Bodhi Tree-- A Boutique Guest House in Kolkata

I came across this guest house on the net and was immediately floored. I was looking for some serviced apartments in Kolkata when I found this boutique guest house and serviced apartment. The place is so aesthetically done, it will immediately attract many guests with discerning taste. The price is also not that high compared to the tasteful decor, relaxing ambience and the central location.You can admire the art and artefacts, browse books under the trees in the garden, surf the net and relish home-cooked food at Bodhi Tree. And do check out the special offers for women mentioned below.

Kalchakra Garden View Room

 

Bodhi Master Suite

Bodhi Master Suite

Vajrayana Guestroom

Yogacara Cottage

Decorated with strong Buddhist and Tibetan accents, synthesised with dark and carved wooden furniture, Bodhi Tree is an eclectic mix of  B&B, Serviced Apartment, Guest House, Inn and a Boutique Hotel. Located close to Rabindra Sarovar Metro Station, the place has been designed by the owners Santasree Chaudhuri and her son Devdan Chaudhuri themselves. Santasree is an Entrepreneur (Logistics Management Consultant)  and an Activist, with a keen interest in spirituality, travel and social work.

Common Space-- cafe, library, garden, art gallery

Mahayana Guestroom Suite

Tantrayana Guestroom

Kalchakra Garden View Room

Bodhi Master Suite

  Charges:

Yogacara Cottage --INR 2200/- per night ( inclusive of taxes, breakfast for 2 & Wi – fi ) -- a smaller room : only suitable for single matured adult or two young adults. 
Kalchakra Garden View-- INR 3000/- per night ( inclusive of taxes, breakfast for 2 & Wi – fi ) 
Tantrayana Guestroom-- INR 4000/- per night ( inclusive of taxes, breakfast for 2 & Wi – fi )
Mahayana Guestroom Suite-- INR 4000/-per night ( inclusive of taxes, breakfast for 2 & Wi – fi )
Vajrayana Guestroom Suite -- INR 4500/- per night ( inclusive of taxes, breakfast for 2 & Wi – fi )
 Bodhi Master Suite (2 Bedroom) -- INR 8000/- per night (inclusive of taxes, breakfast for 4 & Wi – fi) 

For women travellers, Bodhi Tree has some special rates and privileges under Wewomyn Purple Privilege-- especially travelling alone/group with children and women visiting Kolkata for voluntary/social work. One of the motivations for Santasree to start Bodhi Tree was to provide safe and secured accomodation to women travellers from all over the globe. But men are equally welcome.

With a mission to empower women, she provides holistic legal advise to victims of domestic violence and gender discrimination.

Connect  with Bodhi Tree on Facebook

Bring in Peace and Tranquility with Buddha

Avalokitesvara Bodhisattva statue at Cintamanicakra Avalokitesvara Hall, Singapore

My earlier post Buddha at Home has become so popular that it has prompted me to do another post on decorating with Buddha statues.Buddha is associated with peace,tranquility, harmony, wisdom and balance.Do you know that Buddha statues are found in sitting, dancing, standing or reclining postures and each has a special significance?

Buddha under Bodhi tree

Also referred to as an asana, there are over 100 poses illustrating the life of the Buddha. And each posture has a specific hand gesture, called a mudra. In that sense, Buddhism and Hinduism share a common Indian heritage as mudras of  Hindu Gods and Goddesses also have significant meanings.

The five most common mudras are the Abhaya Mudra or no-fear mudra (right hand raised and palm facing out, with the left hand down toward the hips and also facing out) an assurance of safety or protection, peace, benevolence and dispelling of fear; the Bhumisparsha mudra (all five fingers of the right hand reaching to touch the ground) symbolizing the enlightenment of the Buddha under the Bodhi tree and represents the central moment in the life of Buddha when he preached his first sermon after his Enlightenment; the Dhyana mudra (one or both hands in the lap) symbolizing meditating;  the Dharmachakra mudra (the thumb and index finger of both hands touch at their tips to form a circle) symbolizing the Wheel of Dharma and the Varada mudra (making a fist with the right hand, index extending upward, and the left hand also making a fist and enclosing the index) signifies offering, welcome, charity, giving, compassion and sincerity.

Reclining Buddha

The reclining Buddha signifies tranquility and absolute detachment from the desires of the world, a state obtained on the attainment of Nirvana. This serene and composed posture signifies his last hours before leaving this world and also represents complete peace and detachment from the worldly things.

Buddhist altar in a Thai house

 A serene glass Buddha

Tranquil Buddha

A Thai Buddha statue

Buddha among nature

Buddha on the study table

Zen-style bathroom

Buddha

Antique Thai Buddha

A Buddha statue on each window

Buddha on a console

On a side table in the living room

Buddha on side table: femalenetwork.com

Five matching Buddhas

Buddha bust

Lladro: Wisdom of Buddha

An ornamental Buddha in a hotel

 

Buddha amidst lamps and flowers

Buddha in a corner

Paris meets Asian chic

Buddha on Vignette

Buddha in Study Room

All three above: sabaidesigngallery

Make a bold statement with an oversized Buddha

Standing Buddha

Buddha in courtyard

Amidst foliage

Buddha wall hanging

Buddha in nursery

Serene bedroom

Eclectic arrangement

In a meditating pose

Feng Shui Bedroom

Life-size

Silkscreen Buddha images

Buddha statues with other figurines

Buddha in a Himalayan Resort

Silver Buddha statue

Wall Mural

Buddha on a round table

Buddha on console

Buddha Incense stick holder    

An eclectic mix

Buddha in a living room

Buddha in a black-n-white room

Buddha in bedroom: styleathome

Courtesy: examiner.com

Buddha in bathroom: blueporch.com

Shakyamuni Buddha Statue

So bring a buddha statue home. Whatever is your decor style, the benevolent Buddha will look at home in any space. Be it an oversized piece or an intricately carved small one, Buddha statues will bring in peace, happiness and wisdom into your home. Decorate your coffee table, side table, consoles, vignettes, garden, foyer, study-- wherever you want. There is a Buddha statue waiting to grace your home right now.

Buddha is venerated in many countries, so follow some rules while decorating:

• Buddha statues should be placed on a raised platform so that it does not come contact with your feet  and should be set in a respectful manner.
• Do not associate the Buddha statue with anything unclean. If you are looking to place a Buddha statue in the garden, find a clean and beautiful place to rest it.
• Buddha should not be placed under any other tree other than the Bodhi tree. That’s where Gautama Buddha had attained Nirvana or enlightenment.
• If broken or damaged, do not throw off your Buddha statue carelessly; leave it under a Bodhi tree.