Chandraketugarh

#incredibleindia #theindianquest #bengal #barasat #chandraketugarh #berachampa #history #ancientsite #unknown #excavation

Like the discovery of Indus Valley civilization changed the course of entire ancient Indian historiography, the discovery of Chandraketugarh changed the shape of historiography of Bengal. Chandraketugarh is a village located in Barasat in the North 24 Parganas district of West Bengal, just 50 kms north of Kolkata. The site was accidentally discovered more than 100 years ago while laying a road between Basirhat and Barasat. As the word spread, A H Longhurst visited the site and checked the artifacts but wrote off the importance of the value of these artifacts. In 1909, Rakhal Banerjee visited the site and he was the first to understand te importance of the site. But it was not before 1957 that the proper scientific excavations started under ASI. Till 2000, excavation by ASI went on and off. But these excavations led to very important discoveries. Legendary astrologers of Bengal Khona and Mihir who was the daughter in law and son of celebrated mathematician Varahamihir of Chandragupta's court, had built a temple whose ruins were found. Beside these ruins, sculptures of Hindu pantheon, NWBP pottery, gold and silver coins, semi precious stones, statues of Chandragupta-Kumardevi, scripts in Kharoshti and Brahmi was found, These artifacts helped to create the timeline of this place from 400 BC to 1200 AD ie from Pre Mauryan to Pala dynasty. Chandraketugarh was a thriving port city with international trade communications. The Gangaradei place or community mentioned in ancient Greek and Roman texts may have been referring to this place. Currently, ASI has made a museum on the spot but still precious antique artifacts from this place is stolen and sold outside of the country to art collectors.