Day trip from Kolkata for a Slice of Europe
Description
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.
Tour Options
Itinerary
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.
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.
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.
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.
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
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.
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.
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.
Highlights
What's included
Pickup Locations & Times
All hotels in Kolkata
Traveller Ratings
Important Information
- 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
Reviews(15)
I thoroughly enjoyed this trip. My guide was excellent; friendly, knowledgeable and entertaining 😃. I thought I had a reasonable grasp of European history in India but I learnt a lot, without feeling I was on an education tour. All in all a fascinating and enjoyable day 👍
The slice of Europe was a revelation. We had a lovely time exploring the former colonial centres of Serampore, Bandel and Chandannagar. We saw amazing buildings and our guide helped us appreciate the legacy of French, Danish and Portuguese in Bengal. Ab outstanding experience.
Explore beyond the city on this private, full-day tour from Kolkata, and gain an understanding of West Bengal’s colonial past. Travel to Chandannagar, Bandel, and Serampore—towns once shaped by the French, Portuguese, and Danish. Wander through the French-built the Dupleix Palace (Chandannagar Dupleix Museum), admire the riverside Patal Bari mansion, and stroll past The Strand’s colonial architecture. Visit Bandel’s historic basilica and church, then explore Serampore’s grand Rajbari, 19th-century college, and the restored Denmark Tavern. It's an immersive way to go beyond the guidebooks and gain insights into Nawabi heritage and European colonial legacy.
I enjoyed the tour. If you are interested in the history of India and Bengal, you can really appreciate it. I was especially interested in "the Danish Tavern." It is also a good opportunity to visit places outside Kolkata and enjoy local food and sweets. The guide has extensive knowledge of Bengal's history and culture. The driver was excellent.
This is not a day trip for everyone. It is truly to the crumbling ruins of a forgotten colonial past. But if you’re the kind of person that nerds out on that stuff, this trip was awesome! Anirban was a great and knowledgeable host, eating lunch with him over his explanation of Bengali culture was a particular highlight. I was extremely glad I took the tour, 5/5 would recommend.
I am glad you enjoyed the Slice of Europe with Anirban. I agree about the nerds! Thanks for taking the time to review this tour. It was our pleasure hosting you.
It’s amazing, but it’s for a very specific clientele. If you’re ready to nerd out on the European history of the Hooghly, this tour is absolutely for you. If not, hard pass, you’ll be bored out of you mind. Anirban is an excellent guide, and O really enjoyed his insight on Bengali culture over the included lunch, which was delicious and perfectly spicy.
I am glad you enjoyed the Slice of Europe. Thanks for taking the time to review this tour. It was our pleasure hosting you.
The guide and driver were very nice and professional. However, there is hardly anything to see. The trip was boring and unexciting. The roads were dirty and congested with no real sight to see. However, that was no fault of the driver or the guide
An opportunity to see how other countries influenced India. Very interesting and educational. My guide and driver were amazing. Getting to meet Dr Mukharjee at Serampore College was a one in life time experience
The slice of Europe is a fascinating tour of colonial Bengal. Our guide Anirban was wonderful and helped us understand the impact of the various European powers on Bengal. There were fascinating monuments designed in European style and we also had a lovely local Bengali lunch. Highly recommened.
Excellent tour if you want to know more about the colonial history of this part of the country. Anirban was amazing!!! He was very knowledgeable and kind, and he made sure we all had a great time. I definitely recommend taking this tour! Also, not to miss the food recommendations from Anirban. Good way to approach Bengali food!
