Explore Shantiniketan
Temples in Shantiniketan
Religious sites and temples to visit in Shantiniketan
Ghursia and Surul Rajbari Terracotta Temples
Tucked into the villages surrounding Shantiniketan, the Ghursia and Surul Rajbari terracotta temples represent the finest examples of Bengal's terracotta temple architecture in the Birbhum region. The Surul Rajbari complex, built by a local zamindar family, features intricately panelled temples covered in narrative terracotta tiles depicting scenes from the Ramayana, Mahabharata, and Krishna Leela. Largely off the standard tourist trail, these sites reward curious travellers willing to venture a few kilometres from the campus into the rural heartland of Birbhum.
Kankalitala Temple
Situated about 7 kilometres from Shantiniketan near the Kopai River, Kankalitala Temple is one of the 51 Shakti Peethas, where the waist of Goddess Sati is believed to have fallen. Dedicated to Goddess Kali in her form as Devagarbha, the temple sits within a quiet village landscape of narrow paths and ancient trees. Pilgrims from across Bengal make regular visits, especially during Kali Puja, and the riverside setting lends the site a calm, deeply spiritual atmosphere distinct from the university town nearby.