Europe on the Ganges

The world of Europe on the Ganges describes how in the area extending approximately 300kms upriver from Kolkata, one can find cultural-spatial traces of several countries in Europe. This world, the Europe on the Ganges was built for over 500 years on the river banks - in the myriad negotiations of power, economy, culture and politics. Today, these small towns stand testimony to the heritage, architecture, culture traditions from countries such as England, France, Denmark, Netherlands and Portugal that had once coalesced and sedimented.

The document elaborates on the individual towns, their colonial references as well as describes the condition these edifices are in today. From Portuguese Bandel, to French Chandernagar, to Dutch Chinsurah and British Barrackpore - the cases and examples are plenty. The research also looks at possible strategies in which this infrastructure can be sensitively adopted for Tourism purposes.

This research and dissemination project build on a work published in the name “Euro-Indian Urbanism on the banks of the river Ganges” by Rajat Ray & Anjan Mitra.

Location: Kolkata and Surrounds
Client: INTACH, Sponsored by Ministry of Tourism
Year: 2007