Denmark chips in to renovate 116 WB heritage buildings

A total of 116 heritage buildings, constructed in the 18th and 19th centuries and located on the bank of river Hooghly in West Bengal, will be renovated and preserved with the help of Denmark.

National Museum of Denmark (NMD) has formulated an ambitious plan in collaboration with the West Bengal Heritage Commission (WBHC) for the revival of the lost  glory of these buildings. 

There was a large Danish settlement at Serampore on the bank of river Hooghly from 1755 to 1845 before the arrival of British in India and all the 116 buildings constructed during that period have elegant Danish structures with neo-classical architecture. Most of these heritage buildings are occupied by government organisations while rest of them are owned by private trusts and commercial organisations.

NMD will enhance the specific historic identity of Serampore and also improve the aesthetic and recreational qualities of the town heritage buildings through citizen-centric, inclusive conservation projects by actively involving the local populations, NGOs and various other stake holders, a state tourism department official said. 

The state tourism department has formulated plans to promote heritage tourism in the area and link it with other former European colonies along the Hooghly.