Bakkhali & Gangasagar
বকখালি ও গঙ্গাসাগর
South 24 Parganas district · Sundarbans & Coast
A coastal escape and a major pilgrimage island.
About Bakkhali & Gangasagar
Bakkhali is a quiet beach town with casuarina groves and mangrove-lined creeks. Sagar Island, reached by ferry, is the site of the Kapil Muni temple and the Gangasagar Mela, one of India's largest gatherings of pilgrims, held around Makar Sankranti in January where the Ganga meets the Bay of Bengal.
Highlights
- Kapil Muni Temple on Sagar Island
- Gangasagar Mela (mid-January)
- Bakkhali beach and Henry's Island nearby
- Ferry crossing at Harwood Point / Kachuberia
Plan your trip
- Best time
- October to March; visit in mid-January for the Mela (extremely crowded).
- How to reach
- Bakkhali is about 130 km from Kolkata; Sagar Island requires a ferry crossing.
- Suggested stay
- 2 days
- Distance from Kolkata
- About 130 km by road
- Travel time
- 4 hours
- Nearest railway station
- Namkhana or Kakdwip
- Budget
- Budget
Nearby and related destinations
- Mousuni Island: Tents on a quiet delta beach. (about 125 km from Kolkata, nearest station Namkhana)
- The Sundarbans: The world's largest mangrove forest, shared with Bangladesh. (about 100 km from Kolkata, nearest station Canning)
- Digha: Bengal's most popular seaside town. (about 185 km from Kolkata, nearest station Digha)
- Mandarmani & Tajpur: Quieter beaches with red crabs and long open stretches. (about 175 km from Kolkata, nearest station Contai (Kanthi) or Ramnagar)
Part of these guides
Distances and travel times are approximate road figures from central Kolkata. Check timings, permits and road conditions before you travel.