19th Century View of Calcutta Port On The Hooghly River, 1880 Photo
An 1880 photo with a view of 19th-century Calcutta Port on the Hooghly River. A fleet of sailing ships with their tall masts lies docked at Calcutta Port on the Hooghly River. Faintly visible in the far distance is the outline of the Calcutta High Court facing the port.
The Hooghly is the western distributary of the Ganges River. From the 11th century, the river attracted merchants from China, Southeast Asia, Ceylon, Alexandria, the Arabs, and others. European colonists sailed up the Hooghly for the first time in the early 16th century. The chief attraction of Bengal to Europeans was the vast trading opportunities it offered.
Near the end of the 15th century, Portuguese ships had first rounded the Cape of Good Hope, arriving at Calicut for trade. Later, the Europeans sailed up the Hooghly for the first time in the early sixteenth century. As Portuguese trade flourished, it attracted other European powers like bees to honey. By the close of the 17th century, the Portuguese, Dutch, French, and English had well-established colonies.
The British settlement was established near the end of the 17th century, on the Hooghly River’s left bank. Where Fort William is located. The English East India Company emerged as the dominant European power on the river. A fortification was built named Fort William on the banks of the Hooghly. Calcutta began a period of growth that would transform it into one of India’s greatest cities. Second only to London among the most important cities in the British Empire. Click on the photo to enlarge.
Did you know – that travelling from England to India was a grueling voyage of six months or more.
Past posts – Raja Ravi Varma Paintings Depicted In 3 Postcards.
