Hugli district General information
Hooghly district is one of the districts of the state of West Bengal in India. It can alternatively be spelt Hoogli or Hugli. The district is named after the Hooghly River.
The headquarters of the district is at Chinsura. There are 4 subdivisions to the district: Chinsura Sadar, Chandannagar, Serampore and Arambag.
History
The district of Hooghly got its name from the town of Hooghly situated on the west bank of Hooghly River about 40 km north of Kolkata. This town was a river port in the fifteenth century. The first European to reach this area was the Portuguese sailor Vasco-da-gama. In 1536 Portuguese traders got a permit from Sultan Mahmud Shah to trade in this area. In those days the Hooghly River was the main way for transportation and Hooghly served as an excellent trading port. Within a few decades the town of Hooghly turned into a major commercial center and the largest port in Bengal. Later in 1579-80 emperor Akbar gave permission to a Portuguese captain Pedro Tavares to establish a city anywhere in the Bengal province. They normally chose Hooghly and thus Hooghly became the first European settlement in Bengal. In 1599 the Portuguese traders built a convent and a church in Bandel. This is the first Christian church in Bengal known as ‘Bandel Church’ today.
Geography
The district is a completely flat land with no place having more than an elevation of 200 meters. The River Hooghly borders it to the east. Another major river is 'Damodar'. The district is bordered by Howrah District to the south, Bardhaman District to the north, and to the east by the River Hooghly. Bankura District lies to the north-west, with Medinipur District to the south-west.
Economy
Hooghly is the one of the most economically developed districts in West Bengal. It is also the main jute cultivation, jute industry, and jute trade hub in the state. There are also a number of industrial complexes including one of the largest car manufacturing plants in India, the 'Hindustan Motors' plant located in Uttarpara. The jute mills are located along the banks of the river Hooghly in Tribeni, Bhadreswar, Champdani and Sreerampur.
Tourist Place
Bandel Church
Bandel, (the name came from the Bengali word "bandar" which means "port") appears to have been the port of Hooghly. at the time of Portuguese and Mughals. The only relies of the Portuguese settlement are the Church(Basilica) and the monastery. It is about 2 kms away from the station 'Bandel'. The present church and monastery are said to be built in 1660 by Gomez de Soto having the key stone of the old church bearing the date 1599 over the eastern gate of the Monastery. In front of the Church stands a ship's mast which was presented by the captain of a vessel which had encountered a storm in Bay of Bengal and save by the grace of Virgin, the center of attraction. There is the statue of" One lady of Happy Voyage" in the middle of the church. The church has three altars, a small organ & several tomb stones.
Imambara
The Imambara building having a masonry revetment is situated on the bank of river Ganges at Chinsurah. The place is nearest to the railway station "Hooghly" on the Howrah Bandel main line and from Hooghly station the rickshaw or auto rickshaw is available to reach the place.The building was started in the year 1841 by Haji Mohammad Mahasin & was completed in the year 1861 at the cost of Rs.2,17,413/- including a clock procured from England at the cost of Rs.11,721/-. The two storied building consisting ranged rooms having a wide entrance of main gate flanked by two nos. of giant towers measuring 80 ft. tall & a massive clock tower in between them. A mosque, the walls of which are decorated by the texts from the Holy Koran and the interior of the mosque is enriched with inlaid marble and careings, candle and lanterns. The mosque is situated at the north side of the building. At the south there is an enclosed compound where the graves of Md. Mohasin & his relatives are present.
Fur Furah Sharif
In Jangipara a Sufi settlement established during Akbar’s reign. A mosque pre-dating the settlement was built by Muqlish Khan in 1375. Now a site for Muslim pilgrimage, especially during the Pir’s Mela every year.
Kamarpukur
Shri Ramkrishna Temple, Kamarpukur, Goghat: The birthplace of Shri Ramkrishna. The temple, built in 1951, is a site of international pilgrimage.
Shanderswartala
It is the most important and oldest temple in Chinsurah. From the Chinsurah Railway station it is about 5 Kms. to reach this temple. The visitors can avail autorickshaw or paddle rickshaw to reach the place. It is at the bank of the Ganges at the north of the Duttaghat. At 16th century Digambar Halder placed the Lingam of Shiva & afterwards the temple was established by Sidheswar Roychodhury. Dutch Governors presented a 'Dhak' made of brass which is still used in this temple. There is also a Durga tmeple which was established on 1845.
Debanandapur
A village of Hooghly district about 3 kms. west from Bandel Station is connected by the auto service. It is the birth place of 'Katha Silpi' Sarath Chandra Chattopadhay. This village is one of the seven important villages named 'Sapta Gram' at the time of Mughals. On 17th September 1875 Sarat Chandra was born in this village. The dwelling house of Katha Shilpi along with a separate drawing room is still present in the village. A Library named Sarat Smrithi Pathagar including a museum room containing the used things of the famous writer is also present there. There are also four 'Atchala' temples of 19th century present in the village. An old'Dol Mancha' can be seen for the interest in archaeology.
Hangseswari Tample
This is one of the very important temple amoung all the temples in Hooghly District & & seven in West Bengal. The structure of the temples is the representation of 'Tantrik Satchakrabhed'. This 5 storied 'thirteen ratna' temple is situated near the Bansberia and Tribeni railway station both of which is on the Howrah-Katwal main line. Near to this temple there are also two other important temple named Ananta Basudeba Temple, which is decorated with very rich teracotta pointed plates and Swanbhaba Kali Temple built by Nrisinhadeb in 1788.
Temples in Balagarh
The Brindavan Jew temple in Guptipara is actually a cluster of 4. 17th century terracotta temples. Local legend has it that Clive visited this temple before the Battle of Plassey and presented one of his swords to the mahanta. Guptipara is also the site of a well-known Ratha Yatra. There is another cluster of three temples – Anandamoyee, Horosundari and Nistarini – at Somraa. The temple at Dakshineswar is said to be modeled on these. The Rass Mancha at Sripur Bazaar, a product of Vaishnava culture, has unique wood carvings.
Nritya Gopal Mandir
Built on the Grand Trunk Road in 1860 by the zamindar Harihar Seth, this building is an example of the confluence of native and colonial styles of architecture. It now houses a public library. Harihar Seth’s own house in Palpara was built at the same time, with similar Tuscan columns and facades.
Antpur Math
In Jangipara, Swami Vivekananda along with 8 other disciples of Ramkrishna Paramahansa took his oath of asceticism here. Maintained by the Ramkrishna Mission.
Watch Tower
It is situated at the middle place of Chinsurah town. The four faces of which indicate the directions. In 1914 'British' emperor the Edward established this steel made hollow clock tower resembling a tomb. On the top of the tomb there is aflag hoisting point. In the four sides of which there are four beautiful lamp sheds. The clock is situated in the middle portion of the tomb.
Suakhal & Moyur Mahal
There are two picnic spots at the side of Delhi Road nearest to the Bandel station. In both the places people can enter by giving a nominal entry fee. In addition to other facilities boating also can be enjoyed in both places. At Suakhal there is an interesting science exhibition like talking robot, danger cave etc. This place is maintained by Hooghly Zilla Parishad.
Jafarganj Cemetery
About half a mile from the Hazarduari Palace is Jafarganj the ruined palace of Mir Jafar. The Cemetery contains the tombs of the Nawab's Nazim, from Mir Jafar to Humayun Jah. Mir Jafar's father Syud Ahmed Nazafi, Alivardi Khan's sister, Shahkhanum, Mir Jafar's widows, Munni Begam and Babbu Begam, Mohamed Ali Khan, the brother and Ismail Ali Khan and Asraf Ali Khan, the sons-in-law of Mir Jafar, lie buried here. This cemetery was built by Mir Jafar, over an area of 3.51 acres.
Joy Krishna Library
The library was established by the famous Social-reformer and Zamindar Joy Krishna Mukhopadhyay in the year 1261 (according to Bengali New Year). The first free of cost and largest reference library in India at that time.