Serampore and Uttarpara

Serampore and Uttarpara are two towns at the western bank of the Hooghly River, in the Hooghly district of West Bengal.

Serampore (শ্রীরামপুর Śrīrāmpur), previously Frederiksnagore, was a former colony under the Danish Empire. Though there are only a few remnants of Danish colonialism in this town, the Serampore College is a prime example of Danish architecture. The town is associated with the Serampore Trio (William Carey, Joshua Marshman and William Ward), who had made several contributions in the Bengali literature.

Uttarpara (উত্তরপাড়া Uttarpāṛā) was once a leading automobile manufacturing hub in India, producing some of the famous car models of all time. It also once boasted of sylvan peace, beautiful buildings, epitome of great architectural works and steeped in cultural heritage. Although Uttarpara has lost its glory in the 21st century, it is still an important site for industrial tourism in West Bengal.

This article also includes other towns between the two, including Rishra and Konnagar.

By train
The Howrah–Bardhaman Main Line runs through these two towns.

By car
The famous Grand Trunk Road runs through Serampore and Uttarpara as SH 6. SH 13 acts as a bypass of SH 6 and is a better way to reach Serampore and Uttarpara if you don't want to follow the historical road.

By ferry
There are several ferry services to and from Serampore, Konnagar and Uttarpara.

Events
The Ratha Yatra of Mahesh in Serampore is the oldest Ratha Yatra in India after Puri Ratha Yatra. It is said to have been celebrated since 1396. It is a week-long festival and a grand fair is held at that time. People throng to have a share in pulling the long ropes (রস্যি rasyi) attached to the chariots of Lord Jagannath, Balarama and Subhadra on the journey from the temple to Mahesh Gundicha Bari (মাসির বাড়ি māsir bāṛi) and back within the eighth day.

Eat and drink
Konnagar has an extensive fruit and vegetable market which is visited by people from the nearby areas. The market is famous for its affordable prices.