20/02/2018
KHOAI B***R ANNYA HAAT:
23 Dec. 2017.
BOLPUR, SHANTINIKETAN, BIRBHUM, WEST BENGAL
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Also known as: Sonajhuri Haat / Khoai Haat / Sanibarer Haat / Saturday Haat.
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“Khoai Haat” is a weekly haat that held on every Saturday at the Khoai region of Sonajhuri forest. The open area Saturday haat starts in the afternoon (around 02:30 pm) and lasts till the sunlight available.
The Khoai is situated in the Sonajhuri forest and it is surrounded by the famous “Kopai” river, Ballavpur WLS and Bonepukur adhibasi village. The Khoai haat is only 2.5km from Prantik station & 5.1 km from Bolpur station.
The local people & artists gather in the haat to showcase their products / artwork and sell them in a very reasonable price. You can get almost everything like ethnic jewelry, souvenir, local made art works, musical instruments like Ektara, flute etc…wooden artifacts, garments like Kantha embroidery sharees, Kurta- Panjabi, Stole, showpieces like “Dokra” & “Terracotta”…. etc. You can’t resist yourself from buying these beautiful artifacts.
And one thing I must say that this is a very colorful haat and in almost everything you can find “Rabindranath” & “Baul”, these are the two integral part of Shantiniketan.
Santali dance with Damsa-Madol and the Baul song are the two extra rewards you get during your visit at the haat.
NOTE: “Khoai” region is part of the Sonajhuri forest & is a geographical formation of small small canyons by constant erosion of red soil by sun, rain & wind…
PLAN YOUR DAY: If you reach Bolpur, early in the morning, then please plan your day accordingly to visit other beautiful places very adjacent to the Khoai haat as the Saturday haat starts from 2:30 pm in the afternoon.
You may plan your day as follows –
PLAN #01:
1. Aamar Kuthir with Kopai river.
2. Prakriti Bhavan Nature Art Museum.
3. Buddha statue.
4. Kopai river view point.
5. Bonepukur adhivasi village.
6. Sonajhuri forest.
7. Khoai Haat / Saturday Haat.
8. Kankalitala Kali Mondir (If time permits in the evening, after haat).
LOCATION: Use Google map…. It’s the best friend. (Search for “Sonajhurir Hat”).
HOW TO REACH:
RAIL: Nearest rail station is “Prantik”. Khoai haat is only 2.5 km away. TOTO is available to reach the place from station. The place is also accessible from Bolpur station, 5.1 km.
ROAD: Its 165km from Kolkata.
1. Bus Service: There are regular luxury bus services from Esplanade to Bolpur.
2. Car: Kolkata – NH19 – NH114 @ Nababhat Burdwan – Ghuskara – Bolpur.
WHERE TO STAY: There are many good quality hotels & Lodge is available at Shantiniketan / Bolpur, Prantik and also at Sonajhuri.
If you are planning to visit during “Holi” or “ Pouse Mela”, please book the hotel min.03 months in advance. During this time the hotel rent is also became very high.
BEST TIME TI VISIT: To my opinion Spring (Basanta) is the best time to visit as during this time you will get the beautiful “ Palash” flower all over the place. Autumn & Winter also good time to visit. During winter you can get the fall of yellow / golden color Sonajhuri flower (Sonajhuri tree gets its name from this - fall of yellow / golden color flower).
Try to avoid rainy season as this is an open area haat, may become uncertain.
ACTIVITY: Educational Tour, Photography, Nature walk, Holi (Basanta Utsav) , Pouse Mela etc…
NOTE:
• Reach Bolpur or Prantik station, book a TOTO for the whole day. Clearly discuss the places you want to visit with the TOTO driver and bargain very hardly.
• In the morning, you may first visit the Konkalitala Kali Mondir for offering puja.
• In the first half (before 2:30pm) you can also visit - Viswa Bharati Campus with Kala Bhavan, Museum …..... all that or Ballavpur WLS (other than PLAN #01 ).
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Happy Travel & Photography.
© SPAN Travel PHOTO ________________________________________________
