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Offered languages
- English
The Hooghly River north of Kolkata holds a compelling story. Within forty kilometres, three European nations built towns, churches, and trading houses on the same banks—the French at Chandannagar, the Portuguese at Bandel, and the Danes at Serampore—competing for influence over the Mughal Empire’s wealthiest province.
This private day trip takes you through all three settlements. At Chandannagar, walk through Dupleix Palace, where French governors plotted the downfall of the British, and see Patalbari, the mansion that hosted Tagore. At Bandel, visit Bengal’s oldest European church (1660), where blossoms grow among the graves of Portuguese traders. At Serampore, see the college where William Carey founded Asia’s first university and printed the first Bengali newspaper in 1818.
Everything is private: your group, a cultural guide, an air-conditioned car, and a traditional lunch. One day. Three centuries. Three countries. One river. A journey through a forgotten corridor of history.
What's Included
Meeting and pickup
All hotels in Kolkata
Itinerary
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1
Dupleix Palace is a great place to begin to get an idea of the French legacy of Chandanpur. Today Dupleix Palace is a museum and on display are cannons used in the the Carnatic wars, artifacts and furniture of French governor generals and numerous other relics.
1 hour 30 minutes • Admission ticket free -
2
We visit a beautiful mansion which is partly submerged in the Hooghly river. Patal Bari literally means the underground house. Two striking features of this Mansion are the beautifully carved wooden sunshades and water outlets. During its hey days important visitors to Chandan Nagar used to grace this home, Rabindranath Tagore the national poet and Ishwar Chandra Vidyasagar to name a couple.
1 hour • Admission ticket free -
3
The Strand has the best collection of colonial buildings. The highlight of Stand is the Durgacharan Rakshit Ghat an incredibly beautiful pavilion adorned with imposing columns and arresting stucco work built in honor of Durgacharan, a recipient of the Legion d’honneur of France. Built in 1920s in honor of Durgacharan Rakshit,. The elegant looking pavilion consists of slender columns with decorative stucco works consisting of elephant’s head and floral design.
1 hour • Admission ticket included -
4
This is a two storied church with twin towers and a magnificent statue of Jesus. Built in 1884 , the highlights of this church are the beautiful stained glasses, and coloured reliefs of Jesus carrying the cross on the walls.
1 hour • Admission ticket free -
5
The Church was built in 1660 and is dedicated to Nostra Senhora di Rozario, popularly known as Our Lady of the Rosary. Violet blossoms among the vintage tombstones add a picturesque look to the surroundings. The most moving statue in the complex is that of Mother of Sorrows in marble sitting with the body of dead Jesus on her lap. It is a tear jerker
45 minutes • Admission ticket free -
6
The Rajbari is a grand mansion of the Goswami family, the richest in the history of Serampore. They were invited by King of Gaur to settle in Bengal and build a business on very favorable terms. Built in 1820, this mansion used to be the most opulent residence in the neighborhood.
45 minutes • Admission ticket free -
7
In the 19th century, Serampore was famous for great educational institutions. William Carey founded the Serampore College which was the first University in Bengal. Samachar Darpan, the first Bengali newspaper was published on 23 May 1818 from a Baptist Mission Press located here.
30 minutes • Admission ticket free -
8
In the 19th century, Serampore was famous for great educational institutions. William Carey founded the Serampore College which was the first University in Bengal. Samachar Darpan, the first Bengali newspaper was published on 23 May 1818 from a Baptist Mission Press located here.
30 minutes • Admission ticket free
Additional info
- Public transportation options are available nearby
- Not recommended for pregnant travelers
- Suitable for all physical fitness levels
- Vegetarian option is available, please advise at time of booking if required
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Cancellation Policy
For a full refund, cancel at least 24 hours before the scheduled departure time.
Cancellation Policy
- For a full refund, you must cancel at least 24 hours before the experience’s start time.
- If you cancel less than 24 hours before the experience’s start time, the amount you paid will not be refunded.
- Any changes made less than 24 hours before the experience’s start time will not be accepted.
Rating
You can cancel up to 24 hours in advance of the experience for a full refund.
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