Santiniketan was established in 1895 by Devendranath Tagore as a place of learning outside the formal education system where students could learn in a natural environment regardless of religion or nationality. It was further developed in 1901 by Rabindranath Tagore and is now home to Visva-Bharati University. The Archaeological Survey of India has identified 27 heritage buildings at Santiniketan for restoration, including Santiniketan Griha, Upasana Griha, Taladhwaj, and buildings at Patha-Bhavana. Conservation efforts include structural strengthening, repairing cracks and leaks, and preserving frescoes and murals. The heritage buildings draw architectural inspiration from various Indian and

1. Heritage building Conservation in
santiniketan
Suchetana chakravarty
Sai Srinivas

2. INTRODUCTION
• Santiniketan properly known as university
town was built by Devendranath Tagore,
where anyone irrespective of cast, religion &
country can get education in natural
environment.

3. HISTORY
• In 1895, Maharshi Devendranath Tagore built the
ashram,
• The earliest phase of development include the
Ashram, Santiniketan Griha, Upasana Griha ( Prayer
Hall ), Chatimtala.
• Rabindranath’s Santiniketan established in 1901.
• Visva-Bharati is a single nest for education ,nature
loving environment, music and art, social work,
promotion of rural development, research on
philosophy and culture.

4. ARCHITECTURE OF SANTINIKETAN
• the seat of an Avant grade architectural
movement in the early 19th century. When the
rest of the country was conforming to British
colonial architectural prototypes.
• inspiration from source as ancient rock cut
Buddhist architecture mud dwelling of rural
India, medieval indo-Islamic architecture and
Japanese minimalistic architecture.

5. ASI INTERVENTION
• the Archaeological Survey of India’s (ASI) Kolkata
circle has started the restoration work of the heritage
buildings in Santiniketan. Altogether 27 heritage
buildings have been identified.
• The scientific conservation of the Mural paintings
have been completed in Santiniketan Griha, Malancha
and Dinantika and work is in progress at Santoshalaya
and Patha-Bhavana.

6. TALADHWAJ
• Taladhwaj is mud hurt with a thatched roof
built around taal (palm), with part of its trunk
• Built environmentalist Tejeschandra Sen.
• Mixed mud from mulbhum purulia, with burnt
banana skin, crushed tamarind seed, pottery,
chopped jute, cow dung and other materials.
Special straw was brought from Naihati
• Some transparent fiber glass to protect the
structure from leaks.

7. UPASANA GRIHA
(GLASS TEMPLE)
• Built in 1890, dedicated to only pray as per
Brahma dharma.
• Walls consists of cast Iron frames with
colored decorative Belgian
• Rain water poring through cracks damaged
marble floor and red sand-stone verandah
and several glass pieces were missing.
• local Labors cleaned the tiles with herbal
detergents and the cast iron were
reproduced.

9. SANTINIKETAN GRIHA
• The colonial style residence of Maharshi
Debendranath Tagore, built between 1858 – 1863.
• It had long cracks on the walls, roofs and floors.
Pillars had became unstable.
• Steps taken for strengthening the structure.
• Skilled Labor of murshidabad brought sand-lime
mortar
• Fresh lime mortar with herbal glue used for water
proofing.
• Khayan ( lime ) were laid over fired tiles and baten
by hand for seven days to make it durable.

10. FRESCO’S IN PATHA-BHAVANA
• Patha-Bhavana walls are decorated by
beautiful frescoes, which tells stories of
Upanishad by Nandal bose and his students.
• Unexpertised students started peeling out
the frescos ,after ASI intervention, academy
of fine arts peeled of the new addition and
repainted with natural earthen colors and
gums

12. LILLY POOL, UTTARAYAN
• The garden is influenced by Japanese garden
• Plant bed inside the pool
• Rocky design
• Design like fish scales
• Gazebos (shading device)
• Changing of level in typical complex.
• From the Lilly pool seepage was going at the bottom of the pond
jute mesh placed
• Ingredients to make plaster
• Rock shells
• Brick dust
• Slate
• Natural gums (bel, gab)

13. REFERENCES
• Ministry of culture Government of India ,National Commemoration of
150th birth anniversary of Rabindranath Tagore
• Santiniketn -UNESCO World Heritage Centre
• The telegraph –Calcutta, Metro, Tagore heritage restored

14. THANK YOU