The Gangasagar Mela is held on Sagar Island, in West Bengal, around Makar Sankranti. In 2027 the Sun’s transit falls late on the night of Thursday, 14 January, so Drik Panchang places the main observance and punya kaal on Friday, 15 January, while some calendars simply list 14 January. Fly into Netaji Subhas Chandra Bose International Airport in Kolkata, then travel by road to Harwood Point near Kakdwip and take the ferry to Sagar Island.
Updated October 2026 · HappyFares
Sagar Island cannot be reached by air or by an uninterrupted road, so the journey has three legs: a flight to Kolkata, a road transfer, and a short ferry. Here is how to plan each one.
When is the Gangasagar Mela in 2027?
The mela is centred on Makar Sankranti, when pilgrims bathe at the point where the Ganga meets the Bay of Bengal. For 2027, Drik Panchang gives the Sun’s transit as 9:14 PM on Thursday, 14 January, and lists the Makar Sankranti observance and punya kaal on Friday, 15 January. Some other calendars list Thursday, 14 January. Because the transit falls so late in the evening, check which day your family or local temple follows.
No official 2027 schedule for the mela itself was available when this was written, so treat any specific start and end dates you see online as provisional. West Bengal government announcements usually come closer to the event, so check them before you book non-refundable travel or accommodation.
Which airport do you fly into for Gangasagar?
Kolkata. The city’s airport is Netaji Subhas Chandra Bose International Airport (airport code CCU), located in Dum Dum. It is roughly 16 km from the city centre, measured by road via the Howrah Bridge.
Kolkata is well connected to other Indian cities, so most travellers can find a direct or one-stop flight. Check the schedules of the airlines that fly your route, and compare a few departure days, because the days around Makar Sankranti are a peak pilgrimage period.
How do you get from Kolkata to Sagar Island?
The usual route is by road from Kolkata to Harwood Point, a village in the Kakdwip area of South 24 Parganas district. From Harwood Point, a ferry crosses the Muri Ganga river to Kachuberia on Sagar Island. Wikipedia describes an hourly ferry service on this crossing, though frequency and timings can change, especially around the mela.
From Kachuberia you continue by road across the island to the Gangasagar site. During the mela, special transport arrangements are generally made, and road and ferry conditions can be very crowded. Keep your journey time flexible and avoid tight onward connections on the same day.
Ferry operation depends on the tide. Travel guides warn that services can pause at certain hours when the water is low, so check current timings with the local authorities or your transport provider before you set out. Older blog timetables should not be relied on.
If you are travelling as a family or a group of elders, think about the comfort of the road leg before you choose flight times. A mid-morning landing leaves you time to rest in Kolkata, collect any pre-arranged transport and start the next morning without strain. A very late arrival is better treated as a night’s stay in the city rather than an onward push.
How should you plan the flights and the timing?
Because the road-and-ferry leg takes a good part of a day, it helps to land in Kolkata at least a day before you intend to bathe. This keeps a late flight from forcing you into a night crossing or a rushed morning.
A practical plan looks like this:
- Fly into Kolkata one or two days before Makar Sankranti.
- Stay overnight in Kolkata, then start the road journey early the next morning.
- Carry only what you need on the island, and leave valuables in your Kolkata stay.
- Book your return flight with some buffer, since crowds on the way back can delay you.
Flights around Makar Sankranti tend to sell out on busy routes, and fares often rise as the date nears. Booking early and keeping dates flexible by a day usually helps.
What should pilgrims carry on the flight?
Pilgrims often carry small containers for holy water or offerings. On a flight, liquids in cabin baggage must be in containers of 100 ml or less, held in one transparent resealable bag of up to 1 litre capacity, according to Air India’s cabin baggage guidance. Larger containers are better packed in checked baggage, sealed well. Check your own airline’s list of prohibited items as well.
Neither web check-in nor airport check-in is charged by Indian airlines, so there is no need to pay anyone for it.
Common Questions
Which airport is closest to Gangasagar?
Kolkata’s Netaji Subhas Chandra Bose International Airport is the main airport for the journey. Sagar Island has no airport.
How do I reach Sagar Island from Kolkata?
By road to Harwood Point near Kakdwip, then by ferry across the Muri Ganga to Kachuberia on Sagar Island.
What is the date of Makar Sankranti in 2027?
The Sun’s transit is at 9:14 PM on Thursday, 14 January 2027 per Drik Panchang, which places the main observance on Friday, 15 January. Some calendars list 14 January, so confirm which day your family follows.
Are the 2027 mela dates confirmed?
No official schedule was available at the time of writing. Watch for West Bengal government notices closer to the date.
Do ferries run at all hours?
Not necessarily. Tide conditions can pause services, so check current timings locally before you travel.
Should I book flights early?
Yes, if your dates are fixed. Pilgrimage periods are busy, and booking early gives you more choice of timings.
Heading to Kolkata for Makar Sankranti? Search and compare flights on HappyFares, pay zero convenience fee on domestic bookings, and set a price alert for your route.
Dates, ferry timings and airline rules change. Verify current specifics with the airline, the West Bengal authorities and the airport before you travel.
