Ganga Sagar (Sagardwip) Tourism
Sagardwip is a small island, a part of the Sunderbans group of islands. Sagardwip is at the confluence of the holy river Ganga (Ganges) and the Bay of Bengal, making it one of the most popular religious havens of the country.
There are numerous legends attached to the Ganga and its origin on Earth. Due to its religious connotations, Ganga is one of the most sacred rivers in the world. And the point where Ganga meets the sea is considered holy by Hindus. Thousands of Pilgrims make way to Sagardwip, every year in mid-January, to take a holy dip in the river during the Ganga Sagar Fair. The Ganga Sagar Fair is the second most attended fair in the world, after the popular Kumbh Mela. If you want to get a taste of India's elaborate culture and beliefs, Sagardwip is meant for you.
Ganga Sagar (Sagardwip) Reviews
Al I want to elaborate "How to reach" And yes if you start early from Kolkata you can definitely complete it in a day. Follow the direction I am giving: 1. Take suburban Train from Sealdah (South section i.e. train will depart from 10 or 11 or 12 or 13 or 14 or 14A platform only) upto Kakdwip. [Train Fare: INR 25/- ] [Approx. time to reach Kakdwip Station: 2 hr 30 min] [Best train to catch from Sealdah is 05:12 AM Namkhana Local or if you miss try 07:15 AM Namkhana Local] [Try to catch 05:12 AM train, then you can return early from GangaSagar for Kolkata] 2. After reaching Kakdwip Railway Station, take a battery driven Tuk Tuk (which is enormously available there) for reaching the Jetty Ghat (known as Vessel ghat or No. 8 Vessel ghat). [Fare : INR 15/-] [Distance : around 8 km ; Time taken : 10-15 min max] 3. Take Ferry (a.k.a. Vessel) for Sagar Island (for Kachuberia Jetty Ghat). [Fare : INR 8/-] [Time Taken : 35-40 mins] [Frequency : once in a hour] [Note : The only challenge in this route is to get vessel on time, if u miss one by mere 5 mins, remember you have to wait for one long hour. so start early from kolkata] 4. Once you reach the Kachuberia Jetty Ghat on the other side, take Bus or any other SUVs for Gangasagar. [Fare : INR 20/- for bus, SUV charges are nearby or u can book an entire SUV if u wish] [Distance : 30 KM] [Time Taken : 1 hr approx] Note: You can take a bus from Esplanade up to Kakdwip or can book a cab if u want but a train from Sealdah early in the morning will be i) Cheap, ii) Reliable, iii) Time Saving, iv) Train at that time will not be that crowded While returning follow the same path, and train timings from Kakdwip to Sealdah are : 1:46 PM, 3:13 PM, 4:51 PM, 5:48 PM, 7:59 PM, 8:59 PM Note : If you are planning for self-drive or road trip, please advised that the ferry service between Kakdwip Jetty and Kachuberia can carry people and Bicycles or Motorbikes and not four wheeler. So if u you are planning for driving your own car, please note you have to park it before crossing the river for the island.
- Since the island is surrounded by marshes, it is full of snakes, some of them quite poisonous. So be sure to carry mosquito and snake repellant. Apply some in your room and you'll be safe. Also, drink only bottled water and check the seal before buying.
For Whom
Sagardwip is a popular destination for religious travellers as well as families and couples mostly based in and around Kolkata who head over to the island for a relaxed weekend.
Gangasagar Mela
One of the most celebrated fairs worldwide, Gangasagar Mela, sees thousands of devotees from all over the world heading to Sagardwip to take the holy dip at the confluence of Ganga and Bay of Bengal on the auspicious occasion of Makar Sakranti in the month of January. The fair is attended by people from various cultures and all walks of life which makes it a brilliant event to witness cross-cultural exchange in a vibrant environment. It is believed that on Makar Sankranti when the sun makes a transition from Capricorn to Sagittarius, a holy bath here proves to be a source of salvation.
After the holy bath, tourists head to offer prayers at the Kapil Muni temple. The story behind this temple is rather interesting. Legends have it that King Sagar performed an Ashwamedha yajna to win control over the entire universe. Just when his horse was about to win over the Earth, Lord Indra got alarmed and managed to steal the blessed horse only to tie him at Kapil Muni's ashram. King Sagar's 60000 sons presumed the Muni to be the culprit and made the mistake of disturbing him when he was immersed in meditation. This made the sage angry, and he cursed the sons to turn into ashes. It is then that Bhagirathi, King Sagar's only grandson meditated for years to convince goddess Ganga to come to earth to wash the mortal remains of his ancestors and bless them with salvation.
After the holy bath, tourists head to offer prayers at the Kapil Muni temple. The story behind this temple is rather interesting. Legends have it that King Sagar performed an Ashwamedha yajna to win control over the entire universe. Just when his horse was about to win over the Earth, Lord Indra got alarmed and managed to steal the blessed horse only to tie him at Kapil Muni's ashram. King Sagar's 60000 sons presumed the Muni to be the culprit and made the mistake of disturbing him when he was immersed in meditation. This made the sage angry, and he cursed the sons to turn into ashes. It is then that Bhagirathi, King Sagar's only grandson meditated for years to convince goddess Ganga to come to earth to wash the mortal remains of his ancestors and bless them with salvation.
One Day Itinerary
While Sagardwip can be explored within a day's time, it is suggested that you stay overnight to enjoy a relaxed time by the quiet beach and experience nature in all its glory before heading out. You can start at the beach, spend some quality time with loved ones reminiscing about the good times. Head over to sage Kapil Muni's ashram from here. After your darshan, you could eat out from the many local restaurants around this area. Post lunch, you can cover Onkarnath Temple and Bharat Seva ashram. If you finish before sunset, you could head over to the lighthouse to enjoy a majestic view of the ocean.
On your day 2, try to wake up early to catch the sunrise at the beach. It's a mesmerizing sight and a walk on the beach as the morning sun paints the sky orangish red will go on to become your most cherished memories of the trip. You can board your ferry back post a lazy breakfast.
On your day 2, try to wake up early to catch the sunrise at the beach. It's a mesmerizing sight and a walk on the beach as the morning sun paints the sky orangish red will go on to become your most cherished memories of the trip. You can board your ferry back post a lazy breakfast.
Being a major tourist attraction, the place has adequate eating facilities. Food is available but you may not have a lot of options when it comes to varieties. There is an eating place at Bharat Seva Ashram. The beach provides some food vendors. There are also small shops outside the temples.
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