Shilaidaha Kuthibari travel guide

At a glance

Tagore's stay

1891–1901 (managing the estate)

Buildings

Three-storey house, an area of about 11 acres

Location

Kumarkhali, on the Padma

Opening hours

Closed Sunday, half day Monday

History and details

Shilaidaha was the headquarters of the Tagore family's Birahimpur pargana. In 1891, on his father Debendranath's instructions, Rabindranath came here to manage the estate and stayed regularly for about a decade. On his Padma houseboat and in this house he wrote many poems of 'Sonar Tori', 'Chitra', 'Chaitali' and 'Katha o Kahini', the letters of 'Chhinnapatra' and many short stories.

He also began translating many Gitanjali songs into English at Shilaidaha, work that later won him the Nobel Prize in 1913. The village people here and life on the Padma left a deep mark on his writing.

The three-storey house with its wave-like roof and pyramid-shaped peak is now the Department of Archaeology's Tagore Memorial Museum; inside are the poet's bed, wardrobe, palanquin, speedboat and rare photographs.

Things to do

• See Rabindranath's belongings in the museum
• Sit in the garden and at the pond ghat of the house
• Spend an afternoon on the nearby Padma bank
• Join the Tagore birth anniversary celebrations on 25 Boishakh

How to get to Shilaidaha Kuthibari

In Kumarkhali; about 20 km from Kushtia.

Kushtia is about 200 km from Dhaka; the journey takes 5 hours.

• 🚌 By bus: SB, Shyamoli, Hanif from Gabtoli; non-AC ৳550–700, AC ৳900–1,200.
• 🚆 By train: Sundarban/Chitra Express from Kamalapur to Poradah or Bheramara.

Where to stay

• Mid-range hotels in Kushtia town (৳1,000–3,000)

What to eat

Kulfi malai, tiler khaja (famous)

Good to know

• Closed Sunday, half day Monday
• Spend an afternoon on the nearby Padma bank

More to see nearby

• Shrine of Lalon Shah (20 km)
• Padma riverbank (2 km)
• Kushtia town (20 km)

More places to visit in Kushtia district

• Shrine of Lalon Shah (Chheuria) — The akhra of the Baul master Lalon Fakir; big festivals at Dol Purnima and in October.
• Hardinge Bridge — A historic railway bridge from 1915, with the Lalon Shah road bridge beside it.
• Mir Mosharraf Hossain's family home — The birthplace and memorial centre of the author of 'Bishad Sindhu' at Lahinipara.

Location on the map