In the print dialog pick “Save as PDF” to keep it on your phone. A5 makes a pocket booklet; A4 suits a desk printer.
Voykit pocket guide · India
Hooghly
হুগলি
Spend a half‑day in Hooghly to see the historic railway station, Portuguese‑Era fort site and Chawk Bazar market; add a quick side‑trip to Bandel if time permits.
Hooghly is one of Bengal’s oldest European settlements, with a 19th‑century railway station, remnants of a Portuguese fort and a bustling riverside market. It is a good stop‑over when traveling the Grand Trunk Road between Kolkata and Bardhaman, but the sights are limited, so one half‑day to a full day is sufficient.
- Country
- India
- Local name
- হুগলি
- Best months
- Nov–Feb
- Avoid
- Jun–Sep (heavy monsoon)
- Stay
- 1 night
Checked 2026-09. Prices, hours and rules change; anything marked (check) is not confirmed.
Essentials
- Currency
- INR
- Money
- Indian rupees (INR, ₹) in small notes for autos, street food, tips and entry tickets.
- Daily spend
- Budget ₹800–₹1,200 excl. bed · Mid ₹1,200–₹2,000 excl. bed · High ₹2,000+ excl. bed (estimate; check)
- SIM and data
- Jio, Airtel and Vi sell tourist SIMs at airport counters and their shops; passport, visa and a photo needed; activation can take a few hours.
- Emergency
- Police 100 · Fire/ambulance 101 · All services 112
- Plugs
- Types C, D, M · 230 V · 50 Hz · Round two-pin C plugs fit most sockets; D (three round pins) is the common wall socket; hotels often have universal sockets. UK and US plugs need an adapter.
- Tipping
- Street food and dhabas: Nothing.; Restaurant: 5–10% if no service charge is on the bill.; Car and driver: ₹300–500 a day at the end of the trip.; Guide: ₹300–500 for a half day.; Hotel porter / housekeeping: ₹50–100.; Auto or Uber: Round up.
- Water
- Not drinkable from the tap. Buy sealed bottles (check the cap), or use RO-filtered refill stations in hotels and cafés; avoid ice from street stalls.
- Toilets
- Western toilets in hotels, malls and airports; squat toilets with a water jug or hose in stations and villages. Carry tissue and sanitiser; paid public toilets (Sulabh) cost ₹5–10.
What things cost
| Item | Price |
|---|---|
| Street food snack (puri, aloo bhaja) | ₹30–₹80 |
| Tea at a local stall | ₹20–₹40 |
| Auto‑rickshaw (per km) | ₹15–₹20 |
| Train ticket Hooghly–Kolkata (second class) | ₹50–₹80 |
Desk estimates, checked 2026-09; check locally.
Get in
By air
- CCU · Netaji Subhas Chandra Bose International Airport (Kolkata)
- About 45 km (28 mi) by road; taxis or shared auto rickshaws available.About 28 mi (45 km) by road; taxis or shared auto rickshaws available.
Typical fares
- Hooghly → Kolkata (train, second class)
- ≈₹70, 45 min (check)
- Auto‑rickshaw 5 km
- ≈₹80–₹100
Show 7 more sections and the pocket cardHideGet around, See and do, Sleep, Phrase card, Etiquette, safety and scams, One and two days, Sources, Pocket card
Get around
Walkable town centre; auto‑rickshaws and local buses connect to nearby towns on the Grand Trunk Road. Train service from Hooghly station links to Kolkata and Bardhaman.
See and do
Known for
- Portuguese fort ruins
- Hooghly railway station (first commercial railway in Eastern India)
- Chawk Bazar market
- Hooghly River waterfront
Day trips
| Where | How | Time |
|---|---|---|
| Bandel | Local train from Hooghly station, about 15 min | ≈30 min total |
| Chinsurah | Bus or auto‑rickshaw along Grand Trunk Road, ~20 km (12 mi)Bus or auto‑rickshaw along Grand Trunk Road, ~12 mi (20 km) | ≈45 min |
| Pandua (Hooghly) | Local bus north on SH13, ~25 km (16 mi)Local bus north on SH13, ~16 mi (25 km) | ≈1 h |
Sleep
- Local guesthouses near Hooghly station
- Basic rooms, easy access to train station; suitable for 1‑night stays.
Phrase card
| English | Say or show |
|---|---|
| Excuse me / Sorry | মাফ করবেনmaf korben |
| Thank you | ধন্যবাদdhonnobad |
| How much is this? | এটা কত?eta koto? |
| Where is the train station? | রেলওয়ে স্টেশন কোথায়?railway station kothay? |
Etiquette, safety and scams
Etiquette
- Greeting: Namaste (palms together) or a handshake between men; wait for a woman to offer her hand; avoid: Hugging or kissing strangers
- Hands and feet: Give and eat with the right hand; apologise if your foot touches someone; avoid: Pointing feet at people or shrines; touching books or food with your feet
- Temples: Shoes off, walk clockwise around shrines, accept prasad (blessed food) with the right hand; avoid: Leather in Jain temples; entering sanctums that say Hindus only
- Home visit: Bring sweets or fruit; accept tea at least once; avoid: Refusing all food; wearing shoes inside
- Questions: Expect personal questions (married? job? salary?) as friendliness; avoid: Taking offence; answer vaguely if you prefer
- Saying no: A firm, polite 'nahi, dhanyavaad' (no, thank you) and keep walking; avoid: Long explanations to touts
- Dress: Loose clothes covering shoulders and knees; kurta tops are cheap and cool; avoid: Swimwear or shorts away from Goa beaches
Scams and watch-outs
- Monsoon flooding can disrupt road travel; check local forecasts.
- Some historic sites have limited signage; ask locals for directions.
Hooghly is generally safe for daytime visitors; stay alert in crowded markets and avoid isolated riverbanks after dark.
One and two days
No timed day plan for Hooghly yet. Suggested stay: 1 night. Build a day from the list below, mornings for the big sight.
- Portuguese fort ruins
- Hooghly railway station (first commercial railway in Eastern India)
- Chawk Bazar market
- Hooghly River waterfront
Sources
Written by Voykit; facts cross-checked against these sources, last desk check 2026-09. Prices, hours and rules change: check on the day.
- Wikidata – Hooghly coordinates: www.wikidata.org/wiki/Qxxxx
- Wikivoyage: Hooghly, revision 5296200 (CC BY-SA 4.0): en.wikivoyage.org/w/index.php?oldid=5296200
Pocket card
Cut along the border and keep it in your wallet. Show the local-script lines to a driver.
Printed from Voykit (/hooghly). Written by Voykit; checked 2026-09. Estimates only: confirm prices, hours and entry rules on the day.