Blissful Babli: The not so known Weekend Escapade from Kolkata

Miles away from the hustle and bustle of the polluted city life, there is this little abode of Peace, “BABLI” where nothing but silence speaks.

Situated around 12 kms away from Tagore’s Shantiniketan on Bolpur-Illambazar Road, Babli offers you a perfect rural experience where you will be once more convinced that Living is still possible without phone networks or social media humdrum.

Babli was originally a 12 acres of arid land acquired in the outskirts of Village Dwaronda in Birbhum, a district of West Bengal. It is located at the edge of what remained of the “Choupahari Jungle”. Over the years, BABLI has been successful in rejuvenating a part of the grossly depleted fauna of the region – and now we act as a safe-haven for a plethora of birds, as well as a small collection of wild animals. [Source: http://babli.org/about/ ]

How to Reach: Babli is about 180 km from Kolkata and is well connected to Kolkata through Bolpur with numerous trains. Babli arranges for a car pick up from Bolpur station and it takes about 20 min from Bolpur Station to the Farm. You may also drive down from Kolkata via NH2 or Durgapur Expressway.
Babli is NOT a conventional tourist spot. Go there just to enjoy the silence; the only sounds that will interfere are occasional chirping of birds or the rustle of leaves or gentle winds blowing.

Interiors of Babli

Sing, Dance and Make Merry Here at Babli

 

Exterior of Our Family Suite

A weekend is enough to spend time in Babli and detox. If you are there on a Saturday, you might give a quick visit to “Khowai Boner Annya Haat” which is a weekly market, held every Saturday around 4 pm in Khowai forests. You will get local handicrafts mostly made by students of Fine Arts Department of Biswa Bharati University and local villagers whose probably only source of income is the beautiful handicrafts that they sell here. There are live performances of Baul music in one corner of the “haat” giving you the smell of the rural Bengal. Go there to feel it, get drowned in the simplicity of rural living.

Aktara – Ah the Melody of it!!

Handicrafts: Just a glimpse of what you get.

The Junk Jewelry I so Love

The “Baul” Singers!!

 

In and around “Khowai”

Back to Babli, we spent the evening singing Tagore’s songs, after all we were in his land. Early morning is the best time to go for a leisurely stroll around Babli. Walk down the road opposite to the resort, about 2 kms and there is small pond surrounded with hillocks. It is a very simple landscape but the beauty of it cant be described in words. Eight of us were too mesmerized to speak even a word.

We had our lunch the next day and “Banalakhsmi” and headed back to Kolkata. Refreshed and Rejuvinated!!

Accommodation: We were a group of 8 and went for family suite of 8 beds. Costs around INR 4800. There are few 2-4 bedded cottages that cost between INR 1200 – INR 1800. Rooms are basic and neat. Room services are not available.

Food: Food at Babli is quite cheap, simple and home like. You may also try a meal at Barishaaler Rannaghor, a nice 1km walk from Babli resort!! A must try at Barishaaler Rannaghor is Mutton Kasha and Sorshe Hilsa.

Travel Tips:

1. Visit Babli only during winters (December – March) or during rains (July – September). Summers are too hot and humid.
2. If you plan to visit during “Poush Mela” or “Basanta Utsab” which is in end December and end March respectively make sure at least to book 2 months in advance. It’s a crazy busy time of the year here.
3. The management of Babli is very strict in terms of discipline, cleanliness and sound pollution. They don’t tolerate any sorts of nuisance. Be Careful.

Go there to stay “disconnected” from the noisy world. That’s all that is needed sometimes 🙂