Chandannagore Heritage Trails: Chandannagar Rani Ghat

Today if I shout about Chandannagore (চন্দননগর), everyone would talk about the Jagadhatri Puja (জগদ্ধাত্রী পুজো) and the light decoration, Surya Modak's Jolbhora (সূর্য মোদকের জলভরা) and the Strand. For anytime the city's Strand by the riverside is most loved location in Chandannagore or Chandannagar. 

Well that's not all of Chandannagar - during the British Raj, it was a French Colony till 1st October, 1950 and therefore became the natural sanctuary of many of the Indian revolutionists, most famous is definitely Rishi Aurobindo. Earlier locals call the town as Forashdanga (ফরাসডাঙ্গা) - the land of the French. That's similar to old Danish colony Serampore's old local name - Dinemardanga (দিনেমারডাঙ্গা) - 'দিনেমার' the word was originated from 'Danskere'.

The Strand, the main attraction of the city today, is basically almost 2 km long riverside road. It will remind Pondicherry's promenade for sure. And most prominent colonial buildings are here. 

What to see from the north to south - 

1.1 Rani Ghat & Jetty

The strand, to the north starts with a beautiful, big ghat with 8 big pillars. The ghat was built by the Queen of Bhukailash Rajbari (ভূকৈলাস রাজবাড়ি), Sri Tarasundari Debi (তারাসুন্দরী দেবী) in the  year of 1294, as stated by the plate on the top of the entrance of the ghat. It could be the Bengali year of 1294, which translated into 1987 - that's so recent. That makes me so confused how old the Ghat is. 

Rani Ghat, Chandannagar

Establishment Plate

Rani Ghat, Chandannagar

Further history is not known to me, as why Queen of Bhukailash Rajbari of Kidderpore, Kolkata came to establish a ghat in a French colony. 

In the ghat there is Kali temple too, founded by Jankinath Mukhopadhyay in the year of 1925. That marks a temple of more than 100 years. 

Foundation Plate of Sri Sri Kali Mata Temple, Rani Ghat

Sri Sri Kali Mata at Rani Ghat

There is a spritual center - Shrigangasram - founded by Thakur Sri Sri Sitaramdas Onkarnath Deb on 31st Baishakh of 1380 (15 May 1973). 

Shrigangasram, Rani Ghat

Just beside this ghat, there is the jetty and the ferry ghat. The ferry Ghat connects to Jagaddal (Jagaddal Ferry Ghat) on the opposite eastern bank of the Hooghly River, bridging the Hooghly and North 24 Parganas districts. Previously the floating restaurant - Joloshree was parked in the jetty, now shifted to middle part of the Strand.