Sagar Island

21° 45' 25.01" N 88° 21' 49.4" E [21.7569, 88.3637] (KML)

Sagar Island [M] is about 80 km south of Kolkata [M], cut off from the main land by Muriganga river. At present there is no road bridge to connect the island to the main land. The Muriganga river can be crossed by ferry service to reach the Sagar Island. After crossing, Sagar & Ganga meeting point can be reached via private taxis also which are generally charging between INR 450 to INR 700 and it takes about 40 minutes to reach that point.

• Sagar Island [M] can be approached from either Harwood point [S] or Namkhana [S] jetty. Both the points are linked by Calcutta State Transport Corporation (CSTC) or West Bengal Surface Transport Corporation buses. Distance of Harwood Point is around 80 Km. from Kolkata [M] and Namkhana is 13 Kilometers more. Bus fare from Kolkata (Esplanade) to Namkhana is around Rs.40 (as on June 2005; Rs. 60 during Mela 2008). During the Mela busses will end at the ferry crossing in Harwood point (or also called 'Lot 8'), and they will start in Kolkata also from Babughat, Howrah RS and Taratola in South Kolkata.

• Both the points Namkhana [S] and Harwood Point can also be reached by train from Sealdah Station. There are direct trains to Kakdwip from Sealdah Station with link trains to Namkhana. Train fare up to Kakdwip is Rs. 18 only. From Kakdwip, Harwood Point is only 5 Km. and Namkhana is 12 Km. by bus or jeep.

During the Mela cycle-rickshaws operate between RS and ferry jetty, price was fixed at 15 Rs per person on a 4 pax rickshaw. Trains tend to be overcrowded and are definitely a challenge during Mela time.

• To reach Sagar Island [M] one must cross the Muriganga river/creek by ferry service to reach 'Kachuberia jetty' on the Sagar Island. Ferry service is available in both Harwood point [S] and Namkhana [S] and controlled by West Bengal Surface Transport Corporation. Frequency of crossings are more in Harwood point and it is once in every half an hour. The fare for a single crossing for a person is Rs. 6.50 as in February 2010. The fare increases at the time of Ganagasagar Mela (The Fair; Rs. 40,- during 2008 Mela).

• After reaching Sagar Island [M] (Kachuberia jetty) one has to cross the whole stretch of Sagar Island (32 Km.) by local bus or shared taxi. Bus fare should be around Rs.10. A private jeep may charge around Rs 800-900. It was Rs 500/- for a 7 seater Maruti/Suzuki Van for both ways in February 2010 including stay at the destination of southern most point. There is no accommodation available on the point of crossing (Kachuberia), so everybody has to travel the whole stretch of the Island and reach the southernmost part, where accommodations are abundant.

• Except from Namkhana [S] and Harwood Point, there is also a direct ferry service available to Kachuberia (Sagar Island [M]) from Haldia [S].

• It is possible to go the entire length by private car or hired car from Kolkata [M]. At Harwood Point there is provision to transport vehicle with the help of a barge locally known as LCT. There are no fixed time for the crossings, because it is totally dependent on the water-level and thus, on the timings of the high tides. The charge for a light or medium vehicle is Rs. 250/- as on December 2005. The fare increases at the time of Ganagasagar Mela (The Fair).

• Kapil Muni temple [S] at South Sagar.
• Fairgrounds [S] at South Sagar.
• Sea beach [S] at South Sagar.
• Sagar Marine Park [S] at South Sagar.
• Sagar Lighthouse [S] and Port at Beguakhali
• Ramkrisna Mission Ashram [S].
• Sushama Devichowdhurani Marine Biological Research Institute. (SDMBRI) at Bamankhali.
• Chimaguri Mudflat [S]- It is the entry point to the Mangrove Forest
• Wind Mills [S]- The island gets its electricity from the wind energy

• Fishing
• Coastal trek

There are many cheap rice hotels all over the Sagar Island [M], serving good quality Bengali food to the visitors.

• Always drink mineral water and avoid any thing else

For accommodations, are too many places to choose from in South Sagar. Some are named below. In the time of Sagar Mela or the Fair, the number of accommodation increases drastically with temporary camps/hutments from many commercial and non commercial organizations. It is advisable to book your accommodation prior to go to Sagar Island [M] in the time of Sagar Mela. If you bring your own mattress and sleeping bag you'll will find a shelter in any way, though.

The following organizations provide shelter for tourist and pilgrims round the year:

• State Youth Hostel [S]- Charge for a Double bed room with attached bath is Rs. 100 per day. Check in time is at 12 noon. (Booking can be done in Directorate of Youth Services, 32/1, B.B.D. Bag (South), Calcutta - 700001. Ph: +91-33 2248 0626.)

• Bharat Sevashram Sangha [S] and a couple of other ashrams: they usually offer accommodation and meals for free (they are oriented to pilgrims), but would expect a donation.

• Larica Sagar [S] (Tourist Lodge), Telephone +91 3210 240226-227.

• Carry mosquito [S] and snake repellents.
• Carry Electric Torches and other means of Emergency Lights, because Sagar Island [M] does not get power from the main electric supply grid. The Island only gets few hours of power supply in the evening, form a central diesel operated power generating station, situated at Rudranagar. Ideally power supply is available from 6pm to 9pm only. There is complete blackout for the rest of the day/night. But you will never feel uncomfortable due to the sweet wind blows from sea to land, round the clock. But in the time of Sagar Mela (The fair) Sagar gets sufficient supply of electricity for the whole day.

• Snake bite mortality is considerably high in Sagar Island [M]. There are sufficient measures for treatment of snake bites in Sagar Gramin Hospital [S]. But it is advisable to avoid traveling at night with insufficient light. Travelers should apply some snake repellents in their room before going to bed. It is better to use a mosquito [S] net to protect oneself not only from mosquitoes, but also from snakes.

• Bakkhali
• Bhagabatpur

Text content was last edited at 06:49, on 26 February 2010 by Anonymous user(s) of Wikitravel. Based on work by Claus Hansen and Ravikiran Rao, Wikitravel user(s) Burmesedays and Mastaart, Anonymous user(s) of Wikitravel and others. A list of contributors is available at the original article on Wikitravel. This text content is available under Creative Commons Attribution-ShareAlike 3.0.