Srila Bhaktivinoda Thakura describes this town in his Navadvipa-bhavataranga: “To the west of here (Mayapur), on the bank of the River Ganga, stands the town celebrated by the name of Ganganagara. There is the house of Gangadasa, where my Lord Gauranga took His young brahmana friends and they carried out their studies.”

Ganganagara is located to the west of Prithu-kunda which is now known as Ballal-dighi. This kunda or pond is no longer visible since it has been used as agricultural land. It is located between Sri Caitanya Matha, Srila Bhaktisidhanta Sarasvati Gosvami Prabhupada’s samadhi and Murari Gupta’s house. 

Ganganagara is the place where King Bhagiratha worshiped Ganga-devi and where he remained until Phalguna-purnima to celebrate the appearance day of Lord Gauranga.Ganganagara was subsequently washed away by the Ganga, which has sincere treated to reveal a big tract of land, largely uninhabited. Recently though, some people have started building houses there and we hope that very soon Ganganagara will manifest again. The city of Ganganagara was established by King Bhagiratha of the Raghu dynasty. Many years ago Maharaja Bhagiratha pleased Gangadevi by his austerities and she agreed to descend to earth and deliver his ancestors who were burnt to ashes by the wrath of Kapila Muni. Bhagiratha was leading the way from the Himalayas down to the ocean by blowing his conchshell and Ganga followed him,making her course towards the ocean. At one point King Bhagiratha turned back and saw that Ganga was no longer following him. The king searched for her and saw that she had stopped at Navadvipa-dhama. King Bhagiratha became very worried because his ancestors’ ashes were still more thana hundred kilometers away. If Ganga refused to flow any further then how would his ancestors be delivered? King Bhagiratha therefore started to perform tapasya to please Ganga-devi. Seeing his severe austerity Ganga-devi was pleased and appeared in front of the king. Bhagiratha was very happy to see mother Ganga personally and said to her,“My dear mother! You have stopped here! The ashes of my departed ancestors are lying more than a hundred kilometers ahead. If you stop now, how will my forefathers be delivered?” Mother Ganga replied, “My dearson! You should wait here without anxiety for some days. I have come to Navadvipa-dhama during the month of Magha (January-February) and I will stay here until the end of the Phalguna month (February-March). At that time I will proceed and deliver your forefathers. Bhagiratha! I am coming from the lotus feet of the Lord. This Navadvipa-dhama is the abode of my Lord and I feel much satisfaction here. The appearance of my Lord is on Phalguna-purnima day. On that day I will follow a vrata here, then only will I follow you. Do not fear.” Bhagiratha, the best of the Raghu dynasty, stayed in Ganganagara until Phalguna-purnima. Anyone who observes a vrata (spiritual vow)on Phalguna-purnima and stays in Ganganagara to take bath in the Ganga and worship Gauranga Mahaprabhu will be delivered along with hisfore fathers. This place is very glorious because Sri Gauranga Mahaprabhu has danced here many times. One who fasts, takes bath in the Ganga here and worships Gauranga will cross over the ocean of material existence along with one thousand of his ancestors and attain Goloka Vrindavana after death, no matter where he dies. The houses of Gangadasa and Sanjaya, two associates of Mahaprabhu, were situated in Ganganagara. Near Bharadvaja-tila there is a primary school beside which is a dirt road that goes to the field. Devotees go on panca-krosa-parikrama on this road. If you proceed about two hundred meters, you will see a raised piece of land on your left which is now used forgrowing rice. This land is believed to be the residence of Gangadasa Pandita who had a school at which Sriman Mahaprabhu studied during His childhood from the age of eight to ten. Next to Gangadasa Pandita’s house was the house of Mukunda Sanjaya and his brother. Sriman Mahaprabhu opened His school in this house.

Directions: It is said this place is located in the open field next to the Sridhama Mayapur Post Office which is on the corner just past Yoga-pitha. While this is the location accepted as being the place, it is also said that this ghata is presently covered by the Ganga. In the map dated 1500, it is shown as the last ghata and marks the border of Antardvipa with Mayapur.