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Sultanganj is a sacred town on the banks of the Ganges in Bihar's Bhagalpur district, best known as the starting point of the famous Kanwar Yatra. Pilgrims collect holy water here at the ancient Ajgaibinath Temple before beginning their 105 km journey on foot to Baba Baidyanath Dham in Deoghar. The temple sits on a rocky island where the Ganges uniquely flows northward - considered especially sacred in Hindu belief - making Sultanganj both a pilgrimage site in its own right and the gateway to Deoghar's Shravani Mela.
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Sultanganj is where pilgrims collect holy water from the Ganges at Ajgaibinath Temple before beginning the 105 km walk to Baba Baidyanath Dham in Deoghar - it's the traditional starting point of the entire pilgrimage.
The temple sits on a rocky island in the Ganges where the river uniquely flows northward (Uttarvahini Ganga), considered especially sacred. It's one of only three major Shiva temples in the Bihar-Jharkhand region, alongside Baidyanath and Basukinath.
Sultanganj has its own railway station (also called Ajgaibinath Dham station) about 1.5 km from the temple, with direct trains from Bhagalpur, Patna, Howrah, Deoghar and Ranchi. It's also well connected by road, about 24 km from Bhagalpur.
Many pilgrims prefer to stay overnight in Sultanganj before starting their walk, especially during Shravani Mela when an early morning start helps avoid the worst of the daytime crowds and heat.
The town is busiest during Shravan (July-August) for Kanwar Yatra season. For a quieter visit, September to April offers more comfortable weather.