Rabindranath Tagore's Shantiniketan is now a UNESCO World Heritage Site

UNESCO posted on X: "New inscription on the @UNESCO #WorldHeritage List: Santiniketan, #India. Congratulations!"

Tagore had spent a significant time of his life in Shantiniketan.

The original name of Shantiniketan was Bhubandanga. It was named after the village where it was located.

Maharshi Devendranath Tagore, the father of Rabindranath Tagore, had founded Shantiniktan town.

In 1863, Maharshi Devendranath Tagore purchased a large piece of land in Bhubandanga, which he renamed Santiniketan, meaning “abode of peace, as per the official website of Shantiniketan.

Rabindranath Tagore first visited Shantiniketan in 1878 when he was 17 years old. In 1888, Debendranath dedicated the property to establish a Brahmavidyalaya through a trust deed, the website reported.

In 1901, Rabindranath started a Brahmacharyaashrama, which became known as Patha Bhavana in 1925. In 1913, Rabindranath Tagore won the Nobel Prize in Literature. In 1921, Rabindranath Tagore founded Visva Bharati, which was declared a central university and institute of national importance in 1951, read the website.

Shantiniketan is also a popular tourist destination in West Bengal.

Trinamool Congress MP Abhishek Banerjee tweeted: "An immensely proud moment for all citizens of our great nation and Bengalis around the world. May Bengal forever remain a shining beacon of hope, embracing the teachings and ideals of Rabindranath Tagore."