The main fairway leading into the Hugli River passes close off the SW extremity of this island. Although well-populated and heavily cultivated, the island has few distinguishing features.

The island is large with an area of around 300 km². This island is a famous Hindu pilgrim place. Every year on the day of Makar Sankranti (mid of January), hundreds of thousands of Hindus gather to take a holy dip at the confluence of river Ganges and Bay of Bengal and offer puja in the Kapil Muni Temple.