Barrackpore is headquarters of the highly urbanised Barrackpore subivision in North 24 Parganas district, in Southeast Bengal. It is part of the Northern fringes of Kolkata.
Understand
Barrackpore is part of a larger industrial belt but it also has interesting historical links with the past. In 1772 the East India Company built its first cantonment in the country at Barrackpore. The place was used for many years as a summer retreat by senior British administrators. In 1857, the first spark of mutiny flew here. The tree from which Mangal Pandey and Ishwari Pandey, two young sepoys, were hanged is still there. Then came the independence movement and again Barrackpore played an important role.
Get in
By train
From Sealdah station (Eastern Railways), Main Section, almost all trains stop at Barrackpore. The trip takes around 35 mins. Other routes connect to it through the Sealdah north section.
- 1 Barrackpore railway station.
By car
You can reach Barrackpore from Kolkata through B.T. (Barrackpore Trunk ) Road. Kalyani Expressway (From Kalyani to Birati) bypasses the Barrackpore outskirts. Nearest point of Belgharia Expressway, which becomes National Highway 6 (NH6) is just 10 kilometer away from Barrackpore.
By ferry
Ferry Services connect it to Srirampore (Dhobie Ghat), Sheoraphuli (2 paisa Ghat) and Baidyabati (Badamtala Ghat).
Get around
For travelling within Barrackpore and vicinity, you may opt several public bus routes, auto-rikshaw service or manual rikshaws. Bus routes are:
RT 85—Kanchrapara to Barrackpore Court.RT 81—Barasat to Barrackpore Monirampur.RT 78—Kolkata Esplanade to Barrackpore Court.RT MM5—Habra to Barrackpore Court.RT C28—Howrah Station to Barrackpore Court.RT C29—Barasat to Barrackpore Court.Also many more buses go to Howrah Station, Bally, Kona, Salap, etc.
Area landmarks
- 1 Babaji Ghat. Connects to Dui Paisar Ghat, Sheoraphuli
- 2 Barrackpore Cantonment.
- 3 Dhobi Ghat, Barrackpore. Connects to Jugol Acharya Ghat at Srirampur
- 4 Du Paisar Ghat, Barrackpore. Connects to Sheoraphuli Ghat
See
- 1 Annapurna Mandir (Rani Rashmoni's mandir). The Navratna Annapurna Mandir is a replica of the Dakshineswar Kali temple.
- 2 Gandhi Ghat.
- 3 Gandhi Smarak Sangrahalay (Gandhi Museum).
- 4 Lady Canning's grave, Latbagan. Lady Canning, who died in 1861, was buried at Barrackpore. She remains fresh in the Bengali mind with a popular sweetmeat, ladykeni, named after her. There is a statue of Lord Canning nearby.
- 5 Mangal Pandey Park.
- 6 Mangal Pandey's hanging spot.
- 7 St. Bartholomew's Cathedral. Built in 1831. One of the best in terms of architecture amongst the churches built during the British period.
- 8 Sukanta Sadan.
- 9 Surendranath Banerjee's house. Surendranath Banerjee used to live here. Mahatma Gandhi met him in this house several times.
Do
Walk through the Cantonment
Buy
Eat
The place surrounding Barrackpore Railway Station to Chiriamore is the hub of eateries.
- 1 Dada Boudi Biriyani, Calcuta, 1, Ghoshpara Rd (opp Barrackpore Rly Station), ☏ 91 98313 18010. a much hyped Biriyani joint costing ₹160-₹200 a plate (Chicken/Mutton), located just outside Sukanta Sadan. Try a special dish called "Liver Fry" from Dada-Boudi. Be prepared to wait in the queue.
- Dhaka Biriyani is a newly opened one which serves standard Biriyani at the same price of Dada Boudi but the ambiance is better and the crowd is lesser.
- Jelua's - a very ancient sweet shop just opposite the Rly station. Famous for its Rabri and Kachuri. One is sure to miss this place since it is very old and shabby looking.
- Sona, a good biriyani joint alongside the same route.
- V-Cafe, just opposite to the Railway Station, serves quality food at a premium.
- West Wind, another good place.
There are a lot of eateries just around the station.
- Sudama is one such stall, providing a variety of rolls.
There are also several cake/snack shops and Bengali sweet shops.
- A new restaurant at Dhobie Ghat serves good momos.
Drink
There are lots of Lassi Shop near the station to make you full of refreshment.
Sleep
- 1 Hotel Ubique, 89, SN Banerjee Road, Barrackpore (At the entrance to the Cantonment), ☏ 91 33 2592 1386.
- 2 Malancha Tourist Lodge (West Bengal Tourism Development Corporation), ☏ 91 33 25920058, 91 33 25945789, 91 9874026921.
- 3 Orchid Hotel and Restaurant, 123/1 Ghoshpara Road (Barrackpore Airport area), ☏ 91 33 3201 5515.
- 4 Susama Lodge (Near Disha Eye Hospital), 54/36/C/1 N.N.Bagchi Road, ☏ 91 33 25930948.