Chandannagar

Chandannagar, situated in the Hooghly district, is famous for its historical background and Jagatdhatri Puja. This place had a French colony and one can still get a glimpse of the French influence here. The famous Portuguese folk poet, Anthony Firingee (on whom a few movies have been made) used to live at Chandannagar which was earlier known as Farasdanga meaning land of the French.  

This is ideal for a one day trip as it is not even 50 kms from Kolkata. Trains run at regular intervals from Howrah to Chandannagar (Hwh-Bandel local). The other options are ferries, buses and hired cars via Grand Trunk Road. Autos are available at Chandannagar Railway Station. If you opt for a hired car, rate of an Indigo will be approx INR 14/15 per km or INR 140/150 per hour whereas a Tavera will be approx INR 160 per km or INR 16 per hour whichever is higher.

Chandannagar is also a famous picnic spot with 2-3 amusement parks – New Digha, KMDA and Chuti being the most popular ones.  

The major attractions of Chandannagar are listed below :

1.      Chandannagar Strand
2.      Sacred Heart Church
3.      Patal Bari
4.      Nandadulal Temple
5.      Buro Shivtala Mandir
6.      French Museum & Institute
6.      Nritya Gopal Smriti Mandir
7.      Amusement Parks – New Digha, KMDA, Chuti
8.      Hanseshwari Temple
9.      Bandel Church
10.    Imambara

Chandannagar Strand 

This strand was visited by the world famous kabiguru Rabindranath Tagore. From the Rail station, one can take auto to reach the Strand if one is not travelling by car. This strand has a lofty clock tower and is on the bank of Ganges from where one get a lovely view of the river with boats sailing.

Sacred Heart Church

The Sacred heart Church which is another major attraction is at a walking distance from the Strand. It has twin towers and there is a statue of Jesus in the front. The Church has beautiful stained glasses and the walls are covered with reliefs of Jesus. There is also a confession box which makes the church distinctive. One can also see the remains of the St. Louis Church.

Patal Bari

This building is renowned for its beauty and architecture. What makes this stand apart from other structures is the fact that the lowest floor of this building is sunken in Ganges, hence the name Patal Bari or the Underground House. If you are a Tagore fan, you can find the mention of Patal Bari in many of his novels. This house was visited by famous personalities like Rabindranath Tagore and Iswarchandra Vidyasagar.

Nandadulal Temple

This is another excellent piece of architecture. It is built on a rectangular base and has double sloped roof.

Buroshivtala Mandir

Another major attraction is the Buroshivtala Mandir which  is famous for its Terracotta work. This temple has a giant Shivlinga and looks beautiful with its 9 peaks.

French Museum and Institute

This glorious building was once the house of the French administrator, J.F. Dupleix, which has now been turned into a museum. It has a beautiful collection of French antiques, furniture, cannons, galleries and other items. French language is being taught in the Institute.

If time permits, one can also visit the Nritya Gopal Smriti Mandir, comprising of a library and auditorium.

Hanseshwari Temple

This Kali temple is 25 kms away from Chandannagar and attracts many tourists from far and nearby places. It stands tall at a height of 90 feet and has 13 peaks all resembling lotus bud.

Hanseshwari Temple

The Bandel Church and Imambara can also be visited on your way back to Kolkata.

Write to chaltechalteindia@gmail.com if you have a story to share about Chandannagar or if you are planning a visit, our team will be glad to assist you with a no-obligation itinerary at no cost. 

Digha - the Goa of Bengal

Digha is the one of the most favorite holiday destinations of the people of Kolkata not only for its beautiful sea beach but also because a trip to Digha does not need too much of planning. You can just pack your bags and head to Digha without worrying about hotel and car bookings as there are plenty of hotels catering to both budget and luxury groups. 

For those who are planning overnight, the best option is to go to Esplanade where buses ply frequently starting from 6/7 in the morning taking a little more than 4 hours at a nominal charge of Rs.350/- Other alternatives are trains like Tamralipta Express leaving Howrah at 6.40 a.m. arriving Digha at 10 A.M. or Digha-Duronto departing Howrah at 11.15 A.M. which takes 3 hours or to go by road to enjoy the smooth ride along 2nd Hooghly bridge and Kona Express. You can get a beautiful view of the villages in Bengal with green paddy fields and ponds on both sides. However, it is better to avoid the road during monsoon.

Digha is around 200 kms from Kolkata and will take approximately 4 hours to reach depending on the traffic and your number of halts. This beautiful beach can be visited throughout the year – be it to beat the scorching summer heat, or to enjoy monsoon or to beat the chill, Digha is the place for you. It is ideal not just for honeymooners or couples but also for families and friends. No matter how many times you visit, Digha never loses its charm and would make you long for visiting again.

The sea beach is full of food stalls, jewelries made of pearl and handicrafts. Beautiful ear rings, bracelets, bangles and decorative showpieces made from seashells are also available. Fish lovers would be delighted to know that fried fishes are available all over. You can stroll for hours on the beach or sit on the cement stairs of the river bank or on plastic chairs or benches, enjoy the breeze and gaze at the sea waves. The sunrise and sunset are enchanting. Those who enjoy taking sea baths should keep in mind that the sea of Digha is rough at times and one needs to be careful.

The tourist attractions in Digha are Talsari Beach, Marine Aquarium and Research Centre, Chandaneswar temple, Mohana and the virgin Udaypur Beach. All these places can be covered in half day. Evening should be kept free for the beach.

Shankarpur which is just 15 kms from Digha can be planned on the next day on your way back to Kolkata. However, if you prefer solitude, then you can stay here for a day. Shankarpur is free from the din and bustle of Digha. The sea is mostly calm here and the beach is remote.

You can also add the beautiful virgin beach Mandarmani to your itinerary which is just 30 kms from Digha.

If you are returning by train, again many options are available some of which are Digha- Duronto departing Digha at 3.35 P.M. arriving Howrah at 6.35 P.M. and Kandari Express starting from Digha at 6.20 P.M. reaching Howrah at 9.50 at night. For those who would like to return in the morning, they can take the Tamralipta Express starting at 10.25 A.M. taking 3.5 hours to reach Howrah. 

A trip to Digha/Shankarpur means the check in and check out time in most of the hotels are 12 o’clock and 11 A.M. respectively. So travel plans need to be made accordingly.

Author Profile