Bandel & Chinsurah

ব্যান্ডেল ও চুঁচুড়া

Hooghly district · Kolkata & Around

A Portuguese church, a grand imambara and a Dutch town.

About Bandel & Chinsurah

Three European powers and a Persian philanthropist left their mark on this stretch of the Hooghly. Bandel Church, founded by the Portuguese in 1599 and rebuilt in 1660, is one of the oldest Christian churches in Bengal. The Hooghly Imambara, completed in 1861 from the bequest of Haji Muhammad Mohsin, has a tall clock tower over the river. Chinsurah next door was Dutch until 1825 and keeps a Dutch cemetery and old civic buildings.

Highlights

  • Bandel Church (Basilica of the Holy Rosary)
  • Hooghly Imambara and its clock tower
  • The Dutch cemetery and the tomb of Susanna Anna Maria at Chinsurah
  • The riverside and Ghorir More clock

Plan your trip

Best time
October to March. Christmas at Bandel Church is very crowded.
How to reach
Bandel Junction is on the Howrah to Bardhaman main line, about an hour by local train. Autos and totos link the sights.
Suggested stay
Day trip
Distance from Kolkata
About 50 km by road
Travel time
About 1 hour by train
Nearest railway station
Bandel Junction
By road
Via the Delhi Road or GT Road through Hooghly district.
Budget
Budget
With family
Good for all ages; the imambara’s tower has steep stairs.
Accessibility
Both the church and the imambara are open to visitors of all faiths; dress modestly.

A suggested plan

  1. Morning: Bandel Church
  2. Midday: Hooghly Imambara and its clock tower
  3. Afternoon: Chinsurah’s Dutch cemetery and riverside

Tip

Do the church first, the imambara next and Chinsurah last; all three fit in a day.

Nearby and related destinations

  • Bansberia: A temple with thirteen lotus-bud towers. (about 55 km from Kolkata, nearest station Bansberia)
  • Chandannagar: A former French colony on the Hooghly. (about 40 km from Kolkata, nearest station Chandannagar)
  • Serampore (Srirampur): Danish Bengal and the birthplace of modern Bengali printing. (about 30 km from Kolkata, nearest station Shrirampur)
  • Kolkata: The City of Joy: colonial grandeur, adda, books and food.

Part of these guides

Distances and travel times are approximate road figures from central Kolkata. Check timings, permits and road conditions before you travel.

Sharodotsav 2026
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