Sagar Island lies in the Ganges delta about 100 km south of Kolkata and is the largest island in West Bengal. Unlike most of the Sundarbans, it has no tiger habitat or mangrove forest.
The island is a major Hindu pilgrimage site. Every year on Makar Sankranti (14 January), hundreds of thousands of pilgrims gather to bathe at the confluence of the Ganga and the Bay of Bengal and to pray at the Kapil Muni Temple. Kolkata Port Trust also has a pilot station and a lighthouse on the island.
Gangasagar and Bakkhali
Gangasagar is a separate trip from Bakkhali: the island lies across the river to the west, reached by vessel from the Kakdwip side. Around Makar Sankranti, expect heavy traffic on the road through Kakdwip. Check current vessel services locally before you plan.
