Gangasagar Yatra: A Pilgrimage to Holy Island in West Bengal

An old Indian adage that says, ‘Sab Teertha Bar Bar, Gangasagar Ek Bar’ which means you have to visit any other pilgrimage place many times to attain salvation but you can attain the salvation in Gangasagar by visiting just once. Many thousands of followers of Hindu religion from various parts of India and abroad undertake a strenuous voyage to this holy island located at the coastal side of West Bengal to take a dip in the holy Ganges at the confluence of the Ganga and Bay of Bengal, especially, on the occasion of Makar Sankranti in the mid-January.
The Gangasagar Yatra is a pilgrimage to the holy place in the estuary of the river Ganga located on the southern side of the Sagar Island in the South 24 Parganas district of West Bengal. The holy place is situated around 135 km from Kolkata, the capital of West Bengal and witnesses the highest number of footfalls in the state. However, this picturesque locality is visited by devotees and tourists all round the year, but during the Makar Sankranti festival in mid-January millions of pilgrims gather here to take a dip in the river and wash out their sins to attain salvation. According to the Hindu belief, the Gangasagar pilgrim is considered as the third most important pilgrim after the Maha Kumbh and Kumbh, and highly revered holy destination in Mythology.
The pilgrimage to this holy land starts with visiting the temple dedicated to Kapil Muni - a highly revered sage in Indian Mythology who was also considered as the avatar of Lord Vishnu – for offering prayers and doing Puja. Taking part in the grand annual fair at the time of the Makar Sankranti festival and taking the sacred dip in the river Ganges is considered a highly pious activity to cleanse one’s soul which paved the way to attain Moksha. The presence of numerous ascetic yogis enhances the religious ambiance of the place. Except the Makar Sankranti, the remaining time of the year, the pristine beach of the Gangasagar Island is very enchanting to lure beach lovers at this place. The glittering silver sand, blue sky and calm sea make this island favorite for tourists who want to spend their holiday peacefully in a serene place. The view of sunrise and sunset is spectacular from this place.
Places to see and visit in Gangasagar
Kapil Muni Temple : The Kapil Muni temple is the most revered holy shrine in West Bengal dedicated to the ancient sage Kapil Muni, who is known as the reincarnation of Lord Vishnu. It is said that you will get Moksha and released from the cycle of birth and death if you offer Puja in this temple after taking a holy dip in the river Ganga during Makar Sankranti.
Gangasagar Mela (Gangasagar Fair) :-The grand religious fair, which is held in mid-January every year on the occasion of Makar Sankranti is the second largest gathering of devotees in the world after the Kumbh Mela. During the Mela, the isolated island comes alive with a large number of devotees, ascetic yogis, ashrams and religious camps.
Serene Exotic Beach :-The exotic beach with tranquil and spiritual environment draws many tourists in this place to spend a quiet holiday away from the hustle and bustle of the city life. The magnificent view of sunrise and sunset is exquisite and spiritual.
How to Reach Gangasagar :
By Air : The closest airport to the Gangasagar is Kolkata International Airport, located at nearly 129 km of distance. Being one of the Major International airports of India, it is widely connected through the regular flights to all major Indian cities and various countries of the world. You can hire a taxi or catch the bus to reach Gangasagar from the airport.
By Rail :- The Kirnahar railway station, which is located at the 6.4 km of distance from the Gangasagar is the nearest rail station. However, Gangasagar can be reached from few other railway stations which are located nearby such as the Salar Railway Station at a distance of 16.7 km, Chowhatta Narogage Railway Station at a distance of 19.3 km, Katwa Railway station at a distance of 25.1 km and Ahmad Pur Railway Station at a distance of 25.4 km from Gangasagar. One can hire a taxi or catch a bus to Gangasagar from the railway station.Gangasagar is located around 135 km from the Kolkata, capital of West Bengal. It would take around 5 hours to reach Gangasagar from Kolkata by road.