Hooghly is a beautiful district of West Bengal, that is named after the majestic river Hooghly. This part of West Bengal has witnessed the rule and cultural heritage of such powerful rulers and dynasties like the Bhurshut Kingdom, Portuguese, Dutch, Danish, British and most importantly, the rule of the French.
Hooghly is spread with buildings that showcase the architecture of the Portuguese and French. A walk down the streets of towns, like Chandannagar, will give you an insight of how strong the heritage and influence of the former rulers are.
What better way to get an insight into the cultural influences than visiting places of religious significance? Read about the pilgrimage sites of Hooghly that will certainly give you an idea of the state's rich history.
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Hooghly Imambara, also known as Shia Imambara, is a mosque as well as an assembly hall for Shia Muslims for religious occasions. This glorious Imambara was built in the late 19th century by Haji Muhammad Mohsin.
A tall clock tower and a building of two storeys makes the Hooghly Imambara. The insides of the mosque are elaborately decorated with beautiful lanterns, candles and built with marbles. The mosque remains open from 8 am to 5.30 pm.
Built in early 19th century, Hanseswari Temple is dedicated to Goddess Hanseswari, who is one of the many forms of Goddess Kali. The temple has a unique structure of 13 towers, with each of the peaks shaped as a lotus bud. The inner part of the temple is believed to represent the structure of a human body.
Ananta Vasudeva Temple is a temple located right next to the Hanseswari Temple that is unique due to the work of terracotta seen on its walls. Both the temples are located in the historic town of Bansberia, located just a few kilometres from Hooghly.
West Bengal has seen Portuguese settlements and this church stands as a testimony to their presence in the state and Jayantanth showcases their glorious architecture. Officially known as Basilica of the Holy Rosary, the Bandel Church located in Bandel of Hooghly district happens to be one of the oldest churches of West Bengal.
There is no entry fee to visit the church and the church remains open from 6 am to 6 pm everyday for tourists.
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Tarakeshwar or Taraknath is a manifestation of Lord Shiva and this temple is dedicated to this Hindu god. It is one of the main pilgrimage sites of West Bengal that was built in 1729 in a typical Bengal style of architecture. The temple also has shrines of Kali and Lakshmi Narayan nearby.
The temple is located in Tarakeshwar which is about 62 km from Kolkata. The temple gets crowded with devotees especially during the festival of Shivrathri.
Chandannagar is a town rich with heritage of the French since it used to be a former French colony. Initially ruled by the Nawabs, Chandannagar was later juggled between the French and British rulers until it was finally a part of West Bengal. It is located in the Hooghly district at a distance of 52 km from Kolkata.
Chandannagar is a great pilgrimage place since it is home to both Christian and Hindu religious places of significance. Some of the places you must visit are Sacred Heart Church, Nandadula Temple, Bishalakshmi Temple, etc.