233 years old Danish Tavern at Serampore, West Bengal, renovated in 2018, has now become a popular eating out place. An hour may happily be spent here with mouth watering dishes. The Park Group of hotels in Kolkata is maintaining the Tavern. A brief description by Madhurima Banerjee.
ঘরের কাছে এককালে একটা ড্যানিশ কলোনী ছিল, নাম তার ফ্রেডরিকনগর। আসলে সেটাই শ্রীরামপুর। ২৩৩ বছর আগের সেই জায়গায় বসে যদি ড্যানিশ স্টাইল পেস্ট্রি হাতে নিয়ে একটু যদি পিছিয়ে যাই দু'শো বছরেরও বেশি?
Madhurima Banerjee র কলমে–
#The_Danish_Tavern_Serampore
Are you done with the stereotype weekend destinations ended with the smell of popcorn in multiplex? Have you had enough of the Sunday-special window-shopping in multistorey shopping malls and still craving for some "hatke" hanging out?
...
Come,let's dive in the 233 years old history of our very own Suburban, which would take less than an hour by train from Howrah Jn.
Waiting for the historical ride? Great!!!
Let's jump into the past,March 1786.
.
.
Mr.James Parr,keeper of the London Tavern announced the inauguration of an elegantly decorated Inn on the bank of Hooghly River,just opposite to the Barrackpore Cantonment.
After two years, the ownership was handed over to Mr.John Nichols,former keeper of the Harmonick Tavern of the then Calcutta.
In 2010-11,after getting the nod from the higher officials of Denmark,a group of restoration experts decided to give life to the ruins of a building,standing erect amidst the debris near Dhobi Ghat of Serampore.
After several years diligent renovation work at the cost of Rs.5 Crore,borne by Government of West Bengal, Department of Tourism and a Private Association called Realdania, the Denmark Tavern was unveiled in February 2018 in presence of the Ambassadors of several Scandinavian countries including Denmark .The Denmark Tavern of Serampore consists of a Café which is inspired by the Indian Coffee House of Kolkata and a Lodge consisting five rooms which are renovated and maintained by The Park Hotel,Kolkata.
Although bursting with high-rise and shopping malls here and there,while loitering in the vintage hall of the Denmark Tavern,one can still feel the essence of the then Fredericknagore,which came under British possession in 1845 and had been known as Serampore since then.
Sitting here,after a nice evening stroll by the riverside strand,one can experience the exotic flavour of some delicious food such as Chicken Sausage tossed with Capsicum and onion, Chicken Cheese Sandwich with French Fry,Danish special Pastry with Vanilla Icecream, Caramel Custard and the list goes on.A number of mouth-watering Bengali dishes are also available here.
So what are you waiting for?Let's have a stir in your cup of coffee with the perfect blend of historical nostalgia and new-age sophistication.
How to reach : From Howrah Jn.,one can avail any Burdwan (Main)/Bandel/Katwa/Tarakeswar/Arambagh/Goghat/Seoraphuli Local and reach Serampore.From Serampore Station Road, Electric Rickshaws/Auto-rickshaws are available to reach Serampore Court.Denmark Tavern, adjacent to the Bungalow of SDO,is at just 2 minutes walking distance from there.
Also,from Barrackpore Railway Station,one can take Auto-rickshaw to reach Serampore Ghat and from there Ferry service is available to Dhobi Ghat which is at 2 minutes walking distance from the Denmark Tavern.
For more info: click on
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| The Denmark Tavern after renovation, picture taken from internet. |
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| Menucard |
ঘরের কাছে এককালে একটা ড্যানিশ কলোনী ছিল, নাম তার ফ্রেডরিকনগর। আসলে সেটাই শ্রীরামপুর। ২৩৩ বছর আগের সেই জায়গায় বসে যদি ড্যানিশ স্টাইল পেস্ট্রি হাতে নিয়ে একটু যদি পিছিয়ে যাই দু'শো বছরেরও বেশি?
Madhurima Banerjee র কলমে–
#The_Danish_Tavern_Serampore
Are you done with the stereotype weekend destinations ended with the smell of popcorn in multiplex? Have you had enough of the Sunday-special window-shopping in multistorey shopping malls and still craving for some "hatke" hanging out?
...
Come,let's dive in the 233 years old history of our very own Suburban, which would take less than an hour by train from Howrah Jn.
Waiting for the historical ride? Great!!!
Let's jump into the past,March 1786.
.
.
Mr.James Parr,keeper of the London Tavern announced the inauguration of an elegantly decorated Inn on the bank of Hooghly River,just opposite to the Barrackpore Cantonment.
After two years, the ownership was handed over to Mr.John Nichols,former keeper of the Harmonick Tavern of the then Calcutta.
In 2010-11,after getting the nod from the higher officials of Denmark,a group of restoration experts decided to give life to the ruins of a building,standing erect amidst the debris near Dhobi Ghat of Serampore.
After several years diligent renovation work at the cost of Rs.5 Crore,borne by Government of West Bengal, Department of Tourism and a Private Association called Realdania, the Denmark Tavern was unveiled in February 2018 in presence of the Ambassadors of several Scandinavian countries including Denmark .The Denmark Tavern of Serampore consists of a Café which is inspired by the Indian Coffee House of Kolkata and a Lodge consisting five rooms which are renovated and maintained by The Park Hotel,Kolkata.
Although bursting with high-rise and shopping malls here and there,while loitering in the vintage hall of the Denmark Tavern,one can still feel the essence of the then Fredericknagore,which came under British possession in 1845 and had been known as Serampore since then.
Sitting here,after a nice evening stroll by the riverside strand,one can experience the exotic flavour of some delicious food such as Chicken Sausage tossed with Capsicum and onion, Chicken Cheese Sandwich with French Fry,Danish special Pastry with Vanilla Icecream, Caramel Custard and the list goes on.A number of mouth-watering Bengali dishes are also available here.
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| Chicken sausage |
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| Sausage, sandwich |
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| Danish style pastry with icecream |
So what are you waiting for?Let's have a stir in your cup of coffee with the perfect blend of historical nostalgia and new-age sophistication.
How to reach : From Howrah Jn.,one can avail any Burdwan (Main)/Bandel/Katwa/Tarakeswar/Arambagh/Goghat/Seoraphuli Local and reach Serampore.From Serampore Station Road, Electric Rickshaws/Auto-rickshaws are available to reach Serampore Court.Denmark Tavern, adjacent to the Bungalow of SDO,is at just 2 minutes walking distance from there.
Also,from Barrackpore Railway Station,one can take Auto-rickshaw to reach Serampore Ghat and from there Ferry service is available to Dhobi Ghat which is at 2 minutes walking distance from the Denmark Tavern.
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| Interior |
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| Old picture on the wall of the tavern |
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| Sitting arrangement |
ভাগীরথীর তীর– পালতোলা বাণিজ্যতরীগুলি ভেসে যায়। পর্তুগিজদের ব্যান্ডেল, ওলন্দাজদের চুঁচুড়া, ব্রিটিশদের কলকাতা আর দিনেমারদের ঘাঁটি হলো শ্রীরামপুর। ড্যানিশ ইস্ট ইন্ডিয়া কোম্পানি (স্থাপিত ১৬২০) যদিও কোনোকালেই অন্যদের মতো ভারতে খুব একটা সুবিধে করতে পারেনি, তবু নিকোবর দ্বীপ, তামিলনাড়ুর একটা দুটো জায়গা আর আমাদের ঘরের পাশের শ্রীরামপুরে কিছু প্রভাব ছিল তাদের।
শ্রীরামপুরের তখনকার নাম ফ্রেডরিকনগর। সেদিনের ডেনমার্ক স্থাপত্যের নিদর্শন হয়ে আজও বেঁচে আছে সেন্ট ওলাভ চার্চ। শ্রীরামপুর কলেজও ড্যানিশ শ্রীরামপুরের ঐতিহ্যই বহন করে। সেইসময় বেশ বিজ্ঞাপন দিয়েই চালু হয়েছিল গঙ্গাতীরের এক জনপ্রিয় পান্থনিবাস,– খানাপিনার ব্যবস্থাও থাকত। এরপর দিনেমারদের দিনও গেল, কালের অতলে চলে গেল সেই পান্থনিবাস, আরো অনেক প্রাচীন ভবনের সঙ্গেই।
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| Condition of the Danish Tavern before renovation, source: internet |
বছর দশেক আগে ন্যাশনাল মিউজিয়াম অব ডেনমার্ক শ্রীরামপুরের ভাগীরথী তীরবর্তী পূর্বতন ড্যানিশ ভবনগুলির সংস্কারে উদ্যোগী হয় রাজ্য সরকারের সঙ্গে জোট বেঁধে। তারই ফলশ্রুতি শ্রীরামপুর কোর্ট চত্বরের নানা ভবনের পুনরুজ্জীবন, আর অবশ্যই আজকের দ্য ডেনমার্ক ট্যাভর্ন।
হাওড়া থেকে একটা ব্যান্ডেল বা বর্ধমান মেইন লাইনের ট্রেন ধরে শ্রীরামপুর নেমে টোটো ধরে শ্রীরামপুর কোর্ট বা হেড পোস্টঅফিস এলেই যে কাউকে বললে দেখিয়ে দেবে গঙ্গার ধারের ডেনমার্ক ট্যাভারন। সুন্দর লন পেরিয়ে ভিতরে বসে ফ্লুরিশ স্টাইল কোনকিছু বা ইন্ডিয়ান বা চাইনিজ কোন ডিশ নিয়ে দেখতেই পারেন। আরেকবার আসতে ইচ্ছে করবে, নিশ্চিত।
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| The eye speaks for itself. |
