Chinsurah is the main town in the Hooghly district of West Bengal, India. Commonly known as “Chuchro”. Between the 17th to 19th centuries, Chinsurah was the most prosperous trading post of the Dutch East India Company. This historic Dutch city on the banks of The Ganges is a great destination for weekend getaways.
As Chinsurah is a very old historical town so you can see the alleys and the antiquated houses frequently on the street. Although most of the old houses have been demolished and become flats or shopping mall or cafe. Near to the Chinsurah ferry ghat, there are District Jazz's bungalow, Circuit House, Chinsurah Court-longest in the world, Hooghly Mohsin College - these are not tourist spots but worth to see those old architectural buildings. It would be nice to sit on the banks of the Ganges and watch the sunrise and sunset.
How to go to Chinsurah?
The nearest airport is Netaji Subhas Chandra Bose International Airport. Chinsurah is 55Km from Kolkata. If you come from Kolkata via Delhi Road, it will take about two hours.
If you will travel by local train then from Howrah station, you need to take Bandel Local or Burdwan Local or Katwa local (Howrah to Chinsurah ticket cost Rs.10 per head) on Main Line and you can directly get down at Chinsurah Station. Or take any train from Sealdah station to Naihati Jn station (Rs.10 per head). From Naihati Jn station to Naihati ferry ghat is 5 to 7minutes walking distance. Also, many rickshaws (Rs.20 for the ride you must bargain if they ask more) are available if you do not want to walk. Then enjoy the beautiful ferry ride (Rs.6 per head) through the Ganga river to reach Chinsurah. From Naihati station there is also a few direct trains to Bandel, You can get down at Hooghly ghat station to reach Chinsurah. But these trains are not much frequent. But this train journey is also enjoyable as the train will cross the Ganga river through Sampriti bridge which was built in 2016, Inspired by the Sydney Harbour Bridge, in Australia.
Jubilee Bridge- One of the oldest railway bridges in India. In the year 1887, the jubilee year of the reign of Queen Victoria, the bridge was opened by Lord Dufferin, the Viceroy and Governor-General of India. This bridge stands within a kilometer of the oldest Portuguese Bandel Church of Eastern India and only two hundred meters from the classic Imambara. Jubilee bridge served the people for 129 years by connecting Garifa railway station and Hooghly Ghat railway station. Since 2016 Sampriti bridge which is constructed just beside the Jubilee Bridge, is serving the Indian railways.
Bandel Church - Bandel Church is one of the oldest churches in India founded in 1599. Once The Mughal emperor Shah Jahan had a feud with the Portuguese and he suppressed the Portuguese by sending a large army but he was kind enough and gave a huge plot of land on the banks of the Ganges to the Portuguese merchants to build a church. Today's Bandel Church stands on that land. This church is also known as the Basilica of the Holy Rosary.
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| Bandel church inside |
Chinsurah Armenian Church (Armenian Church of the John, The Baptist) - Chinsurah Armenian Church is the oldest Armenian church in India and the second oldest Christian shrine in Bengal after Bandel Church. This church was built between 1695 to1697.
Armenians had a very good relationship with the Indians since ancient times, long before the Europeans came to this country. The British realized that in order to trade successfully in this country, they need a collaborator and the Armenians were perfect for that. However, not only the British but the Armenians also had a very good relationship with the Dutch, French, and other Europeans who traded in the country. In 1697 The second church of Bengal - the Armenian Church of the John, the Baptist, was built at Armenitola in Chinsurah.
Imambara - Chunchura Imambara is a must-see place. It was constructed by Haji Muhammad Mohsin in 1861. It is a Shia Muslim congregation hall and mosque. The mosque has intricate designs and texts from the holy Quran engraved on the wall. The interior of the mosque is decorated with marbles, candles, and hanging lanterns. Imambara is famous for its vaunted clock. Now Imambara has been declared a world heritage site.
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| Imambara |
The clock tower(Ghorir more) -This place is the heart of Chinsurah. In 1914 in memory of Governor Edward VII, this clock was installed. Albert Edward (King Edward VII) was the eldest son of Queen Victoria and Albert of Saxe-Coburg-Gotha. He reigned Britain and its dominions from 22 January 1901 – 6 May 1910. A statue of freedom fighter Bhupati Majumdar (1890-1973 who was a close aide of Bagha Jatin) was installed in front of the clock tower.
Chinsurah Dutch cemetery- Chinsurah Dutch cemetery was built by the Dutch governor Louise Taillefert in 1743. Though it is called a Dutch cemetery, the people buried here include Dutch and British both and it was active during the 18th - 19th centuries. The oldest tomb in this cemetery belongs to Sir Cornelius Jonge who died in 1743 and the last recorded burial was for Emma Draper in 1887. Also, the tallest tomb belongs to Pieter Brueys who was the first husband of Susanna Anna Maria and was buried here. Chinsurah Dutch cemetery has been declared as a World heritage site.
Sandeshwar Shiva Temple(History of Sandeshwartala Shiv Mondir)- This five hundred years old Shiva temple beside the Ganga river, is definitely a must-visit place in Chinsurah. There are also other temples in the precincts of Shandeshwar temple. Siddheshwari Kali temple, Radhakrishna's Bankubihari temple, Yogadya Durga temple, two Jagannath temples, one Suryadev temple. Each temple has a different significance in terms of antiquity.
Dayamoyee Kali Mandir- This temple is situated at Netaji Subhash Road, Kharobazar in Chunchura. This is one of the oldest Kali temples in Chinsurah since the time of King Akbar. King Akbar’s revenue secretary Todarmal kept the Chinsurah region under the care of Jagirdar Jiten Roy. Shakta Jiten was a devotee of Goddess Kalika and he established this temple.
There is also four Shiva temple in the temple premises.
Vandemataram Bhavan Joraghat ( House of Rishi Bankim Chandra Chattopadhyay): Vande Mataram Bhawan at joraghat in Chinsurah is a must-visit place. This more than 200 years old house is famous because famous novelist Rishi Bankim Chandra Chattopadhyay used to stay here. During his stay in this house, he composed our national song "Vandemataram". He also wrote Krishnakanter will and Rajani while staying in this house.
Parshwanath Jain temple Chinsurah jugipara: Jogipada Digambar Jain Temple' of Parshwanath Lane is not a famous tourist attraction for all but the history lovers will be definitely interested to see the mulnayak Idol of Parshwanath which is around 400 years old. This temple was constructed in the early eighteenth century. Mahavir Jayanti and Anant Chaturdashi are well celebrated here.
Private Guesthouse is available on special request and permission which can be taken from Kolkata main office (details can be provided on request).
Motijhil Masjid (Nawab Nasratullah Khan & Ber Alif Khan Mosque): Nawab Nasratullah Khan was an aristocratic zamindar of the Chinsurah. To the north-west of the city center, behind the present Chunchura bus stand and the concrete jungle of the adjoining market, stands a silent relic of his 181-year-old Indo-Persian architecture - the Ber Alif Khan Mosque( Motijheel Mosque). The plaque of the mosque is written in Persian. This Mosque is was built in the year 1834 (First Ramadan) by Nabab Nasratullah Khan in the name of his father Nabab Alif Khan. It is the only Shia mosque in this region. The mosque resembles Holy Kaaba in Mecca.
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| Ghorir more (the clock tower) |
Chinsurah Dutch cemetery- Chinsurah Dutch cemetery was built by the Dutch governor Louise Taillefert in 1743. Though it is called a Dutch cemetery, the people buried here include Dutch and British both and it was active during the 18th - 19th centuries. The oldest tomb in this cemetery belongs to Sir Cornelius Jonge who died in 1743 and the last recorded burial was for Emma Draper in 1887. Also, the tallest tomb belongs to Pieter Brueys who was the first husband of Susanna Anna Maria and was buried here. Chinsurah Dutch cemetery has been declared as a World heritage site.
The cemetery is currently under the Archeological Survey of India, also the details of the people buried here are documented and maintained by an Indo Dutch initiative.
Susana Anna Maria’s tomb- Just before entering Chunchura from Chandannagar along with the GT Road, behind the trees on the right side of the road, the Susanna Anna-Maria Memorial stands as a witness to a mysterious chapter in history and folklore. As per locals, some people say "Sat Bibi's grave", while others say "Sat Saheb's Bibi Gore"(Tomb of the wife of seven gentlemen). Near Khadina more Susana Anna Maria's tomb is a must-visit place in Chinsurah.
Sandeshwar Shiva Temple(History of Sandeshwartala Shiv Mondir)- This five hundred years old Shiva temple beside the Ganga river, is definitely a must-visit place in Chinsurah. There are also other temples in the precincts of Shandeshwar temple. Siddheshwari Kali temple, Radhakrishna's Bankubihari temple, Yogadya Durga temple, two Jagannath temples, one Suryadev temple. Each temple has a different significance in terms of antiquity.
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| Shandeshwar shiva temple |
Dayamoyee Kali Mandir- This temple is situated at Netaji Subhash Road, Kharobazar in Chunchura. This is one of the oldest Kali temples in Chinsurah since the time of King Akbar. King Akbar’s revenue secretary Todarmal kept the Chinsurah region under the care of Jagirdar Jiten Roy. Shakta Jiten was a devotee of Goddess Kalika and he established this temple.
There is also four Shiva temple in the temple premises.
Vandemataram Bhavan Joraghat ( House of Rishi Bankim Chandra Chattopadhyay): Vande Mataram Bhawan at joraghat in Chinsurah is a must-visit place. This more than 200 years old house is famous because famous novelist Rishi Bankim Chandra Chattopadhyay used to stay here. During his stay in this house, he composed our national song "Vandemataram". He also wrote Krishnakanter will and Rajani while staying in this house.
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| Vandemataram bhaban (House of Rishi Bankim Chandra) |
Private Guesthouse is available on special request and permission which can be taken from Kolkata main office (details can be provided on request).
Motijhil Masjid (Nawab Nasratullah Khan & Ber Alif Khan Mosque): Nawab Nasratullah Khan was an aristocratic zamindar of the Chinsurah. To the north-west of the city center, behind the present Chunchura bus stand and the concrete jungle of the adjoining market, stands a silent relic of his 181-year-old Indo-Persian architecture - the Ber Alif Khan Mosque( Motijheel Mosque). The plaque of the mosque is written in Persian. This Mosque is was built in the year 1834 (First Ramadan) by Nabab Nasratullah Khan in the name of his father Nabab Alif Khan. It is the only Shia mosque in this region. The mosque resembles Holy Kaaba in Mecca.
Feel free to contact us for any guided tours in Chinsurah Hooghly.
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