Chandannagar, city and former French settlement in Bangla State, India, about 30 km (about 20 mi) north of Kolkata, on the Hugli River. Chandannagar has a climate characterized by monsoon winds. The city receives about 150 mm (about 60 in) of rain yearly, most of it in the summer. In January the average temperature is 18°C (65°F) while in May, just before the monsoon breaks, the average is above 29°C (85°F).
The French were first to settle Chandannagar in 1688. Through the 18th century and the early 19th century the city remained important to the French maritime trade in India. The city was shelled and captured by the British fleet in 1757 and the entire settlement was destroyed. Restored to the French in 1763, the city was again taken by the British in 1794 and held by them until it was returned to the French by the Treaty of Paris of 1814. On June 30, 1947, the French declared Chandannagar an open city, and, on June 19, 1949, the city voted to become part of India. The actual transfer of administration was effected on May 2, 1950, and on February 2, 1951, the treaty surrendering the territory was signed in Paris. Chandannagar remained an autonomous unit within Bangla until September 29, 1954, when it attained ordinary city status by vote of the Bangla legislative assembly. Population (1991) 120,378.Microsoft® Encarta® Online Encyclopedia 2001
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