Sagar Island, Religious island in West Bengal, India
Sagar Island is a stretch of flat fields and marshes where the Ganges meets the Bay of Bengal. The island spreads across a wide area, with small villages scattered among waterways and salt flats.
The temple on this island was rebuilt several times after storms and the advance of the sea. The coastline has been shifting for centuries due to flooding and erosion.
The island takes its name from the sea, Sagar, which surrounds its shores on all sides. Pilgrims collect water from the confluence to keep at home for ceremonies, while they carry back sacred earth from the shore.
Visitors travel from Kolkata to the ferry landing, where a boat crosses to the island. The route follows a highway and then takes to the water, with the crossing sometimes lasting several hours.
A lighthouse on the southwestern tip stands as a guide for ships navigating the delta. The structure also serves as a lookout during cyclones that regularly strike this coast.
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