Upasana Griha (Kanch Mandir) — Attraction in Bolpur

Upasana Griha, or the prayer house, is a significant landmark in the Visva-Bharati campus in Shantiniketan, established by Rabindranath Tagore. It is part of the nomination dossier for Shantiniketan's inscription on the UNESCO World Heritage List and was recently restored. Built in 1891, the structure was inspired by the Crystal Palace and features a cast-iron framework with Belgian glass panes, reflecting the progressive Brahmo Samaj's ideals of formless worship.

The Upasana Griha is positioned near Chattim Tala, where Rabindranath's father, Debendranath Tagore, had a spiritual revelation. Debendranath was a key figure in the Brahmo Samaj, which emphasized the worship of the formless Brahma, rejecting traditional idol worship. The design of Upasana Griha, a simple glass pavilion, symbolizes Brahmo philosophy's focus on inner spiritual experience.

This glass temple is part of a larger memorial landscape that includes Chattim Tala, Shantiniketan Griha, and other significant sites. The landscape is designed to evoke the ancient ideal of forest meditation, an important concept in Indic spirituality. Tourists can visit this area and participate in weekly prayer meetings, which are sensory-rich experiences involving light, sound, touch, and the natural environment. These attributes make Upasana Griha a spiritual sanctuary and a heritage structure that embodies Tagore’s educational ideals of self-growth in natural...

Beautiful place of culture and art. Upasana Griha is a place of worship located in the campus of Visva Bharati University in Shantiniketan, West Bengal, India. It was established by Rabindranath Tagore, the famous Bengali poet, philosopher, and Nobel laureate, as a space for spiritual contemplation and meditations.

The architecture of Upasana Griha is inspired by traditional Indian temple architecture, but with a modern twist. It was designed by Tagore's close associate, Nandalal Bose, who was a renowned artist and art teacher.

Today, Upasana Griha is a popular destination for tourists and visitors to Shantiniketan who come to admire its architectural beauty and to experience its tranquil atmosphere. It continues to serve as a place of worship and spiritual contemplation for students and faculty members of Visva...

Upasana Griha, Santiniketan:

Located near Rabindra Bhawan or Museum. This temple was the idea of Maharshi Debendranath Thakur, the founder of Santiniketan. In the trust deed of Santiniketan,he mentioned that a temple to be built for all religions. Also known as Mandir or Kanch Mandir. The Mandir was inaugurated on 21st December,1891 by Dwijendranath Thakur. Every Wednesday, people gather here for Upasana. Obviously, specific dress code and etiquette is mandatory. Apart from this weekly prayer, prayers are arranged on special occasions such as on Rabindra Janmotsav, Barshabaran, Barshashes, Christmas etc. The Mandir is beautifully built by placing coloured glasses in geometrical shapes in cast iron structure. Truly a place, where you can search for your inner...