ADVERTISEMENT

In Pictures: A heritage trip to showcase the importance of Kolkata and Hooghly river

The tour covered several historic ghats and monuments on the banks of the Hooghly

Bishwabijoy Mitra Published 27.03.23, 04:42 PM
Due to the tectonic shift between the 17th and 18th centuries, Hooghly and Saraswati, two major rivers in Bengal, changed their courses and the Saptagram Port had started to lose its importance and subsequently Kolkata Port gained prominence. After the British came to Kolkata, they realised the importance of the Hooghly River and Kolkata Port for trading purposes and in 1870 they created the Port Trust of Calcutta. Currently, known as Syama Prasad Mookerjee Port Trust of Kolkata, it is the oldest port among the 13 major ports of the country. It is not easy to narrate the 150-year history of this port in a few hours, but Syama Prasad Mookerjee Port Trust in association with The Ganges Walk did a commendable job. The 29th Voyage Through Tide and Time – a heritage tour on land and water included 40-odd participants on Saturday afternoon. Curated by Gautam Chakraborti, former security adviser and present honorary heritage adviser of KoPT, the tour started at the Maritime Archives & Heritage Centre and was completed at Indentured Indian Labourers Memorial. “The six-hour journey was designed to showcase the importance and historic value of Kolkata and the port. The city was the capital of India till 1911 and has been a part of several historical events,” said Chakraborti.
1 11

Due to the tectonic shift between the 17th and 18th centuries, Hooghly and Saraswati, two major rivers in Bengal, changed their courses and the Saptagram Port had started to lose its importance and subsequently Kolkata Port gained prominence. After the British came to Kolkata, they realised the importance of the Hooghly River and Kolkata Port for trading purposes and in 1870 they created the Port Trust of Calcutta. Currently, known as Syama Prasad Mookerjee Port Trust of Kolkata, it is the oldest port among the 13 major ports of the country. It is not easy to narrate the 150-year history of this port in a few hours, but Syama Prasad Mookerjee Port Trust in association with The Ganges Walk did a commendable job. The 29th Voyage Through Tide and Time – a heritage tour on land and water included 40-odd participants on Saturday afternoon. Curated by Gautam Chakraborti, former security adviser and present honorary heritage adviser of KoPT, the tour started at the Maritime Archives & Heritage Centre and was completed at Indentured Indian Labourers Memorial. “The six-hour journey was designed to showcase the importance and historic value of Kolkata and the port. The city was the capital of India till 1911 and has been a part of several historical events,” said Chakraborti.

Photos: Ashim Paul
ADVERTISEMENT
The first stop was the Maritime Archives & Heritage Centre on the first floor of the Port Vigilance office, where historical artefacts and documents of the last 150 years have been kept. All the 40-odd participants of the tour gathered here and experienced the riverine history of Bengal
2 11

The first stop was the Maritime Archives & Heritage Centre on the first floor of the Port Vigilance office, where historical artefacts and documents of the last 150 years have been kept. All the 40-odd participants of the tour gathered here and experienced the riverine history of Bengal

After the museum, the participants were taken to the Prinsep Ghat. The iconic white Palladian porch was built in memory of the scholar and antiquary James Prinsep, who had deciphered the old Bramhi texts. The porch was designed by W. Fitzgerald and constructed in 1843
3 11

After the museum, the participants were taken to the Prinsep Ghat. The iconic white Palladian porch was built in memory of the scholar and antiquary James Prinsep, who had deciphered the old Bramhi texts. The porch was designed by W. Fitzgerald and constructed in 1843

Then the group reached the historic Man of War Jetty to board MV Desire to start the voyage part of the tour
4 11

Then the group reached the historic Man of War Jetty to board MV Desire to start the voyage part of the tour

The small ship took the group to another historic ship Paddle Ship Bhopal, which was built in 1942 in England’s Dumbarton Shipyard. After restoration, it is now known as The Bengal Paddle. It is one of the two remaining paddle ships in the world. The ship was mainly used for inland trades and later as a passenger ship. After restoration by a private company, the ship is leased out to private parties. A part of this historic ship, like the broiler room, has been transformed into a museum
5 11

The small ship took the group to another historic ship Paddle Ship Bhopal, which was built in 1942 in England’s Dumbarton Shipyard. After restoration, it is now known as The Bengal Paddle. It is one of the two remaining paddle ships in the world. The ship was mainly used for inland trades and later as a passenger ship. After restoration by a private company, the ship is leased out to private parties. A part of this historic ship, like the broiler room, has been transformed into a museum

After a trip at the Bengal Paddle, the team again boarded the MV Desire and a special journey of the historic ghats began. With the Varanasi-style Ganga aarti, the Outram Ghat looked stunning
6 11

After a trip at the Bengal Paddle, the team again boarded the MV Desire and a special journey of the historic ghats began. With the Varanasi-style Ganga aarti, the Outram Ghat looked stunning

Mullick Ghat was built by Rammohan Mullick in 1855, in memory of his father Nimaicharan Mullick. Now covered with tin shades to protect the flowers of the bustling (flower) market, there is a beautiful cast-iron structure at the ghat
7 11

Mullick Ghat was built by Rammohan Mullick in 1855, in memory of his father Nimaicharan Mullick. Now covered with tin shades to protect the flowers of the bustling (flower) market, there is a beautiful cast-iron structure at the ghat

The entire Howrah Bridge was lit up for the trip. This historic structure was built in the early Forties and was commissioned in 1943 and had no formal inauguration. The reason was the fear of attacks by the Japanese during World War II
8 11

The entire Howrah Bridge was lit up for the trip. This historic structure was built in the early Forties and was commissioned in 1943 and had no formal inauguration. The reason was the fear of attacks by the Japanese during World War II

The Lascar War Memorial, the 100 feet monument on Napier Road, is one of the clearly visible structures from Hooghly. It was built by shipping and mercantile companies in memory of the 896 Lascars (sailors and soldiers) of undivided Bengal and Assam who lost their lives during World War I
9 11

The Lascar War Memorial, the 100 feet monument on Napier Road, is one of the clearly visible structures from Hooghly. It was built by shipping and mercantile companies in memory of the 896 Lascars (sailors and soldiers) of undivided Bengal and Assam who lost their lives during World War I

Known as the BNR House, it is the residence of the general manager of the South Eastern Railway. However, this was originally built by Nawab Wajid Ali Shah. The Nawab was kept under house arrest by the British in Fort William in 1856. On his release, Shah made several buildings at Garden Reach, including this bungalow as his Parikhana. As per common belief, this was the birthplace of Kolkata’s Biryani
10 11

Known as the BNR House, it is the residence of the general manager of the South Eastern Railway. However, this was originally built by Nawab Wajid Ali Shah. The Nawab was kept under house arrest by the British in Fort William in 1856. On his release, Shah made several buildings at Garden Reach, including this bungalow as his Parikhana. As per common belief, this was the birthplace of Kolkata’s Biryani

The tour came to an end at Indentured Indian Labourers Memorial at Khidderpore
11 11

The tour came to an end at Indentured Indian Labourers Memorial at Khidderpore

Also Read

RELATED TOPICS

Hooghly Heritage Cruise Heritage Tour Heritage Tourism Hooghly River West Bengal Kolkata Travel
Follow us on:
ADVERTISEMENT

MORE IN PICTURES

Share this article

CLOSE