Holiday in Chandannagar: French Flavour With a Bengali Twist!

About an hour and a half from Kolkata – Chandannagar is a laidback and serene town on the banks of the Ganges. It is beautifully woven with a French flavour while preserving the rich culture and heritage of Bengal. If you are fascinated by history and classical architecture, then you should definitely visit Chandannagar – a straight-out-of-a-postcard city!

A prominent French colony till 1950, Chandannagar started developing as a centre for trade and commerce in India since the 17^th century. Today, this serene town houses famous addresses of erstwhile governor-generals and zamindars, along with renowned temples and churches.

Let’s talk about some of the best places in Chandannagar!

Chandannagar Strand

One of the most jazzed up strips of the Ganges is the Chandannagar Strand. It is a delight for every visitor, dotted with lip-smacking snack corners, meditation centres and canopied with verdant trees. The promenade makes for a lovely walkway during sunsets, with cool breeze blowing through your hair.

Chandannagar Museum

Overlooking the Chandannagar Strand and the Ganges, the Chandannagar Museum is a treasure trove of knowledge providing glimpses of the former French rule. You can look at cannons used during the French wars, delicately crafted wooden paraphernalia of that time, well-preserved letters written by Indian revolutionaries and relics from the Nawab rule.

Oh! The museum also showcases excavated artefacts dating back to the Gupta period in India. Quite an old town, Chandannagar is, for sure!

Patal Bari

Literally translating to “the house under the world”, the Patal Bari actually has its lowest floor submerged under the Ganges, almost down to the riverbed. Interesting, right? Lending a technological depth to the engineering genius of the architects from decades ago, don’t forget to visit this exquisite attraction in Chandannagar. 

#MMTTravellerTrivia: This famous abode was quite popular with two renowned Bengal Renaissance figures – Rabindranath Tagore and Pandit Vidyasagar.

Read More: Vintage Car Rides: An Experience You Can Have Only in Kolkata!

Sacred Heart Church

The Sacred Heart Church in Chandannagar has been standing tall since 1884. With long corridors dotted with confession boxes and stained glass windows depicting Jesus and his followers, this church is not just a stunning sight from the outside, it is equally beautiful from the inside. It is one of the few remaining buildings showcasing the French architecture. A statue of Jesus greets the visitors with the calm ambience, making for a memorable trip here.

Buroshivtala Terracotta Temple

Depicting the famous terracotta work Bengal is known for, the Buroshivtala Terracotta Temple is made up of nine pinnacles with a triple arch entrance generously decorated with terracotta panels. Carve out some time in your itinerary to soak in the architectural grandeur of this structure.

Nandadulal Temple

Constructed as the abode of Lord Krishna, the temple exhibits exquisite terracotta work. While the original deity is not worshipped here anymore, do visit for a slice of Chandanagar’s illustrious past – you can actually make out the cannon marks on the temple , that were fired by Robert Clive when he sieged Chandannagar during the Anglo-French war!

#MMTTravellerTrivia: Legend has it that Clive was after a treasure that is said to be hidden in the temple. Some action that must have been for sure, right?!

Brimming with history and echoing an omni-present French influence, Chandannagar is definitely not Pondicherry. But well-preserved buildings spelling out the golden days of this port-town make for an interesting short-trip, perfect to charge up your senses. Book your tickets now!

#MMTQuickTips:

Nearest airport: Netaji Subhash Chandra Bose International Airport

Nearest railway station: Chandannagar Railway Station

P.S: We can’t talk about Chandannagar and not mention the town’s famous ambassador – Surjya Kumar Modak’s jolbhora! This legendary sweet traces its origins to a royal request made by a zamindar and is known for the lip-smacking taste of rose-water stuffed inside melt-in-mouth sweet balls. Don’t forget to pamper yourself with some of these delights.

Book Your Flight to Kolkata (Nearest Airport)