Barrackpur, West Bengal

Jagannath Temple in Barrackpore
Originally uploaded by somnathB.

Barrackpore (now Barrackpur) is the place near Kolkata where Mangal Pandey, the first warrior of India's stuggle for independence, attacked the British sergeant on March 29, 1857. The first British barrack was built at Barrackpore, providing the town with its name. Prior to that the town was called Chanak.

From 1600s, the area was ruled by a line of Zamindars (landlords), the first in line was Kalidas Sarkar. He was followed by his son Bishwambhar Sarkar and grandson Nilmoni Sarkar. The old 'Sarkar Bari', a large red brick house with ramparts, which was the home of zamindars, is still standing in Barrackpur.