Tourism in Sagardwip- West Bengal
Sagardwip, situated on an island in Sundarban is a pilgrimage centre and favored weekend destination of West Bengal. It is located at a distance of 135km from Kolkata. Sagardwip is famous amongst the travelers for its unspoiled beaches and sacred estuaries. Although Sagardwip is a part of Sundarban, it does not have any tiger preserve or mangrove forest. Sagardwip is the host of the second largest fair after Kumbh Mela in India.
Sprawled on the continental shelf of Bay of Bengal, Sagardwip is often referred as Gangasagar. The name of this sacred destination has been mentioned in many tales of Hindu mythology and in ancient Indian literature like the Mahabharata, the Ramayana, in a novel of Bankimchandra Chattopadhyay, and in a poem of Rabindranath Tagore. According to those legends Sagardwip has been a place to purify the soul and cleanse off the sins by taking a dip in the holy estuaries of Ganga. Apart from the sacred dipping spots, the Kapil Muni Temple of Sagardwip attracts lots of pilgrims. He was a revered sage who first performed the ritual called Tarpan which allowed the soul to attain moksha. There are many places to visit in Sagardwip. Visitors can reach Sagardwip from Esplanade, where they need to travel till Harwood Point and from there take a ferry to cross the river Muriganga by boat and reach at Kachuberia. From Kachuberia tourist can either take a bus or trek towards Sagardwip.
Places to visit in Sagardwip
Sagardwip Beach
The prime attraction of Sagardwip is its unspoiled beach. Overlooking the Bay of Bengals the silvery beach of Sagardwip is an ideal place to relax and enjoy the sub-tropical weather. Sagardwip beach is the perfect spot to witness the surreal sunrise or sunset over Bay of Bengal. During Makar sankranti the same serene beach is dotted with colorful tents and flooded with the horde of devotees who came from far and wide to take a dip in the holy estuaries.
Sagar Lighthouse
The Sagar Lighthouse located at the vicinity of serene beach near the port of Beguakhali is another favored destination of Sagardwip. The lighthouse was built in 1909 and maintained by the Kolkata Post Trust. It is famous for offering the panoramic view of the silvery beach of Sagardwip. The Sagar Lighthouse is a vantage point of witnessing an astounding sunrise and sunset in Sagardwip.
Kapil Muni Temple
Decked with the colorful titles is the most sacred destination of Sagardwip the Kapil Muni Temple. It is a Hindu temple dedicated to the revered sage Kapil Muni who is said to be the reincarnation of Lord Vishnu. Pilgrims from far and wide, travel to Kapil Muni Temple during the auspicious day of Makar sankranti. The main sanctum is idolized with the statue of Kapil Muni which was inaugurated in 1437 by Swami Ramanand. Visitors and devotes can see emblems of the Sea, Ganga Devi and Bhagirathi besides the statue of Kapil Muni.
Bharat Seva Ashram
Bharat Seva Ashram is one of the most trusted places to get a nice accommodation while visiting Sagardwip. The ashram has a quaint temple and is run by a trust in Ganga Sagar. The idyllic and serene ambiance of Bharat Seva Ashram has made it perfect place to find solace far from the rambunctious city life.
Best time to visit Sagardwip
The subtropical weather of Sagardwip can be best enjoyed during the month of October to March. But if the visitors want to be the part of the great Sagardwip fair January is the best time to visit Sagardwip.