Garh Salboni

The sound of silence

Can silence produce any sound? And too of joy? Perhaps, it can if the place is Salboni Retreat which is far, far away, not locationally but environmentally, from the din and bustle of the city named Kolkata. This unique Retreat is located at Garh Salboni near Jhargram in Midnapur District, of West Bengal.

The distance? Oh! Only 165 kms from Calcutta and about 10 kms. from Jhargram Railway Station. Easily negotiable both by road and railway. It takes little more than two hours to reach Jhargram Railway. Station from Howrah by Ispat Express. Another 15 minutes at best to reach the destination by autorickshaw or jeep. Hopefully, the Retreat has its own arrangements for picking-up the guests from the Jhargram Rly. Station by jeep, of course, at a price.

Alternatively, one can drive down 170 kms. from Kolkata through Bombay Road (NH-6) and then take a right turn at Lodhasuli for further drive down to 5 kms to reach the destination. One can even reach there by Jhargram bound express bus from Howrah.

As the name suggests, the locality is abounding in sal trees, a precious gift of nature. And right here stands the garden house - "Maharaja Uddyanbati" which is in reality a little over 13 acres (40 bighas) of natural forest abound with sal, pial, segun & mahua trees, interspersed with plenty of mango, guava, custard-apple, cashew plantations & medicinal plants.

The garden house amidst the jungle has been turned into a reclusive shelter which affectionately beckons those who almost die for a temporary break from the suffocation and monotony of city life.

And it is most appropriately rechristened as Salboni Retreat. Interestingly, it has not only a beautiful backdrop of natural ambience but also a rich heritage.

The place of Salboni had been originally owned by Raja Narasingha Malla Dev, the Zamindar of Jhargram. He later sold off this place to a community of Europeans, mainly British, belonging to the then civil service. The present Salboni Retreat belonged to Cutts & Gordon who started the settlement of the British Community.

The main house was built in 1926, and the original property included a private church, the building of which still stands there but not the church. In July 1948 the property was sold to Kathleenen Ellenor Lusby - "by race European British subject." In 1952, the property was purchased by the present owners.

What has made this Retreat a unique one is its humble appearance coupled with all the necessary modern amenities save and except the complete absence of any electronic media lest it breach the golden silence. This Resort has only 5 well-furnished airy rooms with attached bath and reminds one why it is said - small is beautiful.

Every effort is taken to ensure the peace and tranquility of the natural surrounding is not disturbed. Guests are awoken up every morning to the singing of hundreds of birds. One may enjoy taking a long walk along the pebbled roads winding through the foot of trees, or just sit back and watch the birds as well as listen the murmurs of the wavering leaves.

After breakfast, one may go out for sightseeing. There is plenty to see around Garh Salboni, as for example, horticultural garden, small zoo, textile printing works of Printex on walking distance, Kanakdurga Temple on the bank of beautiful Dulung river in Chikligarhl at a distance of 22 kms. from the Retreat. Come back tired and enjoy delicious homely food to the taste of the individual guests. Water from a deep spring well nearby, no doubt, helps whet the appetite.

In the evening, one may feel the peace when the darkness slowly engulfs the world around. One may also get the pleasure of lying on a 'Khatia' and feel the joy of observing the starlit sky above. It is the place where one can obtain the rarest opportunity to feel the invaluable beauty of the sound of silence.