Kuthibari is the former residence of Bengal’s most famous poet, Rabindranath Tagore. It was built in the mid-19th century and Tagore lived here for over 10 years from 1880, composing some of his immortal poems, songs and short stories. He returned in 1912 for several years, translating his works into English and earning the Nobel Prize for Literature (1913) in the process.
The house has been turned into a museum dedicated to Tagore’s life and works, and is set among landscaped gardens – perfect for picnics – where musicians sometimes gather to perform in his honour.
It’s an interesting place to visit, but arguably it’s the journey over here that’s the main attraction. First, make your way down to the river ghat, then cross the river on a small wooden ferry (Tk 2). You’ll be greeted at the other side by a strange-looking vehicle called a nazaman, a motorised rickshaw-cum-tractor, which is powered by an old boat engine and which shuttles people the remaining 10km to Kuthibari (per person Tk 20; 45 minutes), through picturesque farmland and numerous small villages. It’s a fun half-day trip.
There are a few snack stalls outside the entrance to the house, where you can grab lunch, but bringing a picnic to eat in the grounds isn’t a bad idea.
A rickshaw from Hotel River View to the river ghat costs Tk 10 to Tk 20. To walk, turn left out of the hotel and walk along NS Rd (Kushtia’s main drag) for about 1.5km, passing the easy-to-notice Lovely Shopping Centre on your left. About 200m later turn left down a lane that leads straight to the river.
