Shantipur & Phulia
শান্তিপুর ও ফুলিয়া
Nadia district · Kolkata & Around
The handloom towns of the tant sari.
About Shantipur & Phulia
Shantipur has woven fine cotton saris for centuries, and Phulia next door became a weaving centre after Partition, when weavers from Tangail settled there. Looms clack in almost every lane. Shantipur is also an old Vaishnav town, known for its Raas festival and old temples, and Phulia is the birthplace of Krittibas Ojha, who wrote the Ramayana in Bengali.
Highlights
- Handloom weavers at work in Phulia
- Buying tant saris from the co-operatives
- Shantipur’s old temples and the Topkhana mosque
- The Raas festival in November
Plan your trip
- Best time
- October to March.
- How to reach
- Shantipur and Phulia are stations on the Sealdah to Shantipur line, about 2 to 2.5 hours.
- Suggested stay
- Day trip
- Distance from Kolkata
- About 95 km by road
- Travel time
- 2 to 2.5 hours by train
- Nearest railway station
- Phulia or Shantipur
- Budget
- Budget
- Culture
- Handloom weaving of tant saris.
- Travel responsibly
- Buy from weavers’ co-operatives so the money reaches the loom.
Tip
Ask before entering a weaver’s home workshop, and buy directly from the co-operative shops.
Nearby and related destinations
- Krishnanagar: Clay dolls, a royal town and sarpuria. (about 110 km from Kolkata, nearest station Krishnanagar City Junction)
- Ambika Kalna: The temple city of the Bardhaman kings. (about 85 km from Kolkata, nearest station Ambika Kalna)
- Mayapur & Nabadwip: The birthplace of Chaitanya Mahaprabhu. (about 130 km from Kolkata, nearest station Nabadwip Dham or Krishnanagar City)
- Kolkata: The City of Joy: colonial grandeur, adda, books and food.
Part of these guides
Distances and travel times are approximate road figures from central Kolkata. Check timings, permits and road conditions before you travel.