| Sagar Island | |
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| Coordinates | |
| Country | India |
| State | West Bengal |
| District(s) | South 24 Parganas |
| Parliamentary constituency | Mathurapur (SC) |
| Assembly constituency | Sagar |
| Time zone | IST (UTC+05:30) |
| Website | s24pgs.gov.in |
Sagar Island (Bengali: সাগর দ্বীপ) lies on the continental shelf of Bay of Bengal about 150 km (80 nautical miles) south of Kolkata. It belongs to the Republic of India and is governed by the State government of West Bengal. The island is large — with an area of around 300 km². It has 43 villages and a population of over 160,000.[1]
The island is home to the endangered Royal Bengal Tiger. It is also rich in mangrove swamps, waterways and small rivers.This island is a famous Hindu pilgrim place. Every year on the day of Makar Sankranti (mid of January), thousands of Hindus gather to take a holy dip in the Ganges and offer puja in the Kapil Muni Temple.
Kolkata Port Trust has a pilot station and a light house.[1]
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Gangasagar pilgrimage and fair is the second largest congregation of mankind after the holy Kumbha Mela. The latter is observed once in four years at alternate locations in north, central and central-west parts of the country, Gangasagar fair and pilgrimage is held annually on the Sagar Island’s southern tip in the Ganges delta atop the Bay of Bengal. That makes Gangasagar all the more distinctive.[2]
In 2007, about 300,000 pilgrims took the holy dip where the Hooghly meets the Bay of Bengal on the occasion of Makar Sankranti. The figure was lower by around 200,000 because of Kumbh Mela. For the rest of the year about 500,000 people come to the island.
To visit Gangasagar, the best way is to take Diamnod Harbour Road from Kolkata. You will have to drive around 85 km and reach harwood ferry point near kakdip. The Panchyat Samity maintains a parking area near ferry point and charges Rs.80/- for cars for a day. Park your car there and walk a few minutes to reach the ferry point (called Lot no-8). The ferry service charges per adult is Rs.6.5 for Sagar Island and children upto 5 years are exempt. During day time ferry service frequency is 45 minutes apart. It takes about 30 minutes (give or take a few minutes either way) to reach Kachuberia, the landing point on Sagar Island which is about 3.5 km through the Ganges river (also known as Hooghly River). If the tides are low one can go by small boats which generally charge Rs 20 per head and take around 40 minutes. From there one can take any shared jeep or bus which generally charges Rs 20 per person (32 km) and takes around 45 minutes to reach Gangasagar, the confluence of river Ganges with Bay of Bengal. If there is a group of 5-6 people it is advisable to take a private jeep/car which will charge around Rs 800 for both sides during off season (i.e. except Makar Sankranti times in Mid January every year). The car and buses are parked near the pilgrim site. From the parking area the Kapil Muni Temple is about 250 meters and the Gangasagar confluence is about 750 meters. Ricksaws from the bus stand / car parking area are available for Rs.20 per person or Rs.200 for upto eight persons and shall take you to the Gangasagar confluence first and then to Kapil Muni Temple after you have finished your holy dip and worship at the confluence and then back to parking area. All these take about 2 hours. November- February is the best season to visit Gangasagar. As a rough guide line, You should start by 7.00 AM from Kolkata and reach Harwood point by 10 AM. You will then be able to reach Kachuberia by 11 AM and Gangasagar by 12 AM. If you start back by 2.30 PM you would reach back Harwood point by 4 PM and kolkata by 7 PM. This timetable is valid for travel by car both from Kolkata to harwood point and back and also from Kachuberia to Gangasagar and back. Mind it you can avail last ferry service from Kachuberia on Sagar Island at 8PM. As of December 2011, Sagar Island is receiving round the clock Power supply thanks to DVC's newly installed transmission line across hooghly river. If you want to stay back for a night or two at Ganagsagar to explore Sagar island, you can put up at the Youth Hostel run by West Bengal Government or Bharat Sevashram Sangha's guest house. Other Hotel type accommodation is also available but not recommended during off season.[3] Almost five lakh pilgrims thronged Sagar Island in 2008.[4]
Government of West Bengal is planning to connect Sagar Island with the mainland with a 3.3 km bridge costing around Rs. 6,000 million. .[1]
West Bengal government is planning to build a deep water port in Sagar Island.
Sagar Island travel guide from Wikitravel
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