Chandraketugarh, Archaeological site in Deganga, India

Chandraketugarh is an archaeological site spread across multiple villages in the North 24 Parganas district, containing ancient structures and artifacts spanning different historical periods. The excavated areas reveal layered remains, with older foundations beneath later constructions that built upon earlier settlements.

Archaeological findings show continuous human settlement from around 400 BCE until the 12th century CE, spanning periods from pre-Maurya through Pala dynasties. The site experienced successive waves of rulers and cultural shifts that shaped its development over more than fifteen centuries.

Terracotta pieces, inscriptions in Kharoshthi and Brahmi scripts, and coins uncovered here reveal connections between this place and distant civilizations around the Mediterranean. The discoveries show how trade and cultural exchange shaped life in this region for many centuries.

Chandraketugarh lies about 35 km north-east of Kolkata, reached by road via Barasat or by the Barasat-Basirhat Road; regular buses run from Ultadanga and Esplanade to Berachampa, from where the mounds are close by. The nearest railhead is Harua Road. A car from Netaji Subhas Chandra Bose International Airport takes about two hours. Only a small part of the ancient city, the temple area and walls, has been excavated.

Two private museums near the site display over 1,500 artifacts including wooden figures and terracotta pieces uncovered during local excavations. These collections preserve objects that reveal details about daily life and craftsmanship from centuries past.