বাংলায় পড়ুন
Whenever we talk about French colonies, images of quirky little French quarters and charming cafes on the lanes of Pondicherry strikes our mind in the first instance. However, we rarely get long holidays to plan a trip to Pondicherry. Don’t be disappointed because there is a place much closer to home and holds the same charm of the French colonial past.
Chandannagar, a quaint little town which is a former French colony is a 53 km drive from Kolkata. The place is all the more special because of the distinctive retro French vibes mixed with a Bengali twist. According to the history books, Chandannagar was the biggest French colony established on the banks of Hooghly and even today, the colonial buildings are well-maintained and preserved as tourist spots.
The Sacred Heart church is one of the prime attractions of the place. A statue of St.Peter with a rooster is present in the front gate and the interior is spectacularly donned by sparkling red, blue and yellow glass windows.
The next stop is the Indo-French cultural Centre and Museum which is home to the artefacts- maps, statues and models from the colonial era. The famous bright yellow and half-submerged architectural wonder, Patal Bari- that has been mentioned in many pieces of Bengali literature is just opposite to the museum. Do not miss the Peachy Pavilion, a typical European piece of architecture on the Durgacharan Rakshit Ghaat built in 1896 and still standing strong. You can schedule a weekend trip to this place and dig into the popular Jalbhara Sandesh and Motichur Ladoos.
