Chandannagar Strand

The western suburbs of Kolkata have grown linearly along the left bank of the river Hooghly, the Bandel - Howrah railway track and the GT Road. Many of these suburbs were established by colonial powers as trading ports. The rise of Kolkata overshadowed and stunted their development. The region is home to many industries. Some of the important western suburbs include Serampore, Chunchura (also referred to as Chinsurah and Hooghly), and Chandannagar. Uttarpara, Konnagar, Rishra, Bhadreswar and Dankuni are other suburban towns.

Serampore College

Serampore or Srirampur was a Danish settlement from 1699 to 1845. As a trading center it was not much of a success, but as a cultural center its contribution is immense. Sir William Carey established a printing press here and the first vernacular Bengali language newspaper was published from here. He also established the Serampore College in 1819. In 1827 it was incorporated as the first modern university in Asia. Near Serampore is Mahesh, which is famous for the Ratha Yatra of Lord Jagannath. Bhadreswar is another suburb north of Serampore. It was a trade center of the Prussians.

Institut de Chandernagore

Further north along the Howrah Bandel railway track is Chandannagar. A former French colony, it is a pleasant town on the banks of the Hooghly river. It was established by the French in 1673. Chandannagar wasn't bypassed by the Anglo French rivalry but the French finally gained control in the year 1815. Chandannagar was a favorite refuge for Indian revolutionaries wanted by the British administration. One of the most famous revolutionaries who sought shelter here was Aurobindo Ghosh who later became one of India's most famous philosophers. The town became a part of the state of West Bengal in 1952. Its Strand by the Hooghly river is beautiful. The entrance to Chandannagar is marked by a gate bearing the motto of the French Republic - Liberte, Egalite, Fraternite. The Institut de Chandernagore houses a small museum. Chandannagar is also famous for the Jagaddhatri Puja festival. The decorative illuminations during this festival are well known.

Circuit House, Chunchura

Chunchura - Hooghly was founded in 1537 by the Portuguese while Chinsura / Chunchura was the site of a Dutch factory built in 1656. In 1825, they handed over Chinsura to the English, in exchange for the British held island of Sumatra in Indonesia. Amongst the well known landmarks of the colonial era is the Dutch cemetery. The Hooghly Imambara, the nearby Hanseshwari Temple and the Bandel Church (originally built by the Portuguese) are other attractions. Bandel also has a thermal power station.