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.