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Dip into Armenian Ghat, Kolkata

Armani ghat 1734, Armenian Church, Armenian Ferry Ghat, Armenian ghat location Kolkata West Bengal, Armenian ghat street, Burraah Bazar Ghat, Colvin Ghat, Heritage Ghat of Kolkata, History of Calcutta
Superimposing Google earth image on a
Plan of Calcutta 1857by Fedrick Walter 
Simms, Con. Engr.to Gov of India
History says that Armenians in Calcutta were very numerous already in Captain Alexandar Hamilton time who spent his time from 1688 to 1723 AD in Calcutta. Armenitola in Barrabazar where initially Armenian’s stayed. Armenians mainly trades Indian Spices and Tea etc from India. They had trade agreement with East India Company. There was Armenian Tea Warehouse on Strand RoadOne of the major contribution of Armenians towards the city was Armenian Ghat. 

Armani ghat 1734, Armenian Church, Armenian Ferry Ghat, Armenian ghat location Kolkata West Bengal, Armenian ghat street, Burraah Bazar Ghat, Colvin Ghat, Heritage Ghat of Kolkata, History of Calcutta,
Detailed map of Armenian Ghat
compiled from old maps. 
Armenian Ghat on River Hooghly has a long interesting history to tell. Today peoples know Armenian ferry Ghat as Armenian Ghat though ferry ghat has hardly any connection with Armenian Ghat. Peoples may be used to call ferry ghat as Armenian Ghat.
It’s said that, originally this ghat was built by Manual Hazar Malian, an Armenian who added steeple in Armenian Church in 1734 AD. After whom this ghat known as Armenian Ghat. Location of Armenian Ghat was on Strand Road at the north side of old Motilal Seal Ghat and just south of Raja Woodmount Street. In today’s perspective, present Circular Railway line was the river bank line in that time and East Indian Railway Station was on the site of erstwhile Strand Warehouse. There was a hackney Carraige stand just beside of E.I. Railway Station at Armenian Ghat. Beside Hackney carraige Strand Armenian Bathing ghat was there. As you seen above, a map of 1858 AD superimposed with current google earth imagery, just for a comparative study in present scenario. 

Esq. John Baghshaw (1784-1861)
Courtesy Harwichabddoyercourt.co.uk 
Chandpal, Colvin’s, Police, Coila, Smithson’s, Armenian, Babee Ross’s, Burraah Bazar, New Mint and Baboo ghat is used as public ferry jetties. There is steamship service from Armenian Ghat to Ghatal.  Upto 1847 AD there was no fixed regulation, no fixed fares, and no registration of boats for public ferry. These ferry boats frequently fall in accidents being overloaded, by which great loss of life and property was sustained. The wife and elder daughter (Rebecca Baghshaw,37 years and Catharine Baghshaw,16 years respectively) of Esq. John Baghshaw (1784-1861, an East India Company Merchant and head of the firm Baghshaw & Co. of Calcutta,) drowned by the upsetting pinnace near Armenian Ghat on 19th Oct 1820. An Ayah and some Dandies are also stated to have perished by this accident. These incidents reported in The Asiatic Journal and monthly register for British India in Vol-XI Jan-June 1821. The mortal remains interred at South Park Street Burial Ground with memorial plaque.


From 15 August 1854, East India Railway Co.
East Indian Railways, Howrah Station, First train service in Eastern India
Etched on stone,
at Howrah Station
 old complex.
started railway services from, Howrah to Hooghly. From 1854 to 1874, East India Railway Co had passenger Station at Armenian Ghat from where passengers booked their tickets and fare covered the ferry to Howrah.  Passengers were ferried through the launches run by the East Indian Railways to the Howrah Station to board their train. This system of Conduit of passengers, however become dysfunctional with the commissioning of the floating Howrah Bridge on 17.10.1874. After then its landing stages used for ferry only when floating bridge opened for passage of ships. 

Kolkata side riverfront land from Chandpal Ghat to Aihiritola Ghat made over to Port Commissioners in 1874 except land of East Indian Railway Station at Armenian Ghat. Upto 1876, East Indian Railway Station area not handed over to Port Commissioners even though Port Commissioners Tramways has been laid from Baghbazar to Armenian Ghat and also inside the jetty enclosures, but the connection of the jetty with the inland wharfs and East Bengal Railway lines is barred by objection raised on the part of E.I. Railway to allow Commissioners tramways passes through the Armenian Ghat Station. Its pertinent to mention here that East India Railway Station and Armenian Ghat Station is different entity. Administration Report of 1876-77 of the ‘Commissioners for Making Improvements in the Port of Calcutta’ tells interesting facts how Armenian Ghat site, Armenian Ghat Station made over to Port Commissioners on certain terms and conditions. “When the strand bank was made over by Government, a reservation was made of that piece of land whereon the station of the East Indian Railway Company is erected and built. It was then supposed that on the construction of the Hooghly Bridge being completed, and communication thereby opened with the railway station at Howrah, that piece of land would be no longer required by the Railway Company, and would then be given up by them, In a note by Lieutenant-Colonel F. S. Taylor, Consulting Engineer to the Government of India, dated 5th February 1876, it is observed that, " on the completion and opening of the Hooghly Floating Bridge, the passenger station at Armenian Ghat was closed, but the landing-stages are still used to a limited extent, chiefly when the bridge is opened for the passage of ships." Colonel Taylor suggested that “the site be now restored to Government for transfer to the Port Trust, who can utilize it most advantageously ; " but, he stated, "the Agent and the Board of Directors are desirous of retaining it as an office for the Traffic Manager, East Indian Railway Company." Colonel Taylor was also of opinion that " the interests of the public will best be met by "leaving the landing-stage and approaches to Armenian Ghat in the hands of the East Indian Railway Company, and transferring the remainder of the site to the Port Commissioners, on condition that compensation be paid by the Commissioners to the Company for the buildings surrendered, and that the Port Commissioners construct a new approach road and remove a portion of the covered way as shown on the plan."


Armani ghat 1734, Armenian Church, Armenian Ferry Ghat, Armenian ghat location Kolkata West Bengal, Armenian ghat street, Burraah Bazar Ghat, Colvin Ghat, Heritage Ghat of Kolkata, History of Calcutta,
Armenian Warehouse of Kolkata Port Trust
After 1874, Strand Bank land reclaimed part by part, Strand Bank Road constructed, Commissioners tram lines layed. Later Armenian Ghat site made over to Port Commissioners. A big warehouse namely Strand warehouse was constructed on the site of EI Railway station shed.  After construction of Strand Bank Road, on Riverside a warehouse was erected by the Port Commissioners which named as Armenian Warehouse. Though in 2010, Strand warehouse was gutted in a devastating fire but Armenian warehouse still exist and carries legacy of Armenian Ghat.


Find This Place on Google Map.

Information Source:
Kolikata Darpon 1 By Radharomon Mitra
Administration Report of 1876-77 of the ‘Commissioners for Making Improvements in the Port of Calcutta’
Story of Ghaut of River Hooghly Published By Kolkata Port Trust. 
Third Report of The Committe appointed by The Right Honorablev the Govenor of Bengal..1847