Chandraketugarh

Location

Tourists can explore the ruins of Chandraketugarh, located on the banks of the Vidyadhari River, near Barasat. The site was initially excavated in 1956 to 1957 and the ASI declared it as a monument of historical importance. The site contained relics of various historical periods like Northern Black Polished Ware (NBPW) relics, remains from Maurya period and artefacts from Gupta and Kushanas periods. According to some historians, this archaeological site and its surrounding area is guessed to be the place that was referred by the ancient Roman and Greek writers as “Gangaridai”.

The small field in front of the ruins is a popular picnic spot. The ruins include a temple built during the period of legendary mathematicians, Khana and Mihir; a mosque that might have been a stupa and a fort built by Chandraketu, the mythical king. The ruined temple is considered to have great historical significance. The four feet thick walls and a flight of stairs are the only remnants of the polygonal structure connected to a square vestibule.