Niribili Homestay

21/05/2025

An Open Letter to the Forest Minister: Protecting Jhargram’s Elephants and Our Shared Landscape

For generations, the orchards and bungalow we call Niribili have been more than a retreat for my family — they have been a place of deep belonging, where human life has coexisted quietly with the forests and the wildlife they shelter. My late father, Ranajay Gupta, devoted many years to fostering awareness among local villagers about the importance of peaceful relations with the elephants that pass through our land. We have always believed that Jhargram’s strength lies in its balance — in its quiet dialogue between people and the wild.

But in recent months, that balance has come under threat.

Large, thrill-seeking crowds now descend when elephants appear — surrounding them, shouting, throwing stones, and cutting off their movement. In some troubling instances, this behaviour appears not entirely spontaneous, but perhaps driven by ulterior motives: to provoke conflict, discredit conservation efforts, or manufacture crisis. Some media reports have echoed this distortion, falsely suggesting a rise in man-animal conflict, even as official figures indicate the opposite.

This continuous provocation is not only endangering the elephants, but unsettling local residents — pushing the animals closer to habitation and increasing the risk of unintended conflict and crop damage.

I’ve written this open letter to the Honourable Forest Minister, Smt. Birbaha Hansda — who herself hails from this region — in the hope that with sensitive and timely leadership, we may preserve what makes Jhargram so extraordinary.

The letter outlines a few grounded proposals—like strengthening forest department response, improving awareness among visitors, and considering micro habitats for safer movement of elephants.

This is a moment that could go one of two ways: either toward undoing years of careful coexistence fostered by the local community and Forest Department — or toward becoming a national model of conservation and harmony.

📎 Read the full letter here:
https://medium.com//an-open-letter-to-the-forest-minister-protecting-jhargrams-elephants-and-our-shared-heritage-110aa08383a6

If this matters to you, please read, share, and help amplify this issue — before more damage is done.

Forest Department, Government of West Bengal Birbaha Hansda Anandabazar Patrika The Telegraph EiSamay - এইসময় Down to Earth WWF-India Greenpeace India Suman Chattopadhyay Aranya Kuheli



https://medium.com//an-open-letter-to-the-forest-minister-protecting-jhargrams-elephants-and-our-shared-heritage-110aa08383a6

A Citizen’s Urgent Appeal

09/10/2023

At Niribili

25/04/2023

Built in 1438–1469 (written in Odia inscription) during the rule of Suryavamsa king of Odisha Gajapati Kapilendra Deva, Kurumbera Fort also has structures built during Aurangazeb's period by Mohammed Tahir.
In 1568, the Afghan Sultanate of Bengal and Bihar invaded Odisha which included the undivided Midnapore district of West Bengal. Later, Mughals occupied Odisha after defeating the Afghans of Bengal in the Battle of Tukaroi in 1575. They divided Odisha Subah into five Sarkars and this part was included in the Jalesar Sarkar. The Kurumbera fort and temple complex were attacked and converted to a mosque during the reign of Aurangzeb.

21/10/2022

At Niribili

04/10/2022

For bookings call or whatsapp 7047898850

01/10/2022

Not a hotel, it's a home.

Garh Salboni is an erstwhile settlement of British and Anglo Indian officers and workers from Kharagpur. Once the settlement included many villas and bungalows, churches and schools. Unfortunately most of these structures have withered with the passage of time or have been torn down by undiscerning owners.

Niribili is one of the few surviving villas from that time, built by a Mrs Elizabeth Franz in the early thirties in the then fashionable art deco style.

In the late thirties, the house was bought by the barrister Mr Jogeshchandra Gupta. Jogeshchandra Gupta was an important leader in Bengal Provincial Congress. He added an annexe building to the property.

Niribili then became the vacation home of several generations of the Gupta family.

Today it is home to Mitali Gupta and her two sons Abhijay and Aranya.

The annexe building has been opened to the public as a cosy and serene homestay.

Walk along winding paths through the 100 year old orchard, birds abound. Laze around with a book from our family library, enjoy some delicious homemade food, try our family special lemon drizzle cake, made with fresh lemon from the orchard. Explore ancient temples, palaces and other local attractions. Take a bike ride to a local village.

And if you're lucky, catch a breathtaking glimpse of one of Salboni's resident wild elephants.

Niribili, an experience like no other.

01/10/2022

Not a hotel, it's a home.

Garh Salboni is an erstwhile settlement of British and Anglo Indian officers and workers from Kharagpur. Once the settlement included many villas and bungalows, churches and schools. Unfortunately most of these structures have withered with the passage of time or have been torn down by undiscerning owners.

Niribili is one of the few surviving villas from that time, built by a Mrs Elizabeth Franz in 1936 in the then contemporary art deco style.

In the late thirties, the house was bought by the barrister Mr Jogeshchandra Gupta. Jogeshchandra Gupta was an important leader in Bengal Provincial Congress. He added an annexe building to the property.

Niribili then became the vacation home of several generations of the Gupta family.

Today it is home to Mitali Gupta and her two sons Abhijay and Aranya.

The annexe building has been opened to the public as a cosy and serene homestay.

Walk along winding paths through the 100 year old orchard, birds abound. Laze around with a book from our family library, enjoy some delicious homemade food, try our family special lemon drizzle cake, made with fresh lemon from the orchard. Explore ancient temples, palaces and other local attractions. Take a bike ride to a local village.

And if you're lucky, catch a breathtaking glimpse of one of Salboni's resident wild elephants.

Niribili, an experience like no other.