“KHOAI HAAT.....Sonajhuri Forests at “SHANTINIKETAN”. Khoai is a geological formation of small canyons resulting from constant erosion caused by wind and water. The Khoai Shantiniketan region in Bolpur is characterised by a patch of dry forest of Sonajhuri (Acacia Auriculiformis) trees on an eroded landscape of red laterite soil. Khoai is at about 165 km away from Kolkata the Mega City of Eastern India & capital of West Bengal well connected from any part of the World.This unique look of the forest was immortalised by Rabindranath Tagore in many of his compositions. The Sonajhuri forest in Khoai is surrounded by the famous Kopai River (Tagore’s Amader Choto Nadi) on one side and Ballavpur Forest and Bonerpukur Adivasi Village on other sides. The Sonajhuri Forest is so to say the cleanest forests you would ever visit, so an early morning forest walks would be a great start for sojourn into the Mother Nature. However, the star attraction of Khoai is the weekly market of Shanibarer Haat (Khoai Boner Annya Haat) held every Saturday, where local artisans sell their creations.Not just the Saturday’s but now a days almost the whole week the local artisans congregate here to sell out their handcrafted items for a livelihood. Things to do at Khoai Shantiniketan: A visit to the Shanibarer Haat (Saturday Weekely Market) is one of the prime attractions of staying at Khoai. The weekly market officially known as “Khoai Boner Annya Haat” is a platform for local artisans and small goods traders to showcase their works & Sarees mainly handloom/Silk with local handcrafted Kanthai stitch & aplic work are quite popular items of sale by the local artisans. The other such items include ethnic jewelry, showpieces, local artworks, garments and even local ethnic Bengalee dishes like pithey and payesh. The Haat starts to gather from around 03:00 pm and ends at around 06:00 pm by the time Sun sets.Apart from the Shonajhuri Haat, the early mornings are really nice for village walks along the tribal villages and the Khoai region. #photobysiba #creativesiba #instagram #streetphotography #travelblogger #travelphotography #itdc #wbtdc #tourism #india #shantiniketan #khoai
