Gangasagar is one of the most popular tourist spots and pilgrimage sites in West Bengal. Gangasagar is a village in Sagar Island that falls under the jurisdiction of Sagar Police Station in the Kakdwip Subdivision of South 24 Parganas District. This sight attracts a whole lot of Devotees every year on the occasion of Makar Sankranti. At that time the Gangasagar mela also takes place. Now let’s go through the best ways to reach Gangasar from Kolkata.
How to reach Gangasagar from Kolkata
There is no direct connectivity from Kolkata to Gangasagar. The journey to Gangasagar would include train, bus and car and ferry options. Kolkata to Gangasagar distance is 118.7km via NH12.
How to Reach Gangasagar by Bus
Another convenient way to reach Gangasagar is travelling by bus. The distance between Esplanade Kolkata to Kakdwip Harwood Point is 90km. It will take around 3 hours to reach there. Bus fares start from as low as Rs.80. From there cross the river Muriganga by a boat ride and reach Kachuberia. From there buses are available that will take you to Gansagar (30km) within an hour. The existing road conditions and variety in routes can affect the estimated travel time though.
How to reach Gangasagar by Train
Read More:- HOW TO REACH DARJEELING BY TRAIN, FLIGHT, BUS
The distance between Kolkata to Gangasagar is approximately 100km. The nearest railway station is Kirnahar which is 6km away. The nearest major railhead is in Kakdwip which is 38km away. From either of the places you will have to take a bus or ferry.
You can also reach the Namkhana Station. From there take a ferry on a local boat to reach Benuban Chemaguri Ferry Terminal. Then you can take a Toto to reach Gangasagar.
Kolkata Chitpur Railway Station is also one of the closest stations to Sagardwip but it is not very well connected with the rest of India.
Trains from Kolkata to Namkhana or Kakdwip
· Sealdah Namkhana Local (34792)
The departure time is 1:20pm. Reaches Kakdwip at 3.41pm. Arrival time in Namkhana is 4:02pm.
· Sealdah Kakdwip Local(34782)
Departure time is 8:30pm. Arrival at Namkhana is 10:56pm.
· Sealdah Namkhana Galloping Local (34794)
Departs at 9:30pm. Reaches Kakdwip at 11:56pm. Arrives in Namkhana at 12:15am
How to reach Gangasagar by Road
If you own your personal vehicle then it would be an easy drive through Diamond Harbour Road from Kolkata. The distance is around 108km.The approximate time to reach there would be around 3hours and 45minutes.
If you are renting a car from Kolkata you can drive along the Hooghly River. You can either book cab services like Ola or Savaari Taxi Services that make a comfortable ride. On the way you will pass through many popular towns like Bishnupur Diamond Harbour, Kulpi, Nischintapur and Kakdwip. You can make a quick stop at these places if you want and enjoy a little bit around these towns. The journey duration will then vary on the basis of your stoppage timings at each place.
Kolkata to Gangasagar car fares start at Rs.2300. You can book cars or taxis according to your needs. For a short trip with less number of people opt for 4 Seater Indica. You can also go for Sedans if you want more comfort. For group travelling purposes Innova is perfect. Luxury tempo traveler is also available for bigger groups of 12-16 people.
How to reach Gangasagar by Cruise
There is option for Gangasagar to Kolkata Cruise/ship Services as well. The cruise departs from Millennium Park Jetty at 7.30am in the morning and you will reach Kachuberia Ghat at 11.30am. Approximate travel time will take around 3-4 hours. From there you will have to opt for toto, bus or car services to reach Gangasagar. Both economy class and premium class tickets are available online as well as offline. Prices start from Rs. 1300 to Rs. 1550 for premium class. Tea and breakfast is included in the ticket price and you will get drinking water as well.
You can book tickets from the www.ospreyindia.com website.
How to reach Gangasagar by Flight
There is no direct Flight service between Gangasagar and Kolkata. The nearest Airport is the Netaji Subhash Chandra Bose International Airport in Kolkata which is 120kms away. To reach Gangasagar it would always be a mix of transport like either train or by a road trip by bus, car or bike.
Best time to visit Gangasagar
There is no denying the fact that weather conditions play a great role in travelling somewhere. Extreme weather conditions are always unfavorable for travel purposes. Also the activities of a place should also be taken into account before making travel plans.
Summers are extremely hot and humid in Gangasagar. It starts from March and continues till June. The scorching sun during this time is almost unbearable. After that there is the advent of monsoon that starts from the month of July and continues till October. During this period there will be a lot of rainfall in some days. From November the weather starts getting comfortable. Winter is from November to February. This is the ideal time to visit Gangasagar as you can enjoy strolling under the sun and explore the place well.
Around this time the weather is also favorable, as the temperature goes down upto minimum of 10 degrees and that is the ideal time to roam around in the sun. You can actually enjoy the stay there around this time. If you wish to visit the Gangasagar Mela and Pilgrimage then every year Makar Sankranti is the best time to visit.
Special attractions in Gangasagar
Gangasagar is at the peak of its activity during the Makar Sankranti that is held during the 14th of January every year. The devotees gather together to take a holy dip at the confluence of river Ganga and bay of Bengal and also offer prayers to Kapila Temple. The Gangasagar pilgrimage and fair is the second largest congregation of mankind.
Gangasagar as a pilgrimage or as a tourist spot is immensely popular and attractive. I have listed down all the best ways to reach Gangasagar from Kolkata here. do let me know which mode of transportation you will opt for your visit there. Also do not forget to comment down below if you have any better ways to reach Gangasagar from Kolkata.
1 comment
I m from Nepal. I have planned to visit Gangasagar with my family on 10th november. Your blog is so informative. Please tell me how crowded the local trains are from kolkata to gangasagar.