BASA, The B.A.B.L.I. Guest House
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Village & Po Dwaranda, Ilam Bazar 731236 India
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B A S A, or "BABLI SHANTI ALAYA", is the Guest-House within B.A.B.L.I [Bureau for Agro-Based/ Linked Industries].BABLI is a rural-action project in interior Birbhum, near Shantiniketan (13 Kms), under the jurisdiction of Illambazar Police Station, in West Bengal, India.We also have a GUEST-HOUSE - where like-minded people, who want to spend a few days in a rural setting, away from the din of city life, can rent cottages of various types and tariffs.However, we are NOT a 'resort'/'eco-tourism centre' - the whole project is LITERALLY wild and UN-MANICURED. At the project, we explore various unconventional farming methods, aimed at rejuvenating the agriculture of the region and countering the process of rapid urbanisation by trying to support the rural culture and livelihood. Our work also aims at rejuvenating the fast-depleting forest cover of the adjoining areas, and conserving the threatened flora and fauna of the region.
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Beautifully maintained property. Calm, peaceful, basic, yet refreshingly lovely. Excellent food prepared fresh. It is next door to the ceramic factory and a short drive to Shantiniketan. Ideal place to relax from the hustle-bustle of the city.
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Date of stay: December 2012
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One of the highlights of my visit to India was staying three nights at BABLI during the Winter fair. While there, we visited Tagore's experimental university, threshed rice with the local villagers, relished a chicken roasted on the fire and a walk in the woods. We learned a great deal from the teacher and BABLI's head, Mr. Shen. Although he did not sing Leonard Cohen for us, he taught us about organic alternatives to pesticides, his vision for working with dance, remedies for excema, art. The food was excellent. The rooms were exquisite and built with a vision to preserve the knowledge of adhivasi architecture (I especially liked the stained glass and mud murals on the walls of the "mud" hut). A brilliant mosquito net system, delicious well water and vasaka made our stay a…
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Date of stay: December 2012
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3 days in Dec’12 @ B.A.B.L.I is the best thing happened with me in 2012, A true Rural Experience of Southern Part of West Bengal, ... No Television, No Newspaper for those 3 days just like breaking away from the modern world. While the entire experience is a novel one but still would like to mention few individuals like Sahadev Babu (aka “Maa” of B.A.B.L.I), Pradeep the ever smiling boy and finally Aaditto Babu (Commander-in-Chief) for their tireless en-devour of making our stay the most beautiful one, special mention on food which was simple in nature but too good in taste, Planning to return during 2013 monsoon for another stint to experience the flora & fauna
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Date of stay: December 2012
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We have stayed at Babli from 27/07/2012 to 29/07/2012. I liked its ambience and rural nature of stay. Who intend to visit Babli should not expect the comfort of AC or multi cuisine restaurant. In spite of that try to feel the flora, fauna, sounds of the nature, which you will get plenty. Rooms are good and clean. Mud houses are excellently maintained and good to get a new experience. Road conditions to reach here are mostly very good. Try to avoid Panagarh, rather take the diversion to the right from the "Renaissance" hotel after Shaktigarh. But in absence of Sahadebda, the in-charge of the kitchen, some one better than the present cook may be replaced. Overall it is very good experience to stay here. You can reach Babli from Bolpur Railway Station by car, it is only 12 kms.…
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Date of stay: July 2012
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BABLI was recommended to us by a variety of friends who had gone and stayed there. The word 'unique' and 'basic' kept recurring in these conversations. They pointed out that BABLI was not your run-of-the-mill hotel or resort. Built on an ethos of economic self-reliance and ecological sustainability, this farm-stay expects its guests to understand and respect these principles. And with good reason. Right from the wholesome Bengali meals that they serve, to the set of instructions posted in every room, BABLI shuns the 'will bend over backwards for guests' over-placating attitude of hotels and resorts, and tells you to respect Nature. There are frogs, rats and snakes. And BABLI is no petting zoo. Here are the good things: - No TV (huge huge huge mega blessing) - The menu does…
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Date of stay: December 2011
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We stayed in Babli farm from 7th Oct 2011 to 10th Oct 2011. The place is about 10 km from Shantiniketan in West Bengal. The farm is spread in about 36 bighas of land. It has got two ponds. Ducks, hens, cows, dogs and cats are there to give you company. The garden is not manicured thus has retained its rustic charm. The accomodation is basic in nature. Best would be to book mud hut, which normally is in great demand. Food is basic. No room service. You have to walk down to the canteen to have your food. There is no geyser. However, they will supply you hot water in buckets at additional charge. There is no television. Only bengali newspaper is available in the canteen. Mobile signal is very faint. Hence you are cut away from the civilisation if you are staying only at the farm.…
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Date of stay: October 2011
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Responded 22 Oct 2011
Sir/ Madam, Thank you very much for your succinct feedback about our farm-project! We are always very happy to to have like-minded visitors, like yourself, who appreciate and enjoy the unique, pastoral charm of the place. Hope to see you again at BABLI!
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Babli Farm is not a conventional Hotel. Its a guest house amongst nature. The purpose is dual--- to provide its visitors a quiet weekend getaway in the midst of rural Bengal in Birbhum district in reasonable comfort, and to try and support the rural folk of the area by unconventional farming methods, afforestation, and conserve the flora& fauna of the area. If you cant do without ACs, TV sets, Discos, Spas, Multi cuisine restaurants, other comforts of a star hotel, this place is not for you. But if you are game for a relaxed holiday in a rural setting with dairy farms, ponds, farming areas, forest tracks leading to your place of stay, outdoor sitting areas in natural settings, this is the place for you. You have to actually soak it in to enjoy Babli. Now for the real stuff--…
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Date of stay: December 2010
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Response from Aaditto, General Manager at BASA, The B.A.B.L.I. Guest House
Responded 10 Jan 2012
Sir/ Madam, Thank you very much for appreciating the uniqueness of B.A.B.L.I... It is evident from your review here that you have genuinely absorbed the ethos and motivations behind our farm-project. We are both glad and thankful to have guests like you visiting us - since our guest-house is really not a 'resort-style' commercial venture - it is, as you have aptly described, a place that needs to be 'soaked in' - an extension of the rural-action programme of the project. We hope to see you again at BABLI, soon! Best regards, Aaditto Shen.
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LOCATION
IndiaWest BengalBardhaman DistrictIlam Bazar
NUMBER OF ROOMS
11
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