Shantiniketan

Every Bengali’s go-to place for a weekend escape, Shantiniketan has more to offer than Visva-Bharati and Poush Mela. While the Bichitra museum and the Uttarayan complex inside the university are favourite haunts for all travellers, don’t miss out on a visit to Andrew’s Pally, the Khoai village and the indigenous market in Khoai (aka Sonajhurir haat) — a milieu of tribal dance, baul songs and indigenous products. Read more about the market here. Two great avenues for shopping are Sriniketan and Amar Kutir for batik and other indigenous crafts. Go the distance to Daronda to visit the Confetti store for glazed earthenware and, also, to watch the potters work the wheel.