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{{Use dmy dates|date=July 2018}}
{{Use Indian English|date=July 2018}}
{{Infobox ancient site
|name = Chandraketugarh
|native_name= '''An [[Archaeological Survey of India|ASI]] [[List of Monuments of National Importance in West Bengal|Listed Monument]]'''
|alternate_name =
|image =Khana-Mihir Mound - Berachampa 2012-02-24 2346.JPG
|alt =
|caption = The mound of [[Khana (poet)|Khana]]-Mihir or [[Varāhamihira|Barahamihir]] on Prithiba road, [[Berachampa]] (Chandraketugarh ruins)
|map_type = India West Bengal
|map_alt =
|coordinates = {{coord|22|41|52|N|88|41|18|E|display=inline,title}}
|location = [[West Bengal]], [[India]]
|region =
|type = Settlement
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|built = 400 BC to 800 BC
|abandoned = 12th century AD
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'''Chandraketugarh''' is an [[archaeological]] site located near the [[Bidyadhari River|Bidyadhari]] river, about {{convert|35|km}} north-east of [[Kolkata]], [[India]], in the district of [[North 24 parganas]], near the township of [[Berachampa]] and the Harua Road [[railhead]].

Excavation between 1957–68 (conducted by [[Asutosh Museum of Indian Art]], [[University of Calcutta]]) revealed relics of several historical periods,<ref name=de>Dr. Gaurishankar de & Prof. Subhradip de, Prasanga: Pratna-Prantar Chandraketugarh, First Edition: 2013, {{ISBN|978-93-82435-00-6}}</ref> although the chronological classification of the relics remains incomplete.

According to some historians, the Chandraketugarh site and surrounding area could be the place known to ancient Greek and Roman writers as having the same name as the river Ganges (Γάγγης)<ref>"Merchants, Merchandise and Merchantmen in the Western Seaboard of India: A Maritime Profile (c. 500 BCE-1500 CE)." Ranabir Chakravarti. In: ''History of Science, Philosophy and Culture in Indian Civilization, Vol. VIII'' (1), (2012) Om Prakash (Ed.), Centre for Studies in Civilization, Delhi, pp. 69-70.</ref> sometimes referred to as '[[Gangaridai]]'.

According to the [[List of Monuments of National Importance in West Bengal]] (serial no. N-WB-1), Chandraketu's Fort is an ASI listed monument.<ref>{{cite web| url = http://asi.nic.in/asi_monu_alphalist.asp |title = List of Ancient Monuments and Archaeological Sites and Remains of National Importance| work= West Bengal|publisher= Archaeological Survey of India |archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20140627005558/http://asi.nic.in/asi_monu_alphalist.asp| access-date = 17 April 2020|archive-date = 27 June 2014}}</ref>

==Geography==
{{OSM Location map
| width=500| height=500| zoom=11
| coord={{coord|22|46|0|N|88|36|0|E}}| float=left|caption='''Cities, towns and locations in Barasat subdivision, North 24 Parganas'''<br/> M: municipal town, CT: census town, R: rural/ urban centre, H: historical centre<br/>Owing to space constraints in the small map, the actual locations in a larger map may vary slightly
|mark-coord1={{coord|22|48|55|N|88|37|48|E}} | label-pos1=right|label1= Anarbaria | numbered1=CT| mark-title1=[[Anarbaria]] (CT)|label-color1=#800000 |label-size1=11| mark-size1=12|shape1=l-circle|shape-color1= #A40000|shape-outline1=white|label-offset-x1=2
|mark-coord2={{coord|22|44|26|N|88|31|20|E}} | label-pos2=right|label2= Bamangachhi| numbered2=CT| mark-title2=[[Bamangachhi]] (CT)
|mark-coord3={{coord|22|48|49|N|88|36|1|E}} | label-pos3=left|label3= Bara Bamonia| numbered3=CT| mark-title3=[[Bara Bamonia]] (CT)
|mark-coord4={{coord|22|50|51|N|88|44|54|E}} | label-pos4=left|label4= Betpuli| numbered4=CT| mark-title4=[[Betpuli]] (CT)
|mark-coord5={{coord|22|47|13|N|88|34|24|E}} | label-pos5=right|label5= Bira| numbered5=CT| mark-title5=[[Bira, North 24 Parganas]] (CT)
|mark-coord6={{coord|22|44|4|N|88|28|29|E}} | label-pos6=top|label6= Chak Barbaria| numbered6=CT| mark-title6=[[Chak Barbaria]] (CT)
|mark-coord7={{coord|22|45|48|N|88|32|8|E}} | label-pos7=right|label7= Chandrapur| numbered7=CT| mark-title7=[[Chandrapur, West Bengal]] (CT)
|mark-coord8={{coord|22|46|42|N|88|33|45|E}} | label-pos8=right|label8= Chatta Baria| numbered8=CT| mark-title8=[[Chatta Baria]] (CT)
|mark-coord9={{coord|22|38|25|N|88|29|15|E}} | label-pos9=right|label9= Deara| numbered9=CT| mark-title9=[[Deara]] (CT)
|mark-coord10={{coord|22|41|40|N|88|41|4|E}} | label-pos10=bottom|label10= Deulia| numbered10=CT| mark-title10=[[Deulia]] (CT)
|mark-coord11={{coord|22|54|40|N|88|32|4|E}} | label-pos11=right|label11= Dhania| numbered11=CT| mark-title11=[[Dhania, West Bengal]] (CT)
|mark-coord12={{coord|22|45|19|N|88|31|29|E}} | label-pos12=right|label12= Digha| numbered12=CT| mark-title12=[[Digha, North 24 Parganas]] (CT)
|mark-coord13={{coord|22|46|32|N|88|33|10|E}} | label-pos13=left|label13= Duttapukur| numbered13=CT| mark-title13=[[Duttapukur]] (CT)
|mark-coord14={{coord|22|47|10|N|88|32|22|E}} | label-pos14=left|label14= Gangapur| numbered14=CT| mark-title14=[[Gangapur, North 24 Parganas]] (CT)
|mark-coord15={{coord|22|54|13|N|88|44|28|E}} | label-pos15=left|label15= Gobardanga| numbered15=M| mark-title15=[[Gobardanga]] (M)| shape-color15= #800000
|mark-coord16={{coord|22|49|20|N|88|36|36|E}} | label-pos16=left|label16= Guma| numbered16=CT| mark-title16=[[Guma, India]] (CT)
|mark-coord17={{coord|22|46|15|N|88|34|10|E}} | label-pos17=right|label17= Joypul| numbered17=CT| mark-title17=[[Joypul]] (CT)
|mark-coord18={{coord|22|48|23|N|88|35|47|E}} | label-pos18=left|label18= Khorddabamonia| numbered18=CT| mark-title18=[[Khorddabamonia]] (CT)
|mark-coord19={{coord|22|45|35|N|88|26|34|E}} | label-pos19=right|label19= Kokapur| numbered19=CT| mark-title19=[[Kokapur, West Bengal]] (CT)
|mark-coord20={{coord|22|42|22|N|88|32|28|E}} | label-pos20=left|label20= Koyra| numbered20=CT| mark-title20=[[Koyra, West Bengal]] (CT)
|mark-coord21={{coord|22|45|5|N|88|31|2|E}} | label-pos21=left|label21= Kulberia| numbered21=CT| mark-title21=[[Kulberia]] (CT)
|mark-coord22={{coord|22|51|20|N|88|44|40|E}} | label-pos22=left|label22= Maslandapur| numbered22=CT| mark-title22=[[Maslandapur]] (CT)
|mark-coord23={{coord|22|52|23|N|88|44|22|E}} | label-pos23=left|label23= Nokpul| numbered23=CT| mark-title23=[[Nokpul]] (CT)
|mark-coord24={{coord|22|47|50|N|88|35|0|E}} | label-pos24=left|label24= Purbba Narayanpur| numbered24=CT| mark-title24=[[Purbba Narayanpur]] (CT)
|mark-coord25={{coord|22|51|46|N|88|45|0|E}} | label-pos25=left|label25= Sadpur| numbered25=CT| mark-title25=[[Sadpur]] (CT)
|mark-coord26={{coord|22|46|0|N|88|31|10|E}} | label-pos26=left|label26= Shibalaya| numbered26=CT| mark-title26=[[Shibalaya]] (CT)
|mark-coord27={{coord|22|42|40|N|88|29|10|E}}| label-pos27=left|label27= Barasat| numbered27=M| mark-title27= [[Barasat]] (M)| shape-color27= #800000
|mark-coord28={{coord|22|49|58|N|88|37|58|E}} | label-pos28=left|label28= Ashoknagar Kalyangarh| numbered28=M| mark-title28=[[Ashoknagar Kalyangarh]] (M) | shape-color28= #800000
|mark-coord29={{coord|22|50|42|N|88|39|1|E}} | label-pos29=left|label29= Habra| numbered29=M| mark-title29=[[Habra]] (M) | shape-color29= #800000
|mark-coord30={{coord|22|42|0|N|88|27|0|E}} | label-pos30=right|label30= Madhyamgram| numbered30=M| mark-title30=[[Madhyamgram]] (M) | shape-color30= #800000
|mark-coord31={{coord|22|42|37|N|88|41|18|E}} | label-pos31=left|label31=Chandraketugarh| numbered31=H| mark-title31= Chandraketugarh (H) |shape-color31=black| label-size31=13|label-color31=black 
|mark-coord32={{coord|22|48|18|N|88|30|23|E}} | label-pos32=left|label32=Amdanga| numbered32=R| mark-title32= [[Amdanga, North 24 Parganas]] (R) |shape-color32=#C40000
|mark-coord33={{coord|22|45|0|N|88|27|0|E}} | label-pos33=right|label33=Barbaria| numbered33=R| mark-title33= [[Barbaria (village)]] (R) |shape-color33=#C40000
|mark-coord34={{coord|22|42|5|N|88|41|24|E}} | label-pos34=left|label34=Berachampa| numbered34=R| mark-title34= [[Berachampa]] (R) |shape-color34=#C40000
|mark-coord35={{coord|22|43|41|N|88|27|12|E}} | label-pos35=right|label35=Berunanpukuria| numbered35=R| mark-title35= [[Berunanpukuria]] (R) |shape-color35=#C40000
|mark-coord36={{coord|22|44|50|N|88|32|7|E}} | label-pos36=right|label36=Chhota Jagulia| numbered36=R| mark-title36= [[Chhota Jagulia]] (R) |shape-color36=#C40000
|mark-coord37={{coord|22|41|39|N|88|38|58|E}} | label-pos37=left|label37= Deganga| numbered37=R| mark-title37= [[Deganga, North 24 Parganas]] (R) |shape-color37=#C40000
|mark-coord38={{coord|22|40|11|N|88|31|16|E}} | label-pos38=left|label38= Krishnapur Madanpur| numbered38=R| mark-title38= [[Krishnapur Madanpur]] (R) |shape-color38=#C40000
|mark-coord39={{coord|22|50|39|N|88|34|5|E}} | label-pos39=left|label39= Sabdalpur| numbered39=R| mark-title39= [[Sabdalpur]] (R) |shape-color39=#C40000
|mark-coord40={{coord|22|39|56|N|88|34|57|E}} | label-pos40=right|label40= Shasan| numbered40=R| mark-title40= [[Shasan, North 24 Parganas]] (R) |shape-color40=#C40000
|mark-coord41={{coord|22|38|30|N|88|37|0|E}} | label41= Bidyadhari River| label-color41 = #77A1CB| label-angle41= 10| label-pos41=right| label-size41=10| mark-size41=0| mark-title41 =none
|mark-coord42={{coord|22|54|0|N|88|43|30|E}} | label42= Jamuna |labela42=River| label-color42 = #77A1CB| label-angle42= 60| label-pos42=right| label-size42=10| mark-size42=0| mark-title42 =none}}

==Legend==
[[File:Excavated Brick Structure - Khana-Mihir Mound - Berachampa - North 24 Parganas 2015-04-11 7158.JPG|thumb|Excavated Brick Structure of Khana-Mihir Mound, Chandraketugarh, [[Berachampa]], [[North 24 parganas]] district.]]

The legend of [[Khana (poet)|Khana]] (A medieval [[Bengali language]] poet and legendary astrologer between the ninth and 12th centuries AD, also named Lilavati elsewhere) centers around her association with Chandraketugarh (here, a mound has been discovered amongst ruins with the names of Khana and Mihir associated with it) and that she was the daughter-in-law of the famous astronomer and mathematician, [[Varāhamihira]] (505 – 587), also called Varaha or Mihira, a jewel among [[Chandragupta II]] Vikramaditya's famed Navaratna sabha.

It is widely believed that Khana was Varahamihira's daughter-in-law, and an accomplished astrologer, becoming thereby a potential threat to Varahamihira's scientific career. However, she exceeded him in the accuracy of her predictions, and at some point, either her husband (or father-in-law) or a hired hand (or possibly Khana herself under great duress) cut off her tongue to silence her prodigious talent.

There is another heritage mosque in the name of [[Pir Gorachand]] (an [[Arab]] missionary of 14th century named Syed Abbas Ali).<ref>Mitra, Satish Chandra. Jashor Khulnar Itihash Volume I. Deys Publishing, p. 482.</ref><ref>Chakraborty, Dr. Barun Kumar (ed) (2007). Bangiya Loksanskriti Kosh. Aparna Book Distributors (Publishing Division), p. 143.</ref><ref>Ghosh, Binay (1980). Paschimbanger Sanskriti Volume III. Prakash Bhavan, p. 168.</ref>

==History==
Chandraketugarh is thought to be a part of the ancient kingdom [[Gangaridai]] that was first described by [[Ptolemy]]. The history of Chandraketugarh dates back to almost the 3rd century BC, during the pre-Mauryan era. Artefacts suggest that the site was continuously inhabited and flourished through the Shunga-Kushana period, onwards through the Gupta period and finally into the Pala-Sena period. Archaeological studies suggest that Chandraketugarh was an important town and a port city. It had a high encircling wall complete with a rampart and moat. The residents were involved in various crafts and mercantile activities. Although the religious inclinations of the people are unclear, hints of the beginning of some future cults can be seen in the artefacts. Some of the potteries carry inscriptions in Kharoshthi and Brahmi scripts.

{| class="wikitable"
|-
! Period !! Dynasty !! Year
|-
| Period I || [[Maurya]] || 300-200 BC
|-
| Period III || [[Shunga Empire|Shunga]] || 200 BC - 50 AD
|-
| Period IV || [[Kushan]] || 50-300 AD
|-
| Period V || [[Gupta]] || 300-500 AD
|-
| Period VI || [[Post-Gupta]] || 500-750 AD
|-
| Period VII || [[Pala_Empire|Pala]]-Chandra-[[Sena_dynasty|Sena]] || 750-1250 AD
|}
<ref name="de"/>

After these periods, there was no such example of any other civilization on the ruin of Chandraketugarh.

==Excavated archeological objects==
[[File:SungaMasculine.jpg|thumb|right|100px|Chandraketugarh. Sunga 2nd-1st century BCE]]
[[File:SungaFecondity2.jpg|thumb|right|100px| Chandraketugarh.Sunga Fecondity]]
[[File:SungaWithChild.jpg|thumb|right|100px| Chandraketugarh. Sunga With Child]]

[[Brahmi]] inscriptions with [[Megalithic Graffiti Symbols]] read "yojanani setuvandhat arddhasatah dvipa tamraparni", meaning "The island of [[Tamraparni]] (ancient Sri Lanka) is at a distance of 50 yojanas from Setuvandha ([[Rameswaram]] in Tamil Nadu).<ref>{{cite book |last1=Mondal |first1=Sambhu Nath |title=Decipherment of the Indus-Brâhmî Inscriptions of Chandraketugarh (Gangâhrada)--the Mohenjodaro of East India |date=2006 |publisher=Shankar Prasad Saha |location=University of Michigan |pages=32–51 |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=UGVlAAAAMAAJ&q=tamraparni |access-date=25 June 2019 |language=en}}</ref><ref>Sambhu Nath Mondal. 2006. Decipherment of the Indus-Brâhmî Inscriptions of Chandraketugarh (Gangâhrada)--the Mohenjodaro of East India. pp28 Sanskritization : "yojanani setuvandhat arddhasatah dvipa tamraparni"</ref> The mast of a ship with [[Vijayasinha]]'s seal, describing Vijayasinha, the son of the king of Sinhapura of Vanga's marriage to [[Kuveni]] – the indigenous "Yakkha queen of Tamraparni".<ref>Sambhu Nath Mondal. 2006. Decipherment of the Indus-Brâhmî Inscriptions of Chandraketugarh (Gangâhrada)--the Mohenjodaro of East India. pp28 vijayasihasa bivaha sihaurata tambapaniah yakkhini kubanna,a" Sanskritized as "vijayasirihasya vivaha sirihapuratah tamraparnyah yaksinf kubarjuaaya"</ref> Chandraketugarh features many examples of [[terracotta]] art, displaying an unusual degree of precision and craftsmanship. These plaques are comparable to those found at other better-known sites such as [[Kosambi|Kaushambi]] and [[Ahichatra|Ahichhatra]]. The terracotta plaques from these sites often carry similar motifs executed in nearly identical fashion. This similarity suggests an established communication link and common cultural heritage among these sites.

Finds include [[Northern Black Polished Ware]] (NBPW) relics, later wares dated from about 400 BC to 100 BC and approximately contemporary with the [[Maurya Empire|Maurya]] period, as well as from the more recent [[Kushan Empire|Kushanas]] and [[Gupta Empire|Gupta]] periods.

Many silver punch-marked coins and a few gold coins have been unearthed from Chandraketugarh, including a gold coin of Chandragupta-Kumardevi. Many semi-precious stone beads were also found here, along with items made of ivory and bone. Even a few wooden objects have survived.
<ref name="de"/>

==See also==

* [[Wari-Bateshwar ruins]]
* [[Shunga Empire]]
* [[Gangaridai]]
* [[Berachampa]]

==References==
{{Reflist}}
* ''Chandraketugarh : A Treasure House of Bengal Terracottas'' - Enamul Haque. Dhaka, The International Centre for Study of Bengal Art, 2001, 416 p., 678 illustrations including 400 in colour, figures, plates, maps, {{ISBN|984-8140-02-6}}. [https://web.archive.org/web/20060312223352/https://www.vedamsbooks.com/no23329.htm]
* ''Chandraketugarh : A Lost Civilization'' - Gourishankar De and Shubhradip De. Kolkata, Sagnik Books, 2004, 109 p., 34 photos, [https://web.archive.org/web/20060312212328/https://www.vedamsbooks.com/no38396.htm]

==External links==
{{Commons category|Chandraketugarh}}
* [http://en.banglapedia.org/index.php?title=Chandraketugarh Banglapedia article]
* [http://www.historyofbengal.com/ Website concerning Chandraketugarh]
* [http://www.historyofbengal.com/articles.html#article7 Photos]
* [http://www.historyofbengal.com/articles.html#article2 Interview with Prof. Joachim K. Bautze]
* [http://www.historyofbengal.com/from_asi_reports.html Timeline of excavation with photos]
* [http://www.historyofbengal.com/dilip_maite.html collection of relics]
* [https://web.archive.org/web/20051222184112/http://www.4to40.com/discoverindia/places/index.asp?article=discoverindia_places_chandraketugarh Chandraketugarh]
* [http://www.metmuseum.org/toah/ho/04/ssa/ho_1990.281.htm A plaque of Chandraketugarh]
* [http://www.rangan-datta.info/Chandraketugarh.htm A travel article on Chandraketugarh by Rangan Datta]
* [http://www.rangan-datta.info/Archaeology.htm A Travel Article on Archeological Sites near Calcutta by Rangan Datta]
* [http://www.rangan-datta.info Rangan Datta's Home Page]

{{Hindu inscriptions and arts|state=autocollapse}}
{{Non-extant Bengal places}}
{{North 24 Parganas District}}

[[Category:Monuments of National Importance in West Bengal]]
[[Category:Former populated places in India]]
[[Category:Archaeological sites in West Bengal]]
[[Category:North 24 Parganas district]]https://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=Chandraketugarh&action=edit&section=6
[[Category:Indo-Aryan archaeological sites]]

Chandraketugarh - Revision history

CleanupBot II at 20:22, 13 August 2023