The name Chandannagor is possibly derived from the shape of the bank of the river Ganga which is bent like a half moon (Bengali: Chand means moon and Nagar implies city). Others believe it might have been taken from the flourishing trade and business of sandalwood (Chandan) at that time. One more reason behind the name is, in Chandannagar there is a temple of Goddess 'Chandi'. So somebody believes that it might come from there. But earlier people knew the place by the name 'Farasdanga' as it was a French colony. The place was also known for considerable maritime trade. For a time, Chandannagar was the main centre for European commerce in Bengal.

India became independent of Britain in 1947, and thereafter as per wishes of the residents of this place the French Government allowed the Indian government to assume de facto control over Chandannagar as part of West Bengal state.

Places of tourist interest v Chandannagar Strand

A beautiful tourist spot along the banks of the river Ganga. It is a superbly decorated pavement studded with lights surrounded by lushy green trees. It is about 1 km in length and 7 metres in width, and many buildings of historical importance surround the spot. It is very popular visiting spot of the local people and the tourists would love to stroll along enjoying the mild breeze and watching the small boats sail by. Along the strand are present Vivekananda Mandir (a meditation centre) and a protruding structure into the river Ganga. This is supposed to be the best decorated bank of the river along its entire length of 2500 Km.

Chandannagore Museum and Institute

One of the oldest and finest museums of the entire region. It boasts a beautiful collection of French antiques (like cannons used in Anglo-French war, wooden furniture of 18th century, etc.) which are difficult to find anywhere else in the world. The institute still teaches French through regular classes.

The Sacred Heart Church The church stands for over two centuries to mark the beauty of the architecture during the French period - a good place to visit for the historians and tourists alike. remains of the Church of St. Louis is also an attractive tourist spot.

The Sacred_Heart_Church_Chandannagar

The Underground House (Patal-Bari) The building is another beautiful example of the advancement in the knowledge of architecture and the aesthetic sense of the people of those earlier days. Its lowest floor is submerged in the River Ganga. The Nobel laureate Rabindranath Tagore frequently visited the place and appreciated a lot about the building. He felt that the place influenced him to a large extent and broadened his intellectual capabilities. He mentioned Patal-bari in many of his famous novels. The famous social reformer Pandit Iswar Chandra Vidyasagar also stayed in the building. The house was owned by the ruling family of nearby Bansberia.

Ancient temples

Nandadulal Temple, built in 1740 by Indranarayan Roychoudhury presents an excellent example of ancient Indian sculptures. There are many fascinating temples devoted to Kali, Shiva and other deities which show marks of brilliant craftsmanship and artistic taste.

Amusement parks: Chuti and New Digha are two very popular amusement parks situated in the western part of Chandannagar.