Chowringhee

Coordinates: 23°48′N 88°15′E / 23.8°N 88.25°E / 23.8; 88.25
Source: Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia.
For other uses, see Chowringhee (disambiguation).

Chowringhee
Neighbourhood in Kolkata (Calcutta)
Chowranghee and Bhabanipur

Chowringhee (also Chourangi) is a neighbourhood of Central

state of West Bengal. Chowringhee Road (officially Jawaharlal Nehru Road) runs on its western side. A neighbourhood steeped in history, it is a business district,[1]
as well as a shopper's destination and entertainment-hotel centre. The area lies exactly at the centre of the city.

Etymology

The name 'Chowringhee' has defied etymologists. There is, however, the legend of a Nath yogi, Chouranginath, who discovered an image of the goddess Kali's face and built the first Kalighat temple.[2]

History

The village

Chowringhee in 1798

In the seventeenth century or prior to it, the area now occupied by the

Barisha to Halisahar. In that region were three small hamlets – Chowringhee, Birjee and Colimba.[3]

Urbanisation

The strengthening of British power, subsequent to their victory in the Battle of Plassey was followed by the construction of the new Fort William, in 1758. The European inhabitants of Kalikata gradually forsook the narrow limits of the old palisades and moved to around the Maidan.[4]

The neighbourhood

Chowringhee looking south, 1905

Camac Street (renamed Abanindranath Tagore Sarani) running from Park Street to Circular Road was named after William Camac, a senior merchant in the days of Cornwallis and Wellesley. Wood Street was named after Henry Wood. Free School Street (renamed Mirza Ghalib Street), named after a Free School established there in 1786, was a bamboo jungle in 1780.[5]

New names

Tata Centre on Chowringhee Road - The main stretch of Chowringhee

Indian independence saw a rush to rename streets. The process has slowed as few streets are left to be renamed. Chowringhee Road was renamed after

Mirza Ghalib. Kyd Street was renamed Dr. Md. Ishaque Road. Lindsay Street was renamed after Nellie Sengupta
.

Geography

Park Street Flyover was inaugurated on 19 February 2005. The 1.3-kilometre (0.81 mi) long flyover above

Lindsay Street and Middleton Street.[6]

Creative inspiration

In 1981,

Anglo-Indian school teacher who lives a lonely life in a single-room flat in the neighbourhood.[7]

Gallery

  • Industry House on Abanindranath Tagore Sarani
    Industry House on
    Abanindranath Tagore Sarani
  • Pantaloon outlet on Abanindranath Tagore Sarani
    Abanindranath Tagore Sarani
  • St. Thomas Church adjacent to Loreto House on Middleton Row
    St. Thomas Church adjacent to Loreto House on Middleton Row
  • KFC outlet on Middleton Row
    KFC outlet on Middleton Row
  • Middleton Street
    Middleton Street
  • Park Street Flyover
    Park Street Flyover

External links

Kolkata/Esplanade travel guide from Wikivoyage

References

Wikimedia Commons has media related to Chowringhee.
  1. ^ "Tax lawyer is CPM candidate for Chowringhee seat". The Hindu Business Line, 18 February 2006. Retrieved 16 January 2008.
  2. ISBN 978-0-19-563696-3
    .
  3. Cotton, H.E.A.
    , Calcutta Old and New, 1909–1980, p. 19, General Printers and Publishers Pvt. Ltd.
  4. ^ Cotton, H.E.A., p. 72.
  5. ^ Cotton, H.E.A., pp. 230–236.
  6. ^ "Park Street Flyover".
  7. ^ "36 Chowringhee Lane (1981)". imdb.com. Retrieved 16 January 2008.
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