Rooms were clean, facilities were good - but the most important aspect of visiting a place that was new to us, is what made it worthwhile. You will get a "complete experience" if you stay with them - guidance on everything ask for, in our case we were interested in covering all aspects related to art and artists and we got inputs well beyond what any normal place would give you.
Walk up to the house and you will already get the impression of a house designed with a lot of thought in mind. The shape allows for more of a cooling breeze on hot monsoon days. Set in a lush garden on the green edge of Santiniketan, Nayana and her friendly dog will welcome you to your retreat. Carefully decorated with paintings and period pictures you will find three bedrooms, two on the ground floor, one on the first floor. Porch in front and back are inviting places for your coffee, tea or byo sun-downer. Next morning an eggcellent breakfast awaits you. Nayana knows everyone and everything in town and beyond, so you are all set for a wonderful stay !
Nayana's Homestay was clean and beautiful. Surrounded by lush greenery all around, we had peaceful breakfasts in the morning and evening tea. With many outdoor spaces, it is easy to enjoy the surrounding nature. Nayana also provides tours that help one get a sense of the local feel of a place, from trips to the local vegetable markets, to hidden gem ruins, to Tiger's delicious Biryani, we felt the full experience of Santiniketan. Thanks for a great stay, Nayana!
There is a lonely queen waiting for you. Her regal head turned upwards, the salt and pepper crown a bit entangled. The Bhadra Lok accent and the diction could be British, it’s so impeccable. Words like insouciance, insular and emissary poke you in the ribs, making you frantically try to recall at least something from the one Vikram Seth novel you have read. The refreshing taste of the Kevda infused cold water (all the way from Murshidabad) that welcomes you, stays with you till the end of the visit, just like the cheerful scamp of the house – Ronnie, the indie. The house is a living museum– a lifetime’s collection of art work, books and well, memories of the past, the ghosts of which seem to permeate the fabric of the place. You are welcomed with an open heart, and an invitation to join the Nabo Barsho dinner with friends who are artists at “The University”. The itinerary for the next day is chalked out with a “you must thank me for this” swirl of the curls. Kankali Temple, Viswa Bharti, Srijan haat and Dharmaraj Temple. She graces you with her presence in the latter part of the day, proving a useful ally in driving bargain at the Haat. The British fussiness gives way to French joi-de-vivre over a round of Puchkas at the village chaatwalla. Suddenly the queen is a little girl who loved theatre and more. Back at chateau, the inscrutable Maku is waiting without waiting. Then it’s next morning and time to back the car, one final time, up the gravel drive, out of the wrought iron gates and catch the blue tiled Chota Kothi sign one final time in the rear-view mirror. Of course, there are promises to meet up in Panagarh and take the Birbhum tour and do this one more time. Maybe I will.…
It is rustic serene folk tale.. resplendent in it’s heritage ..there it was ..CHHOTA KOTHI and the lady of the house Nayana Tagore Gangooly. She had nailed it the first minute waiting at her front porch at 10.30 in d night when we reached ..hands on her hips and a warm concern in her voice “Go …rush to the washroom guys, that’s what u need first😁” Rest was history great food, cool cozy rooms, clean linen and clean bathrooms. Maku is a great cook and Nayana with her Tagore lineage is a splendid hostess
Nayana’s Homestay provides an unique experience which none of the other places I’ve been to can boast of. Thanks to her eclectic taste, family background, her personal heritage and her love for the quirky, her home is full of surprises. Crystal decanters share shelf space with hand crafted ceramics, bronze sculptures rub shoulders with terracotta oil paintings and hand embroidered linen. A sense of calm envelops you as you lean back and look up through the branches of willows and evergreens stretching skywards in the garden, cool grass underfoot and a frosted glass of homemade fresh lime in hand. The house itself with its comfortable chairs and plush beds makes you want to hang around, read a book, chat with the hostess or pick her brains about the history and culture of the area. Widely travelled, she has a treasure trove of stories about people she has met and cultures she has experienced. If you have the time to spare, take a few days off and relax, go for walks, visit the famous weekly handicraft fair and other attractions in the area, with the promise of a cosy night awaiting you at Nayana’s, including interesting food from local chefs and restaurants.…
The house which had many stories to tell , We were glad to stay in choto kuthir with the amazing host Nayana , It felt like home , We have plans to go back soon . Thank you. অনেক দিন পর আমরা একসাথে এত শান্তিতে সময় কাটালাম। আর নয়না দি খুবই ভালো এবং মিশুকে Host। আর helping hand মাকুদি ও অসাধারন।
Went to Shantiniketan after quite a while and as usual stayed at NHS. I spent only one night there. Wished I had stayed a little longer. Nayana has really upgraded the rooms. They are simply beautiful. I really liked the plasterless finish of the walls. The bathroom has been improved vastly. The service continues to be top class . You couldn’t ask for anything more. Keep it up Nayana. You are a cut above the rest.
We went because we wanted a break and we certainly chose the right place. The rooms are comfortable and the facilities are excellent. We requested Nayana to take us around Birbhum and that turned out to be a most interesting day. The area is dotted with beautiful terracotta temples and ruined palaces and of course during the breaks we enjoyed first rate Bengali cuisine
When work days strech right through the weekends carrying with it all the related stress and exhaustion, there is no other place like this one. That's exactly what I chose to do, when I could take it no more. I just grabbed my laptop and DSLR and planted myself at Nayana's and the healing was instant. As you sit, sipping tea on the verandah, overlooking the huge front garden, you lose track of time. There is so much open space and greenery all around and that is where this place stands apart from the rest. The 2 days were well spent with early morning bird watching, followed by work and all under the care of Maku and Nayana. I can't remember having slept that deep since a very long time. Thank you Nayana.
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