As I stood on the edge of the vast, green expanse of Chandraketugarh, just 35 kilometres northeast of Kolkata, the humid West Bengal air seemed to hum with whispers of a forgotten world. The Bidyadhari River flowed quietly nearby, its gentle ripples a reminder of the lifeblood that once sustained a thriving civilisation here. Surrounded by fields that stretched endlessly under the golden sun, I felt like I was stepping into a storybook, one where myth and history entwined, beckoning me to uncover the secrets of an ancient city lost to time. Chandraketugarh is no ordinary archaeological site—it’s a portal to a past that pulses with life, a place where the echoes of a vibrant, cosmopolitan society still linger in the terracotta figurines and crumbling walls.

A Personal Pilgrimage to the Past

My journey to Chandraketugarh began with a spark of curiosity, ignited by tales of a city older than memory itself. I’d heard whispers of this enigmatic place—stories of a port city that once connected India to the far reaches of the ancient world, from the Mediterranean to Southeast Asia. As a lover of history, I couldn’t resist the pull of a site that promised to bridge the gap between the world I knew and one that existed centuries before my time. The drive from Kolkata was short but transformative, trading the city’s chaotic energy for the serene, almost sacred quiet of the countryside. When I arrived, the sprawling ruins stretched before me, a silent testament to a civilisation that had flourished and faded long before my ancestors walked this land.

Chandraketugarh: Bengal’s Forgotten Metropolis

While the grandeur of the Indus Valley often dominates conversations on ancient Indian urbanism, the alluvial plains of Bengal conceal a narrative just as compelling—one that unfolds at Chandraketugarh. Nestled along the once-navigable Vidyadhari River, this archaeological site whispers of a sophisticated port city that flourished centuries before the Common Era, deeply embedded in networks of trade, culture, and power.

Historians have long speculated that Chandraketugarh may be linked to the fabled Gangaridai kingdom described by classical writers such as Megasthenes and Ptolemy. According to these accounts, the Gangaridai commanded such formidable military strength that even Alexander the Great reconsidered advancing further into eastern India. If these associations hold true, Chandraketugarh was not merely a settlement—it may have been a strategic capital or a thriving commercial nerve centre of this powerful polity.

What truly sets Chandraketugarh apart, however, is its cosmopolitan character. Excavations have revealed exquisite terracotta plaques portraying figures in attire reminiscent of Mediterranean styles, alongside Roman coins that point unmistakably to long-distance trade. This was a port where merchants likely sailed across the Bay of Bengal, exporting Bengal’s famed muslin and spices to distant markets in Rome and Egypt, while absorbing artistic and cultural influences in return.

Emerging around the 4th century BCE, Chandraketugarh evolved into a vibrant urban hub through successive eras—the pre-Mauryan, Mauryan, Gupta, and Pala-Sena periods. Fortified walls, remnants of religious structures, and layers of habitation suggest a city alive with activity—its docks bustling, its markets thriving, and its streets echoing with diverse tongues and traditions. Some scholars even draw parallels between the name “Chandraketu” and “Sandrokottos,” the Greek rendering often associated with Chandragupta Maurya—an intriguing, if debated, connection.

Yet, like many riverine civilizations, Chandraketugarh’s fate was tied to the whims of geography. The gradual shifting of the Vidyadhari River likely choked its lifeline as a port, leading to economic decline and eventual abandonment. Over centuries, the city slipped into obscurity, buried under layers of silt and silence.

Walking through Chandraketugarh today is less about ruins and more about imagination. Beneath the quiet fields lies the memory of a city that once stood at the crossroads of the ancient world—its story waiting, patiently, to be told again.

The Terracotta Tales of a Lost World

As I explored the site, my eyes were drawn to the terracotta sculptures that are Chandraketugarh’s most enduring legacy. These delicate, intricately crafted pieces are more than artefacts—they’re storytellers, each one capturing a moment in the lives of the people who lived here over two millennia ago. I stood in awe before a figurine of a fertility goddess, her form radiating strength and grace, her multi-armed silhouette wielding weapons in a dance of divine power. Another depicted a Proto-Durga, triumphantly slaying a demon, her image a precursor to the fierce goddess worshipped across Bengal today. These weren’t just sculptures; they were windows into a spiritual world where deities and mortals coexisted.

But it wasn’t just the divine that these terracottas immortalised. Some plaques captured the everyday—musicians playing their instruments, dancers swaying to forgotten rhythms, families gathered in moments of quiet joy. I could almost hear the laughter of children and the chatter of merchants as I gazed at a terracotta scene of a mother cradling her child, its details so vivid I felt I could reach out and touch them. These artworks spoke of a society that was both deeply spiritual and joyfully human, influenced by far-flung cultures—Greek, Persian, Southeast Asian—yet distinctly Bengali in its soul.

At the on-site museum, I lingered over a display of terracotta plaques depicting scenes from the Ramayana, their intricate carvings telling tales of heroism and devotion. A winged female deity, her form both ethereal and fierce, seemed to watch over me as I marvelled at the craftsmanship.

These pieces, many now housed in museums like the Ethnological Museum in Berlin and the Metropolitan Museum of Art in New York, are a testament to the artistic genius of Chandraketugarh’s people. Yet, standing there, I couldn’t help but feel a pang of sorrow knowing that many of these treasures had been scattered across the globe, some lost to illegal trade and neglect.

Khana’s Prophecy: A Legend Etched in Earth

One of the most captivating stories tied to Chandraketugarh is that of Khana, a woman whose intellect and foresight have become the stuff of legend. Said to be the daughter-in-law of the renowned astrologer Varahamihira, Khana was a scholar and seer whose predictions, known as Khanar Vachan, are still recited in Bengali households. Local lore tells of her extraordinary abilities, which some say threatened the patriarchal order of her time. As I stood atop Khana Mihirer Dhibi, the five-meter-high mound named in her honour, I imagined her gazing at the stars, unravelling the mysteries of the cosmos.

Excavations at this mound, conducted between 1956 and 1968, unearthed the remains of a grand post-Gupta temple complex, its stones whispering of a time when devotion and knowledge flourished here. Khana’s story, though steeped in myth, feels like a bridge between the tangible ruins and the intangible spirit of Chandraketugarh. It’s a reminder that this city was not just a hub of trade and art but also a place where ideas and wisdom thrived.

Rediscovering a Lost City

Chandraketugarh might have remained buried in obscurity if not for the keen eye of Tarak Nath Ghosh, a local physician who, in the early 20th century, noticed artefacts during road construction. His discovery sparked curiosity, though the Archaeological Survey of India initially dismissed the site’s significance. It wasn’t until archaeologist Rakhal Das Banerji published his findings in 1920 that the world began to take notice. Decades of excavations followed, revealing city walls, gateways, temples, and a wealth of artefacts that painted a vivid picture of a once-thriving metropolis.

As I walked through the ruins, I could almost see the outlines of the ancient city—its streets bustling with traders, its temples alive with chants, its artisans shaping clay into stories that would outlive them. The discovery of Roman coins and other foreign artefacts hinted at Chandraketugarh’s far-reaching connections, a reminder that this was a city of the world, not just of Bengal.

The Fight to Preserve a Legacy

Yet, for all its historical significance, Chandraketugarh faces an uncertain future. Illegal excavations and artefact smuggling have robbed the site of many treasures, with countless pieces now displayed in museums far from their homeland. The West Bengal government’s establishment of a museum in 2017 was a crucial step toward preservation, offering a space to house and protect the remaining artefacts while educating visitors about the site’s importance. Standing in the museum, surrounded by relics of a lost world, I felt a renewed sense of urgency to protect this heritage for future generations.

A Call to Connect with the Past

Visiting Chandraketugarh was more than a trip—it was a pilgrimage, a chance to walk in the footsteps of a civilisation that shaped the cultural tapestry of Bengal. The ruins, though weathered by time, still convey a sense of resilience, creativity, and connection. The terracotta figurines, the temple mounds, the stories of Khana—they all weave together to form a narrative that is both deeply personal and universally human.

For anyone with a passion for history, Chandraketugarh is a must-visit destination. It’s a place where the past feels alive, where every fragment of clay and every weathered stone tells a story. Pair a visit here with a trip to Kolkata, where the vibrant culture of Bengal—its food, music, and traditions—continues to thrive.

As I left Chandraketugarh, the sun dipping low over the fields, I carried with me a sense of awe and responsibility. This is a place that deserves to be remembered, not just for what it was but for what it teaches us about who we are.

Chandraketugarh is more than a forgotten city—it’s a voice from the past, refusing to be silenced, calling us to listen, learn, and preserve its legacy for the future.