October 1, 2015
Initiative to declare cities along the bank of Hooghly as heritage cities
The State Government in association with some NGOs has taken an initiative to appeal to the UNESCO to declare the old colonial cities on the banks of the river Hooghly as “Heritage Cities”.
If the appeal is considered, the cities will be featured in the World Heritage Sites of the UNESCO.
The cities like Panihati, Barrackpore, Noihati, Serampore, Uttarpara, Chinshurah , Chandannagar and Bandel have glorious pasts and are parts of historical events. Many of these cities were the colonial headquarters of European countries.
A meeting was recently held between the Information & Cultural Affairs Dept, Govt of West Bengal and other bodies. It was decided to send an appeal to the UNESCO.
The cities that may be put in the list to be sent are:
On the eastern side of River Hooghly:
• Kolkata – The former capital of British India
• Dakshineswar – Famous for the Bhabatarini Temple and Sri Ram Krishna
• Baranagar – Houses the Peneti Bagabari of the Tagore Family among other historical buildings
• Khardaha – Famous for the Shyam Temple
• Barrackpore – Historical city housing the Mangal Pandey Ghat
• Naihati – Famous for Sanskrit studies
• Halishahar – Famous for Ramprasader Bhitey
On the western side of River Hooghly:
• Belur – Sri Rama Krishna Math and Mission
• Konnagar – Birthplace of Rishi Arabinda
• Uttarpara – Famous for the age old Jaya Krishna Library that started in 1854, one of the first in Asia
• Serampore – Danish colony, Serampore College, Mahesh
• Chandanangore – French colony
• Chinsurah – Dutch colony, Imambara
• Bandel – Portugese colony, Bandel Church
