The Hooghly River, also spelled Hugli, is a distributary of the Ganges River in West Bengal, India. It branches off from the Ganges near Giria in Murshidabad district and flows south through densely populated regions, including significant urban centers such as Nabadwip, Kolkata, and Howrah, before draining into the Bay of Bengal via the Sundarbans delta system.
The river is approximately 260 kilometers (160 miles) long and plays a crucial role in regional transportation, commerce, and agriculture. Historically, the Hooghly River was a major route for colonial trade, particularly during the British East India Company era, with Kolkata (formerly Calcutta) emerging as a key port city along its banks.
The river supports a range of economic and ecological activities, including fishing, irrigation, and industrial water supply. However, it faces challenges related to pollution from urban and industrial runoff, especially in the metropolitan Kolkata area. Several bridges span the river, including the Howrah Bridge and the Vidyasagar Setu, facilitating transportation across the region.
The Hooghly River also holds cultural and religious significance; numerous ghats (steps leading to the river) are used for Hindu rituals and cremations, particularly in towns like Bansberia and Serampore.
The river's flow is influenced by tidal actions from the Bay of Bengal, especially in its lower reaches, contributing to its use as a navigable waterway. Its course has shifted over time due to sedimentation and natural geomorphological processes.