Hooghly, one of the heritage sites of Bengal still stands as the insignia of Dutch and French invasion amidst its archaeological wonders and historical relics.
Hoogly is one of the most famous heritage sites of Bengal. Dutch and French have left their mark as historical relics in Chinsurah, and Chandannagar respectively, which even a casual onlooker even can`t miss. Traces of the Germans and the Austrians can also be found at Bhadreswar. The Portuguese settled here in 1537, but were routed out by Shah Jahan, the Mughal emperor, in 1632. The
British East India Company also established a factory here in 1651.
There are many places of historical interest in the district of Hoogly. Antpur, Bansberia, Bandel, Chandernagore, Kamarpukur, Jairambati, Tarakeswar, Serampur, Mahesh are to name a few.
Antpur, only 62 km away from Calcutta, has a plethora of temples, built mostly by Krishnaram Mitra, a local zamindar during the 18th century.
Bandel bears the mark of the Portuguese settlement through the Church and the Monastery. The name Bandel came from the Bengali word "bandar" which means, "port". Bandel, appears to have been the port of Hooghly at the time of Portuguese and Mughals. It is about 2 km away from the station `Bandel`. The church has a small organ, three altars & several tombstones. In the middle of the church there is the statue of "One lady of Happy Voyage". As the centre of attraction it stands a ship`s mast In front of the Church which was presented by the captain of a vessel which had encountered a storm in Bay of Bengal and save by the grace of Virgin.
Bansberia is known for the temples of Ananta Vasudeva and Hanseswari.
Chandan nagar was once a French colony. It is a beautifully laid out town on the bank of the river Hooghly and is only 37 km away from Calcutta. The churches, the convent and the residence of the French Administrator along the strand are interesting buildings left by the French.
Tarakeswar is a renowned place of pilgrimage and the greatest centre of the Shaiva sect in West Bengal. The Tarakeswar Temple is a famous Shiva temple of the 18th century, located near Serampore. Only 58 km away from Calcutta, the place can be reached easily by train. People from all over the world come here to worship the Lord Shiva, in the form of Tarakeshwar.
Chinsurah was a Dutch settlement from 1656 to 1825. Fort Gustavus, a church, three barracks and many old tombs are the testimony of the bygone days.
Serampur was the hub of missionary activity from 1793 to 1834. Important newspapers in the pre-independence era came out of the place. It holds an essential place in Bengal`s history. It was a Danish settlement till East India Company took over in 1845.
Hooghly has a main rail and road connection. Train services are available from Kolkata (Howrah and Sealdah Stn.) to Hoogly.
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