<p>As you stroll down the strand at Chandannagar, larger than life mansions and other architectural beauties with a strong French influence catch your attention. This little town with its magnificent buildings and boulevards that have stood the test of time, is Bengal's French secret. </p>.<p>The Danes, the French, the Dutch, and the British have left their mark on India. One such town is Chandannagar or Chandernagore on the banks of the river Hooghly. </p>.<p>Located about 35 kilometres north of Kolkata stands this former French colony that was established in 1673 for trade purposes; it remained a French colony till 1951. It makes for an interesting day trip from Kolkata with its gorgeous mansions, heritage architecture, and museums located along a promenade by the banks of the Ganges.</p>.<p>The Chandannagar Strand happens to be the hub of the town. This prominent tourist spot stretches for almost a kilometre, and all along, there are benches where people sit and catch up with friends over a cup of chai. </p>.<p>At the mid-point of the strand stands the Durgacharan Rakshit Ghat, built in 1920. Nearby is a gate constructed in 1937 that has the French Revolution slogan "liberté, égalité, fraternité" (liberty, equality and fraternity) etched on it. </p>.<p>Among the other notable buildings on the strand is the Dupleix Palace, which houses some rare artefacts. Now converted into a museum, it also houses a French-language school. </p>.<p>A few steps ahead is a distinct red building—the French Fort, now a court. And almost 50 metres from there is the Sacred Heart of Jesus Church. Photography is prohibited here, but this two-storeyed edifice has beautiful stained glass windows and coloured relief panels describing Christ's journey with the cross. There's a statue of St. Peter with a rooster at the entrance. </p>.<p>Scattered across the city are various other architectural marvels. </p>.<p>Neline and Ujjal Mondal's "Mondal Bari" is a 300-year-old stately house almost in ruin now. Neline, from Belgium, came to India to complete a project and never went back, getting married to one of the sons from the Mondal family. </p>.<p>The house has 85 rooms, out of which only a few are in use. The house is a treasure of artefacts like a huge Belgian glass mirror brought via the water route from Belgium. There's 18th-century wooden furniture and fine paintings on the bedroom walls of the house.</p>.<p><strong>Distance from Kolkata: </strong>45 km</p>.<p><strong>How to reach (from Kolkata):</strong> Regular local trains like the Howrah-Bandel local and the Howrah-Burdwan local take you to Chandernnagar. Take the GT Road after crossing Vivekananda Setu in Bally if you are travelling by road.</p>.<p><strong>Watch the latest DH Videos here:</strong></p>
<p>As you stroll down the strand at Chandannagar, larger than life mansions and other architectural beauties with a strong French influence catch your attention. This little town with its magnificent buildings and boulevards that have stood the test of time, is Bengal's French secret. </p>.<p>The Danes, the French, the Dutch, and the British have left their mark on India. One such town is Chandannagar or Chandernagore on the banks of the river Hooghly. </p>.<p>Located about 35 kilometres north of Kolkata stands this former French colony that was established in 1673 for trade purposes; it remained a French colony till 1951. It makes for an interesting day trip from Kolkata with its gorgeous mansions, heritage architecture, and museums located along a promenade by the banks of the Ganges.</p>.<p>The Chandannagar Strand happens to be the hub of the town. This prominent tourist spot stretches for almost a kilometre, and all along, there are benches where people sit and catch up with friends over a cup of chai. </p>.<p>At the mid-point of the strand stands the Durgacharan Rakshit Ghat, built in 1920. Nearby is a gate constructed in 1937 that has the French Revolution slogan "liberté, égalité, fraternité" (liberty, equality and fraternity) etched on it. </p>.<p>Among the other notable buildings on the strand is the Dupleix Palace, which houses some rare artefacts. Now converted into a museum, it also houses a French-language school. </p>.<p>A few steps ahead is a distinct red building—the French Fort, now a court. And almost 50 metres from there is the Sacred Heart of Jesus Church. Photography is prohibited here, but this two-storeyed edifice has beautiful stained glass windows and coloured relief panels describing Christ's journey with the cross. There's a statue of St. Peter with a rooster at the entrance. </p>.<p>Scattered across the city are various other architectural marvels. </p>.<p>Neline and Ujjal Mondal's "Mondal Bari" is a 300-year-old stately house almost in ruin now. Neline, from Belgium, came to India to complete a project and never went back, getting married to one of the sons from the Mondal family. </p>.<p>The house has 85 rooms, out of which only a few are in use. The house is a treasure of artefacts like a huge Belgian glass mirror brought via the water route from Belgium. There's 18th-century wooden furniture and fine paintings on the bedroom walls of the house.</p>.<p><strong>Distance from Kolkata: </strong>45 km</p>.<p><strong>How to reach (from Kolkata):</strong> Regular local trains like the Howrah-Bandel local and the Howrah-Burdwan local take you to Chandernnagar. Take the GT Road after crossing Vivekananda Setu in Bally if you are travelling by road.</p>.<p><strong>Watch the latest DH Videos here:</strong></p>
