Day trip to Srerampore from Kolkata | The Denmark Tavern | Europe on the Ganges Series - Part 2

Sreerampore is a 25 km self drive from Kolkata. erstwhile known as Fredricknagore. Today we took the Nivedita bridge. The toll was 50Rs but saved us around 20mins during heavy sunday traffic.

Sreerampore is a city of Hooghly district in the Indian state of West Bengal. The city is several centuries old and has witnessed both the growth and decline of the feudal system, the coming of the Danes and their settlement and then a cultural renaissance (known as the Bengal Renaissance) initiated by the British following the construction of the east Indian railway, along with subsequent industrial development.

As a traveller, you will love exploring Srirampur as it is studded with many historically rich places. Start with the Shrirampur Court Compound, a semi-ruined arched gate, that will lead you to a courthouse, which used to be the major seat of Danish power in Bengal back in time.

Go further down the strand, and you will arrive at the well-looked-after Serampore College, which is a must-visit for many reasons. It is the second oldest college in the country after Presidency College Calcutta and the first institution to offer a degree. History buffs, do not miss the Carey Museum housed within the college building, which displays rare manuscripts, books and artefacts belonging to William Carey.

A little walk from there will take you to the town’s most visible landmark, St. Olav’s Church (locally known as the Danish Church), whose steeple can be seen from Barrackpore on the opposite bank of the Hooghly. The façade still bears the monogram of King Christian VII of Denmark-Norway. The church has been renovated as a part of a joint restoration initiative by the West Bengal Heritage Commission (WBHC) and the National Museum of Denmark.

Less than five minutes’ walk from here is the over 230 years old Denmark Tavern, which has been dusted off and spruced up into a lodge that you can now book a stay in. Operated by The Park Hotels, there is a restaurant and bakery on the ground floor and rooms for staying on the first floor. You can choose from any of the five high-ceilinged spacious rooms on West Bengal’s tourism department website. The restaurant is open from noon to 9.30pm. Today we are planning to have lunch here.

After lunch we plan to take a sneak peak at another very interesting historical landmark, that will leave you in awe of Shrirampore’s glorious past, is the Goswami Rajbari, belonging to wealthy Bengali merchants. It is said that when the Danes decided to hand over Serampore to the British, the Goswamis offered to pay 11,00,000 rupees to buy the entire town but the offer was declined. The Rajbari and other related mansions reflect a neoclassical style of architecture with the northern complex of the Rajbari con
taining a huge courtyard supported by majestic fluted Corinthian pillars.

There are two cemeteries in Srirampur – the Mission Cemetery where William Carey lies buried, and the Danish Cemetery, if you wish to delve deeper (pun intended) into the history of the place. Today, with its elegant structures, the legacy of Danish, British & Bengali history and culture, Shrirampur makes for a pleasant day-long getaway from the concrete boxes of the city skyline.