Barrackpore, also spelt Barrackpur, is an important industrial town and cantonment in
North 24 Parganas District of
West Bengal. The name of the place is believed to be from the military barracks of the company forces. Barrackpore lies opposite to
Serampore, about 24 km north of
Kolkata, on the banks of
Hooghly River.
Prime attractions include the Gandhi Ghat,
Gandhi Smarak Sangrahalaya, Brahmamayee Kali Temple, Lok Sanskriti Bhawan, Nanda Kishore Temple, Statue of Bandi Tewari, Hanuman Mandir and Sukanta Sadan. Malancha, Mathura Beel, Jawhar Kunja and Lat Bagan are the popular picnic spots here.
Barrackpore is also home to a number of research institutions such as Central Inland Capture Fisheries Research Institute, Central Research Institute for Jute, and Allied Fibres and Indian Statistical Institute. There is a helicopter servicing and maintenance unit, managed by the Hindustan Aeronautics Limited.
Nearest airport is Netaji Subhash Chandra Bose International Airport. Barrackpore Railway Station, managed by the Eastern Railways, is on the Bhatpara-Khardah rail route. Frequent buses are available from various places of Kolkata and Howrah.
