Jorasanko Thakur Bari (Kolkata) | Pictures, Timings, History

Jorasanko Thakur Bari, Kolkata Overview

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, in the 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 enthrals them, even more, is the self-composed invite of 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 with the purpose of imparting 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 on the top of your list of places to visit while in Kolkata!

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

Events at Jorasanko Thakur Bari

The Rabindra Bharti University, which is located in the vicinity of the Jorasanko Thakur Bari, organises numerous events and programmes with great enthusiasm and fervour. One such event is the Panchise Baisakh, which is a cultural programme that takes place on the poet's birthday. Other occasions, such as Tagore's death anniversary which is also marked as Baishe Shravan at the Jorasanko Thakur Bari, are also celebrated here. The university also organises a festival of arts known as Aban Mela.

Rabindra Bharti Museum at Jorasanko Thakur Bari

The Jorasanko Thakur Bari now houses the Rabindra Bharti Museum, which is also known as the Jorasankho Thakurbari. The ancestral house has been restored in such a manner that people can see how the household looked when the Tagore family resided in it. The museum is highly informative, and offers deep insights into the history of the Tagore family, and also about their involvement with the Bengal Renaissance and the Brahmo Samaj.

The museum comprises of three galleries in all. The first one showcases the life of Tagore and his works, while the other two talk about his family and other stalwarts of Bengal. More than 700 paintings can be found here, along with manuscripts, books and other antique items. The self-composed invite of Rabindranath Tagore's wedding can also be found here and is of great interest to the keen visitors.

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 at this place in 1861 and spent his entire childhood in this home itself.

Best Time To Visit Jorasanko Thakur Bari

The best time to visit Jorasanko Thakur Bari is at the time of the birthdays of eminent poets so that you can take part in the celebrations and events.

How To Reach Jorasanko Thakur Bari

The Jorasanko Thakur Bari is located in the Rabindra Bharati University Campus at the Dwarakanath Tagore Lane in Jorasanko in Kolkata. The place can easily be reached via cabs or public transport.

It is suggested that one visits the Jorasanko Thakur Bari through metro, as the place easily gets crowded and is prone to traffic jams. You can take a metro to Girish Park and then walk to Jorasanko Thakur Bari.