Thakur Bari is an interesting depiction of the life of Rabindranath Tagore. The show is conducted in Bengali and English, all the days of the week except for Mondays and Thursdays.

The museum is open on all days except Mondays and Government holidays. Metro is the easiest way to reach this place. The nearest metro station is Girish Park. The mansion is within walking distance from the metro station.

You can share all the relevant places you visited near the museum and the important aspects you took away from the visit.