Description:
Chunchura was a Dutch settlement from 1656 to 1825. This historical town is the district headquarters of Hooghly. It was later exchanged by the Dutch for the British-held Indonesian island of Sumatra in 1825. Fort Gustavus, a church, three barracks and many old tombs stand testimony to the bygone days. The Octagonal Dutch Church built in 1768 is a major attraction. A little to the west of the Church is a Dutch cemetery. Another important place is the Bandemataram House on Joraghat, which was the residence of the great Bengali novelist and poet, Bankim Chandra Chattopadhyay. It was here the national song, Bandemataram, was composed.
The famous Imambara at Hooghly was established by Hazi Mohammad Mohsin in 1836. The gateway is flanked by lofty minarets, the walls are decorated with texts from the Koran and the interior has rich carvings and inlaid marble motifs. The sundial in the garden is of interest to most visitors, and the 35-m. high clock tower offers a wonderful view.
