Gangasagar Mela Tour Guide from Kolkata 2025

Are you planning a journey to Gangasagar Mela from Kolkata? This guide covers essential travel tips, routes, accommodation options, local insights, and rituals to make your pilgrimage seamless and spiritually enriching.

Kolkata is the main gateway to Ganga Sagar Island. Buses and trains are available. The Gangasagar Mela is one of the main winter festivals in West Bengal. 

In India, the Gangasagar Fair takes place after the Kumbh Mela, the second-largest gathering of Hindu pilgrims. On Makar Sankranti day, this festival is celebrated by taking a holy dip in the Ganga River.

Gangasagar mela date is 13th January 2025 on the on Makar Sankranti day, its also called “Ganda snan” day.

Gangasagar Tour From Kolkata, West Bengal

The fair happened when the Ganga River merged with the Bay of Bengal, like Prayag. The Gangasagar fair is celebrated annually only on the Sagardwip (Sagar Island).

Each year, pilgrims come from all over the country and take a holy bath on Makar Sankranti day. They pray in the Ganga River and the Kapil Muni mandir. Hence, this temple is immersed in legendary stories and is much respected among the devotees.

This event is held every year in the middle of January. Sagar Island is in the Sundarban biosphere and is called Sagardeep Island. It happens once a year.

পড়ুন:- কোলকাতা থেকে গঙ্গাসাগর মেলা ভ্রমণ গাইড

How I reach Gangasagar from Kolkata

Kolkata to Gangasagar by train is my favourite route. I started my trip at 5 a.m., boarding the Namkhana local from Sealdah station and reaching Kakdwip at 7:30 a.m. The train fare is 25 rupees, and it’s the most cost-saving route.

You can also reach Gangasagar from Kolkata by car via Diamond Harbour Road. Reach Kakdwip and cross the river Muriganga from lot no. 8 to Kachuberia Ferry Ghat. Then, the route will be the same as the Kolkata Diamond Harbour road bus route.

We took a Toto car to reach Kachuberia lot number 8 ferry ghat from Nakhhana station. This year, the Toto fair is 20 rupees. I visited here a few days before the Gangasagara Mela. This time, the crowd is a little smaller.

Gangasagar ferry times are very frequent. Check the high and low tide times because the service is temporarily closed. There is an app for crossing the river; please check the Google Play Store.

After that, we crossed the river called Muriganga. It will take approximately 45 minutes. The fair is 10 rupees per person. The Swagardeep island, where the Gangasagar Mela happened, is under the Sundarban Biosphere; the only connectivity is a waterway.

The big electric pillar is built in the middle of the river to connect Electricity from the mainland of West Bengal and Swagardeep. On the other side of the Ghat, we take a magic van, which charges 50 rupees per person.

After 40 minutes of the journey, we reached Kapil Muni Ashram, the holy Gangasagar beach, and the Mela ground. They are ready to welcome pilgrims. The Kapil Muni Ashram is the main attraction in Gangasagar.

We finished our lunch in a government food court. The vegetarian meal costs 50 rupees, and the chicken meal costs 100. We stayed here for 2 hours and returned via Benuban ferry ghat (Chemaguri) to Namkhana. Afterwards, we took the train from Namkhana station and reached Kolkata in 4 hours. Our Ganganagar tour is finished here.

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How to reach Gangasagar from Kolkata by air, road, rail and vessel

Gangasagar from Kolkata By Road, Bus, or Car

There are several ways to reach Gangasagar from Kolkata. The bus route, the Gangasagar train route, and the vessel route are available for this trip.
Kolkata to Ganga Sagar bus is available from the Esplanade bus depot in Kolkata.

Suppose you come by car and cross the river Muriganga from Kachuberia Ferry Ghat. Your route will be like a bus route, Kolkata Diamond Harbour Road.

Gangasagar from Kolkata By Rail

Kolkata to Ganganagar is about 100 km from Kolkata. Ganga Sagar’s nearest railway station is Kakdwip Station. After reaching the station, cross the Muriganga river from the lot no 8 ferry ghat, take a Toto or a Maruti and reach Ganga Sagar.

You can also reach Gangasagar from Nankhana station. From Namkhana, reach the Namkhana ferry ghat and take the local boat to the Benuban Chemaguri ferry ghat. After that, take a toto to reach Gangasagar.

Gangasagar from Kolkata By Vessel or Ferry

If you come from Howrah, book your trip by vessel to visit Ganganagar at least one month earlier. To buy a ship ticket, contact Millennium Park or Howrah Jetty.

Gangasagar from Kolkata By Air

A helicopter service is available every Sunday from the Behala Flying Club, Kolkata, to Gangasagar. The fare is 2334 rupees(one side). Netaji Subhash Chandra Bose International Airport (Kolkata Airport) is the nearest airport.

Read Digha Tour Plan from Kolkata

Gansagar travel tips

• The official food court is suitable for eating. First, know the price, then order. There are two places: AC and non-AC. There is a price difference.
• When you visit Gangasagar, you must have bedsheets and pillowcases (which we found very useful!) And a suitable mosquito repellent.
• Gangasagar is the ideal place for a day or two. It would be best if you had the mentality for a travel adjustment.
• Airtel 4G and Vodafone 4G are running here.
• The time of the vessel depends on the tide. An app for this is available in the Play Store.
• Keep your own medicine.
• You should attened the sandhya aarti in Kapil Muni Ashram and Bharat sebaasram.
• Gangasagar is not suitable for those who travel for comfort and convenience. Few luxury hotels are available, and most ashrams or monasteries have accommodation.
• The best hotel options are the Government Cottage, Bharat Seva Ashram, and the youth hostel. There are also a few private general hotels. The Kapil Muni temple has its ashram adjacent to it. Phone: (03210) 240320.
• You can get around in a Toto or a van. You have to bargain before getting up. They always charge a little higher.

Gangasagar Kapil Muni Temple History

Kapil Muni temple is located in the Ganga Sagar Dham. It is believed that in 1432, Ramanand’s husband established the deity. The deity is a stone block and is worshipped as Kapil Muni. Pictures of Bhagirath, Rama, and Sita are seen here.

The annual Ganges Sea Fair is celebrated on Makar Shankar Day. First, Pilgrims take a holy dip in the Ganga River after going to the Kapil Muni temple for worship.

The original temple washed out during the flood. After a new temple has been built. Goddess Ganga Devi is on the right side of Kapil Muni, and the Sagar Raja is on the left.

Kapil Muni is worshipped as the god of Vishnu. Kapil Muni is situated in the middle of the temple, on the right side of the Kapil Muni Maa Ganga, and on the other side, the Sagar Raja is located.

Do not miss the Sandhya Arati at Kapil Muni Ashram. You will see many naga sannyasi in this time of Gangasagar Mela. You can buy puja essentials from the Dala market opposite the main temple.

Naga Sadhu in Gangasagar Mela

Among the million pilgrims at Ganga Sagar Mela, many Naga Sadhus are present. They live in temporary camps, perform rituals, and even practice different yoga styles.

Many of their fans attend these rituals. The Naga Sadhus are painting their body with asses. They are the biggest attraction of the Gangasagar fair.

11 Gangasagar sightseeing and tourist places

You can visit the places below for the side scene.

• Old Manasa temple
• Nag Baba temple
• Lighthouse
• Ayla devastated the area
• The sea beach
• Kapil Muni Ashram
• Gosto Mandir
• Ramakrishna Mission Ashrama Manasadwip
• Bharat Sevashram Gangasagar
• Gangasagar Omkarnath Ashram
• Bisalakshmi Temple

Toto will rent around 300 rupees to do this side scene. You can easily see all the places in 1 day,

Gangasagar Naga Sadhu baba in Kolkata

Every year, pilgrims and naga sadhus gather in Babu Ghat, also called the Outram Ghat area in Kolkata, to go to Gangasagar and celebrate the Gangasagar Mela in Sagardwip.
You can find them just beside Eden Garden. They come from different states of India. During this festive time, government buses go directly to Ganga Sagar Mela with a nominal fare.

The main attraction in Gangasagar is the Kapil Muni Ashram, where pilgrims take a holy dip in the Ganga River. The fair started on Makar Sankranti day. Every year, the West Bengal government and many trustees arrange accommodations for the pilgrims to celebrate this fair. Kolkata is the main junction point where they rest for some time.

The entire area is extensive, and a mini Gangasagar Mela happened here. People also take blessings from the naga sadhus, and many religious events are organized.
Here, the committees arrange food and Prasad for everybody. Khichri, tea, jalebi, and milk are distributed for free.

Our government and the committees provide security and medical treatment free of cost. The Kolkata Police excel at events like Durga Puja in Kolkata, protection at this fair, etc. A big salute to them.

Conclusion

The holy month of “Poush” welcomes the grand affair of Bengal’s Gangasagar Mela. Pilgrims flock here to dip in the Ganges’ sacred waters.