Dec. 21 Varanasi

Varanasi

I came in from Khajuraho on a train that was supposed to arrive at 10:30 am, but got to Varanasi at 3:30 pm due to the fog.  I met Galina, from Canada on the train and she decided to come to my hotel with me as she had no reservations.  As Saleem, my driver in Agra, promised he arranged for the P & G on the Ganges Guesthouse to pick me up at the station and transport me to the guesthouse.  I was so glad, as it's streets are very convoluted.  It is located about a block off Jain Ghat through a winding passageway that is so narrow it is hard to navigate even on a scooter.  It is also a short walk from the main street in this part of town where plenty of fresh fruit, vegetables, and chai are sold.

Feeding Birds on the Ganges

Manikarnika Ghat

Banares, City of Light, at 3,000 yrs. old, has about 1.5 million inhabitants.  Its age is evident in the narrow winding streets and passageways and the very old buildings and temples.  What an incredible city it is with a totally different feel than anyplace I have visited here in India. 

In an effort to avoid rebirth, hundreds of old people come here to die.  The Ganges River is considered holy water and thousands of people bathe in it daily as well as the sadhus who live close to the river's edge.  The ghats (concrete steps running along and down into the water) run for 3 km. along the river from Asi Ghat on the south end, to Manikarnika Ghat, the burning ghat where about 200-300 cremations are carried out daily.