| Shilaidaha Rabindra Kuthibari | |
|---|---|
| Native name শিলাইদহ রবীন্দ্র কুঠিবাড়ি (Bengali) | |
 Main building of Shilaidaha Rabindra Kuthibari | |
 Interactive map of Shilaidaha Rabindra Kuthibari | |
| Type | Complex |
| Location | Shilaidaha,Kumarkhali Upazila,Kushtia District |
| Nearest city | Kushtia |
| Coordinates | 23°55′11″N89°13′12″E / 23.919641°N 89.219961°E /23.919641; 89.219961 |
| Area | 11 acre |
| Founder | Ramlochan Tagore |
| Built for | Residence |
| Current use | Tourist attraction |
| Owner | Government of Bangladesh |
Shilaidaha Rabindra Kuthibari, in shortShilaidah Kuthibari, is one of the major tourist places inBangladesh. It is located seven kilometers north ofKushtia on the banks ofPadma inKumarkhali Upazila ofKushtia District.
This Kuthi bari was built by an indigo-planter named Shelly which was later owned by Ramlochan Tagore. In 1807,Dwarkanath Tagore got the ownership of this kuthibari with the inheritance of estate. In 1892,[1] due to the erosion of the river caused by the flood, the Kuthibari was likely to disappear, so it was demolished and a new building was constructed elsewhere in the next year. Dwarkanath Tagore's grandsonRabindranath Tagore came toShilaidaha several times to look after the estate. He had the opportunity to stay in this cottage. He wrote many literatures during his stay at Shilaidah Kuthibari. During his stay here in 1912, he began the work of translating theGitanjali into English.[2] During his stay in this building in 1905, he wrote a song which is now thenational anthem of Bangladesh.[3]
Before its acquisition to theGovernment of East Bengal after passing ofEast Bengal State Acquisition and Tenancy Act of 1950, the ownership of this Kuthibari was transferred from the Tagore family to another landlord.[1] In 1958 it came under the Department of Archeology of Pakistan. In 1969, the provincial government planned to preserve it as an archaeological site.[4] Since theindependence of Bangladesh in 1971, it has been under theDepartment of Archeology of Bangladesh.[3] In 2013, then President of India,Pranab Mukherjee visited Shilaidah Kuthibari. He then told the government that he wanted to provide financial assistance to build a complex at the Kuthibari site. After four years, the decision was finalized between the two countries and the construction of the complex was completed by 2020.[5] In 2018, a dam was constructed to protect Shilaidah Rabindra Kuthibari, but a part of it collapsed in the same year. Later in 2022, another part of the dam collapsed.[6]
Shilidaha Kuthibari was built on 11 acre land of the village. This walled building is three storey museum that has 18 rooms with a central hall.[2][1] There are a total of 17 doors for entering and exiting the 18 rooms. The building has a total of 30 windows to let in sunlight.[3] The building has an area of 273.87 square meters. Built inIndo-Saracenic style, this building is 8.71 meters high.[4]
There are two buildings near the gate of Kuthibari. The two buildings are named Gitanjali and Sonar Tori. There is a library, two ponds, a mango orchard, a garden and an auditorium.[7]
In 1986,[8] it became a museum.[2] TheDepartment of Archaeology has preserved at least 80 photographs of Rabindranath Tagore as well as items used by Rabindranath Tagore at Shilaidah Kuthibari.[1]
It is a tourist attraction for Bangladeshi as well as foreign tourists. A three-day event is organized every year on the occasion of Rabindranath Tagore's birth anniversary.[1] In the fiscal year 2017-18, the Bangladeshi government earned৳46 lakh by selling entry tickets to the Kuthibari.[9] However, the government refrained from organizing events here in 2020 and 2021 due to theCOVID-19 pandemic.[10]
The stall of the Department of Archeology set up at the 2022Ekushey Book Fair was modeled after Rabindra Kuthibari.[11]
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