|
Highlights
Enjoy the beach with its breathtaking sunrises and panorama of the
ocean, dotted with ships and fishing boats. Soak in the sun and the fresh ocean
breeze, collect shells, and go for walks, cycle rides or car rides along the
seaside.
Visit the famous Kapil Muni Temple which has an ancient lineage.
The present temple however, was built in 1973, as three previous temples
have been washed away by storms and the sea. Other holy places to visit in
Sagardwip are Bharat Sevashram Sangha temple, the Ramakrishna Mission and the
Onkarnath temple.
The
famous island
of Sagardwip,
popularly known as Gangasagar, is 128 km from Kolkata and is an ideal weekend
getaway. It is one of the most important pilgrimages in West
Bengal. People come here to take a holy dip in the
waters where the Ganga
meets the ocean. The ashram of the great sage Kapil Muni, is also considered
very auspicious and is visited by devotees. The Gangasagar Mela held here in
January during Makar Sankranti, is one of the largest religious fairs of the
state, and attracts thousands of visitors each year. Sagardwip has been
mentioned in the sacred texts such as the Ramayana and Mahabharata, and has
also been the setting of poems and novels by great Bengali authors such as
Tagore and Bankim Chandra. The silvery beach, which is away from the crowded
pilgrimage spot, is recently being developed as a tourism destination. The vast
panorama of the Bay of Bengal
and the wide, flat sands make it an attractive holiday destination
|
.gif){kind=small}
