Kolkata Howrah Ferry Service | Bagbazar ghat to Shibpur Boat ride

Do you know that the ferry service was the only option between Howrah and Kolkata before the Howrah Bridge was built? This article will share complete details of the Kolkata Howrah ferry service, all the ferry Ghats in Howrah and Kolkata, and the timings.

The ferry service runs between Shibpur Ghat and Bagh Bazar Ghat, on special occasions like Durga Puja in Kolkata, Sir Ramkrishna’s birthday, etc. The Belur Math ferry service runs from Howrah, Bagbazar, and Belur Ghat.

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Kolkata Howrah ferry service all timetables and routes till Shibpur

From the Howrah station, you can find three jetties. Numbers 1 and 2 are the private jetty, and number 3 is the Government jetty. Government steamers travel only between the Shipping jetty and Fairlie Place ghat. From 8 am onward, the Kolkata Howrah ferry service starts between all the Ghats. Also, all the services are dedicated to the ghats between Howrah and Shibpur.

Good News!! Smart cards and tokens have been introduced in the WBTC Government jetty (a smart gate like Kolkata Metro). The card costs forty rupees, and the first recharge is 110 rupees, for a total of 150 rupees. We can also use this card on Trams and government buses.

Ferry Boat Price in Kolkata, Howrah

Howrah Station to Chandpal Ghat	6 Rupees
Howrah Station to Sovabazar Launch Ghat	6 Rupees
Howrah Station to Sovabazar Launch Ghat	6 Rupees
Chandpal Ghat to Ramkrishnapur, Shibpur	6 and 7 Rupees
Howrah Station to Bagbazar  Ghat	6 Rupees
Howrah station to Bagbazar  Ghat	7 Rupees

• The nearest jetty from Howrah station is the Armenian Ferry Ghat. From here, you can easily reach Boro Bazar Market. The ghat is located near the Mallik Bazar flower market and Brabourne Road. The launch fare is 6 rupees, and steamers are run at 15- to 20-minute intervals.
• Now, come to the Fairlie Place Ghat. It is beside the BBD Bag railway station and the third gate of Millennium Park. There are two ferry gates, one for the government and the other for the private. It will be available in 15- to 20-minute intervals, and the steamer fare is 6 rupees. From here, Calcutta’s Dalhousie, T-boards, etc., can be easily reached.
• The next jetty is Shipping Jetty, located in Millennium Park’s 1st and 2nd number gates. The fare is 6 rupees, and the service typically lasts between 15-20 minutes.

You can easily reach Kolkata’s GPO, Dalhousie, or Telephone Bhaban building.

Special Tip

On Saturday and Sunday, Mayur Pankhi Nao runs between 4 pm and 6 pm. The ticket price is 100 rupees per person. You can enjoy an hour-long boat ride. The boat starts the tour from Millennium Park, Kolkata 1 and 2. There is no gate, and the jetty’s name is Shipping Ferry Ghat.

Two: You can rent a full boat from the shipping corporation Ghat for 5500 rupees.

Three: Ganganagar Yatra from Kolkata by boat service has just started from Millennium Park and will continue to Kachuberia. It’s a same-day journey; you can stay in Ganganagar for one day and return.

The cruise has 90 seats and is a 3.5-hour journey. The cost of a 1000-rupee and the first-class ticket costs 1400 rupees. The ship departed from Millennium Park at 10:30 a.m. and arrived at the Kachuberia ferry ghat. From Kachuberia to Kolkata, the time is 6 p.m.

Four–Vivada Cruise in Kolkata

• The next ghat is Babu Ghat, which is now closed for repair. However, the Kolkata Howrah Ferry service is available from Chandpal Ghat, which is beside the Eden Garden Chakra Railway. The ticket fare is 6 rupees. From Chandpal Ghat, the ferry service to Ramkrishnapur and Shibpur continues.

Chandpal Ghat also has two jetties: one for the Howrah steamer and another for the Ramkrishnapur and Shibpur steamer jetty.

From Chandpal Ghat, you can reach Esplanade, Dharmatala, Eden Garden, etc.

• From Chandpal Ghat, a ferry service is available for Ramkrishnapur, Shibpur, and Howrah. The boat service starts at 7:45 am at half-hour intervals. Like -7.45 am, 8.15 am, 8.45 am and 9:15 am. In-office time, launch services continue at 15-minute intervals from 9:15 am to 11:45 am. From 11.45 am to 4.15 pm, the boat passes within half-hour intervals. During office hours, between 4:15 pm and 7:45 pm, the steamer left within 15 minutes. The last boat leaves at 8.15 pm. You can visit the botanical garden in Kolkata from either of the two ferry ghats.

Special tip

One – If you return from Ramkrishnapur ghat in the evening, watch the Sandhya Arati at Ramkrishnapur ghat.

Two – you can take great pictures of the Second Hooghly Bridge from Shibpur launch ghat.

Vivada Cruise ride in Kolkata

A cruise on the Ganga River or the Hooghly River is the best way to explore Kolkata.

There are approximately fifty-four gates, and all have great history and tradition. Some of the gates are the Bathing Ghat and the Ceremonial Ghat, where various events are performed. Additionally, the ferry ghats are connected to two banks located in different places.

The Vivada Cruise offers a four-daily cruise ride – Breakfast, Lunch, Evening, and Dinner, and the time is three hours. Online ticket booking is available.

They float daily from Millennium Park. The breakfast cruise and evening cruise journey from Millennium Park to Belur Math. After revisiting Belur Math, they return to Millennium Park.

The lunch and dinner cruise ride has no proper destination; it just floats on the banks of the Ganga River.

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Breakfast on the Vivada Cruise

• Timings are 8.30 am to 11.30 am.
• Ticket – Rupees. 1000/- + 5% GST = 1050/- per person.

In the early morning, all the ghats became alive with activities like masseurs, bathers, rituals, etc. Ferries carried people between the two banks, boats carried goods, fishers collected fish, etc. The cruise started a magnificent journey from Millennium Park. When the boat moved under the Howrah Bridge towards Belur Math, it amazed you.

Lunch on the Vivada Cruise

Timings are 12.30 pm to 3.30 pm. Ticket – Rupees. 1500/- + 5% GST = 1575/- per person.

It is rare to have lunch on a cruise. On the Vivada Cruise, they arrange a fantastic lunch on the ship, which is floated on the Hoogly River at lunchtime.

Evening Lunch on the Vivada Cruise

• Timings are – 4.00 pm to 7.00 pm.
• Ticket – Rupees. 1000/- + 5% GST = 1050/- per person.

The evening cruise steamer goes to Belur Math. After Sandhya Ayarati, the boat comes back to Millennium Park.

Dinner on the Vivada Cruise

• The time is 7.30 pm to 10.30 pm.
• Ticket – Rupees. 1500/- + 5% GST = 1575/- per person.

In the evening, watch the Howrah lighted bridges from the ship bring magic to you. It may be another memorable experience for you.

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Kutighat ferry service

Kutighat to Bagbazar and Fairly Ghat ferry service is running. Morning from 7:45 am to 7:15 pm.

Kolkata Howrah ferry service all timetables and routes till Bagbazar Ghat

• From Howrah to Bagbazar Ghat, ferries are available at half-hour intervals. The ferry fare is 7 rupees. You can get a steamer for Bagbazar Ghat’s private jetty.

One steamer will stop at all the ghats individually for this route, from Howrah to Bagbazar Ghat.

• The first ferry ghat from Howrah launch ghat is the Golabari launch Ghat. Experience magical moments when your boat passes under the Howrah Bridge.
• The second ghat is the Ahiritola launch Ghat. Different types of worship are performed in Ahirittala Ghat.
• Also, a dedicated ferry service to Bandha Ghat from Ahiritola is available. The boat runs every 15 minutes, and the fare is 6 rupees.
• The third ferry ghat is Sovabazar Launch Ghat. The steamer fare from Howrah to Sovabazar is 6 rupees.
• The last ferry, the Bagbazar Launch Ghat, is in north Kolkata.
• The ticket price has increased from 6 rupees to 7 rupees only for Bagbazar Ghat, which is just beside the Bagbazar Chakra rail station. Kumartuli is near Bagbazar and Sovabazar Ghat.
• Only one ferry from Bagbazar is going to Cossipore Ghat in the morning.

Special tip – If you go to the Bagbazar Launch Ghat in the evening, don’t miss the Sandhya Aarati. It is easy to reach Kumortuli from Bagbazar Ghat or Sovabazar Launch Ghat.

Special tip – When any special ceremony takes place at Belur Math, the Babughat to Dakshineswar ferry service is available from Bagbazar Ghat to Belur and from Howrah to Belur Launch Ghat.

Serampore to Howrah Kolkata Fairly ferry service

Due to the current situation, the Government started urgent ferry services in the Hooghly River between Seerampur and Fairlie, Uttarpara and Fairlie, and Chandannagar and Fairlie.

Seerampur Jugol Addya dhobi ghat to Howrah Fairlie boat fair is 40 rupees (one side). The boat reaches the destination in approximately 2 hours.

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Serampore ferry ghat timings

The nearest ghat is the Dhobi ferry ghat. It’s 3 km from Barrackpore Railway Station. The ferry timing is 6:00 am to 10:30 pm. The facility closed in a windy climate. This Hoogly riverboat ride is enjoyable.

Also, New bus services started between Uttarpara and Karunamoyee, Uttarpara and Esplanade, Chandannagar and Karunamoyee via Sec V, Sreerampore and Esplanade via Dunlop, and Chinsurah and Esplanade via Dunlop.

Kolkata Ferry Service History

The first Kolkata Howrah ferry service on the Hooghly River started in 1975. This time, the ferry service provider is the Sunderban Launch Syndicate. However, this agency has been unable to continue this service for a long time.

After 1980, another organisation was created called Hooghly Nadi Jalapath Paribahan Samabai Samiti Limited (HNJPSSL). It is a government-sponsored cooperative organisation. The Kolkata Howrah ferry service first ran between Howrah and Babughat. As a result of this service, travel from Howrah to Kolkata is effortless within a short time.

In 1992, the Government of West Bengal started its ferry service with the West Bengal Surface Transport Corporation (WBSTC). Currently, these two organisations mainly provide ferry services. In addition, two other ferry services are available: Ghatal Stream Navigation Private Limited (GSNPL) and Indo Swiss Trading Company Private Limited (ISTCPL).

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Kolkata Ferry Ghats

All the ghats are age-old, like Calcutta. Let’s learn about the history and launch services in Kolkata.

• Armenian Ghat – The first launch ghat in Kolkata
• Fairlie Place Ghat
• Shipping Jetty
• Babu Ghat
• Chandpal Ghat
• Ramkrishnapur Ferry Ghat
• Shibpur Ferry Ghat
• Bagbazar Launch Ghat
• Outram Ghat

Armenian Ghat – The first launch ghat in Kolkata

The Armenians are among the earliest foreign immigrants to settle in Kolkata. It was built in 1734 by Manvel Hazaar Maliyan, a famous Calcutta trader of Armenian origin. This ghat’s iron structure is beautifully designed.

Few ferries cross Howrah every hour. The flower market offers a diverse selection of rare flowers, including lilies, Dutch roses, Gladioli, and Dahlias. An open theatre where wrestlers practice “Kushti” every morning. Having a riverside massage relaxes you, and you can watch fascinating sunrises and sunsets.

Fairlie Place Ghat

The East Indian Railway Company was established in May 1855. This railway office is at Fairlie Place. At that time, this area had a crew of office passengers and the local public. Therefore, a ghat was constructed to address the transportation issue. Now, this ghat is known as Fairlie Place Ghat.

Shipping Jetty

The Shipping Jetty is in the middle of Millennium Park’s 1 and 2, with no gate. This ghat is also an old one.

Babu Ghat

Babughat is one of the famous ghats built during British rule. It is located on the bank of the Hooghly River beside Strand Road in Kolkata.

The ghat features a long, colonial-style structure. It’s a Doric-Greek-style pavilion with large pillars. Initially, the ghat was known as Babu Raj Chandra Ghat, but it is now more commonly referred to as Babughat. In Bengali, Babu means gentleman. Babu Raj Chandra Das was Rani Rashmoni’s husband and zamindar of Janbazar. The ghat was built in 1830 in memory of Babu Raj Chandra Das.

Lord William Bentin should be credited with building the ghat because he encouraged such expenditures to improve public facilities. It is the second-oldest ghat in Kolkata.

Chandpal Ghat

Many years ago, Chandpur Ghat was the busiest ghat in Kolkata. In 1753, the name was the southernmost ghat of Hooghly in the planning of ‘Fort William.’ Chandpal Ghat created history when Sir Philip Francis and the Supreme Council colleague of India, under the East India Company, emerged in 1774.

It belonged to a separate class, different from other Kolkata ghats. Lord Cornwallis was the first Governor-General of India who came to this place on September 12, 1786. Over time, Chandpur Ghat became the gateway of British India, not only Calcutta. As a result, Calcutta became India’s most important trade centre.

Generally, a ghat is named after a god or a notable figure. However, Chandpal Ghat is an exception to this practice. Chandpal was neither a wealthy person nor a prominent one. He was an ordinary person from an unknown family. Chandpal was a small shop owner who sold the everyday necessary family items beside the ghat. Over time, the name of a small man became synonymous with ghat.

The ferry service from Chandpal Ghat is continuing well. There are two active jetties. One carries passengers to Howrah and another to Ramkrishnapur and Shibpur.

Ramkrishnapur Ferry Ghat 

Ramkrishnapur is also one of the old ghats. A direct ferry service is available from Chandpal Ghat to Ramkrishnapur.

Shibpur Ferry Ghat 

Shibpur Ghat is very old. From this ferry ghat, we can easily reach the main area of Shibpur. A direct ferry service is available from Chandpur Ghat to Shibpur. Also, you can reach Acharya Jagadish Chandra Bose Indian Botanic Garden from Shibpur ferry ghat.

Bagbazar Launch Ghat

Once called ‘Rogo Meeter’s Ghat,’ after Raghu Mitra, the son of Gobind Ram Mitra, Baghbazar Ghat is one of the city’s oldest. Gobindram Mitra, known as the “Black Zemindar” due to his Indian birth and dark complexion, was the second Indian deputy collector.

He became renowned for the massive wealth he accumulated. He held immense power within the system after he took his position as Zamindar in the early days of the East India Company.

The ghat later became known as Bagbazar, with a jetty next to it to carry passengers to the river’s opposite bank. It is still used by people who bathe in it and come to collect the holy water from the Hooghly, which is considered a part of the Ganges.

It is also used for performing religious ceremonies and for loading and unloading local boats. In addition, the ghat has another specific section called Mayer Ghat, a bathing area used by religious and cultural figures, Maa Sharada.

Outram Ghat

Outram Ghat was built and dedicated to Sir James Outram. He was a foot soldier in the British East India Company army and later rose to the rank of general because of his bravery and commitment. Located south of Babughat, this ghat is known as one of Kolkata’s premier riverside entertainment spots.

A multipurpose ghat can be used for bathing, conducting ceremonies of birth and death, and immersing idols during the festive season. Outram Ghat is highlighted especially during Durga Puja, when massive idols are immersed here. The nearby tourist attractions are Maidan, Race Course, Victoria Memorial, and Millennium Park. However, no ferry service is available here.