Abanindranath Tagore's Garden House

The Garden House of Abanindranath Tagore is a remarkable heritage building that belongs to the Tagore family. It is a place where the family’s history and culture are preserved.

The place was recognized as a heritage site by the West Bengal Heritage Commission on 28th May 2007, after years of neglect. The elegant structure stands by the river Ganges, at Mirpara Lane, Konnagar, in the Hooghly district.

Surrounded by immense beauty, the garden house is a perfect destination for all those who love history, especially the ones who have an interest in the Tagore family. A certain charm is there around the place which keeps alive the bygone days.

Experience, see, and feel each corner of the plot and learn more about the childhood of Abanindranath Tagore. This place was the one where he spent most of his time as a child.

Locating and traveling to the Garden House from Kolkata will be easy.

In this article, you will get to know the following points about the Garden House of Abanindranath Tagore,

Timings
Entry fee
Location
Who was Abanindranath Tagore?
History
Things to see
Best time to visit

Let’s see each of these points in detail.

Abanindranath Tagore’s garden house timings

The timings of Abanindranath Tagore’s Bagan Bari are,

Everyday

10:00 AM to 05:00 PM

Abanindranath Tagore’s Bagan Bari entry fee

Per Person

Rs.10

Abanindranath Tagore’s Bagan Bari location

Address	Rammohan Place, Konnagar – 712235
Nearest Railway Station	Konnagar
Nearest Jetty	Konnagar Bata Ghat Ferry Service

GOOGLE MAP LOCATION

Who was Abanindranath Tagore?

Abanindranath Tagore was a renowned artist and writer. He was also the nephew of poet Rabindranath Tagore.

Born on the 7th of August, 1871, Abanindranath Tagore founded the Bengal School of Art, which pioneered the modern Indian painting style based on Swadeshi values and Indian art history. He also established the “Indian Society of Oriental Art” to promote his vision. He authored several books for children, such as Rajkahini, Buro Angla, and Khirer Putul.

After several notable works, he passed away on 5th December 1951, at the age of 80.

History of Abanindranath Tagore’s Garden House

Outside Abanindranath Tagore’s Bagan Bari

The garden house has a long history. The place originally belonged to Abanindranath Tagore’s father, and he spent the majority of his childhood here.

A glimpse of this can be visualized in his book “Jorasankor Dhare.” In the book, he mentioned that the house was surrounded by horses, dogs, monkeys, etc, all kept safely in small caged areas. This was the exact place where he took his first art and painting lessons. The scenic views and rich green terrain were also a feature of the plot.

He also mentioned how he enjoyed spending time boating and swimming. As a kid, he was also enthralled while watching a Bahurupi perform and during the evening aarti (Shondha Aroti) at the temples.

The Garden House was also mentioned in Rabindranath Tagore’s Biography. He often visited the house with his family to enjoy the stunning natural ambiance. The riverside garden house was abandoned eternally in the year 1881, after the unfortunate demise of Gunendranath Tagore.

With time, the house changed owners several times until it was sold to a builder who wanted to turn it into a riverfront apartment complex.

Later, with some understanding, the house and some parts of the plot were left untouched and the rest of the plot was developed. In May 2007, the West Bengal Heritage Commission declared it a heritage site, and the Konnagar Municipality restored it. The restored structure is what we see today.

Things to see at Abanindranath Tagore’s Garden House

Inside Abanindranath Tagore’s Bagan Bari

Entering the gate, you will get to see a small structure, that is also a library, storage room, office section, etc. The renovation is done beautifully and the esthetics are preserved throughout the work.
Walking through, you will see plants and trees dotting the area. The greenery is maintained along with the landscaping.
The walking lanes are shaded with big trees and are way too picturesque as the old vibes and vista still remain.
Then there is the bust of Abanindranath Tagore along with a written line of his.
Next, there is the main house. There are paintings of students who are probably from the Rabindra Bharati University. The interiors are well decorated in the old fashion mostly the way it used to be.
The Ganga River is a few steps away from the house and offers a marvelous vista.
There was a swimming pool which is now turned into a lotus pond.
Also, you will get to see a Mazhar near the lotus pond.
The entire location is relaxing and screams of the past.

The best time to visit Abanindranath Tagore’s Bagan Bari

You can visit this place any time of the year, but the best time is during the winter and spring months. These are the seasons when the weather remains pleasant and will aid in all the explorations. The tour will also be comforting.

Summer is not recommended as the weather remains extremely hot and humid. Monsoons are drenching and humid at the same time. You might not have a good experience in these seasons.

If you are fascinated by old buildings and their history, this is one of the places you must visit.

It gives you a glimpse of the family that we have all read and heard about. It is a nice place to pause and imagine how life was back then. You can also visualize the scenes that Abanindranath Tagore described in his book. This place is more than just a sight, it is a feeling and a realization.

Happy Ventures!

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