Chandannagar

Churches, a governor’s palace and a host of other historical structures representing the grandeur of French architecture welcome you to Chandannagar, West Bengal’s French Colony. Established as a French settlement in 1673, the town of Chandannagar is situated by the River Hooghly and has turned into a popular tourist attraction today. Barely 54 kilometres from Kolkata, Chandannagar can turn out to be an excellent getaway from the city, especially for history buffs.

Visit the Chandannagore Museum and Institute (Institut de Chandernagore), one of the oldest museums in the region, and marvel at the French antiques housed there. Admire the marvellous architecture of Sacred Heart Church. A single kilometre in length, the Strand is a superbly decorated roadway studded with lights and surrounded by lush green trees. Take a stroll along the Strand and watch small boats sail by in the river. Other attractions include the Underground House (Patal Bari), the Nandadulal Temple and the residence of the Indian revolutionary Rash Behari Bose.
Although you could spend an entire day here and comfortably head back to the city by the evening, many choose to spend entire weekends here. You could arrive at a Friday night and leave mid-Sunday as well, reaching in time to gear up for the work week ahead.