I went to Varanasi, and I won't go there again!
However, for me, I didn't enjoy Varanasi. There wasn't any coffee place where you could enjoy a hot cup of coffee. You can find lot of eating place in Varanasi, but I would trust their cooking. Good luck finding a clean restaurant. I found one but it was near the Ghat, quite far from the main streets.
I went to the Ghat. Ghat is all situated beside the Ganges river. There are so many Ghat. At one Ghat dead bodies are burnt. Statistics say an average of 100 bodies are burnt every day.
So much for a holiday ... never again I will go to Varanasi ... sorry but this is just me... lol
Yes, never again. I never ever been exposed to so much filth, dirt and noise in my life. If you want to go to Varanasi, I would say just go for a day so you can return home with a sane mind. I wasn't very impressed with Varanasi. I told my friends that the best place in Varanasi is in your hotel.
Varanasi, also known as Kashi and Benaras, is the cultural capital of India. Varanasi is a melting pot, where both death and life come together. It is like a spiritual hub of Hinduism.
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| Devotees lining up to worship at a temple |
The land of Varanasi has been the ultimate pilgrimage spot for Hindus for ages. Hindus believe that one who is graced to die on the land of Varanasi would attain salvation and freedom from the cycle of birth and re-birth. Abode of Lord Shiva and Parvati, the origins of Varanasi are yet unknown. Ganges in Varanasi is believed to have the power to wash away the sins of mortals.
Varanasi has also been a great center of learning for ages. Varanasi is associated with promotion of spiritualism, mysticism, Sanskrit, yoga and Hindi language and honored authors such as the ever-famous novelist Prem Chand and Tulsi Das, the famous saint-poet who wrote Ram Charit Manas. Aptly called as the cultural capital of India, Varanasi has provided the right platform for all cultural activities to flourish. Many exponents of dance and music have come from Varanasi. Ravi Shankar, the internationally renowned Sitar maestro and Ustad Bismillah Khan, (the famous Shehnai player) are all sons of the blessed city or have lived here for major part of their lives
However, for me, I didn't enjoy Varanasi. There wasn't any coffee place where you could enjoy a hot cup of coffee. You can find lot of eating place in Varanasi, but I would trust their cooking. Good luck finding a clean restaurant. I found one but it was near the Ghat, quite far from the main streets.
I went to the Ghat. Ghat is all situated beside the Ganges river. There are so many Ghat. At one Ghat dead bodies are burnt. Statistics say an average of 100 bodies are burnt every day.
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| Dead bodies burnt beside Ganges River |
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| Image by © Bojan Brecelj/CORBIS |
Hindus believe the Ganges is the world’s most sacred river and those who bathe in its waters achieve purity. Similarly, those whose bodies are deposited in the Ganges-whether as ashes or corpses-are believed to break the cycle of reincarnation. They become one with God.
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| People bathing in Ganges |
People don't just burn the dead they throw the body in the Ganges river. The death ritual is one of the most important for the Indian Hindus. If one is rich enough, the body is burnt on the shore of the holy Ganges River but if not, one is simply thrown into the water and eaten by the vultures and dogs on the sand. Nobody looks after the skulls and bones lying around. For Hindus, spirit and body are two completely separate things and once the spirit is set free after the funeral rites, the body is treated as a useless shell.
But what astonished me that people still bathe and use the river of Ganges for purification. I guess despite of how we look at the Ganges river, for the Hindus it is their faith.
I went on a boat ride on the Ganges. I asked a boater how much will it cost me for a boat cruise. He replied 1300 rupees [$26 NZ]. He had no idea that a day before I spoke with some other boaters and they told me that for an hour it is 100 rupees [$2 Rupees]. So I don't him it is too expensive and than he went down to 600 rupees and than to 400 rupees and finally we agreed 100 rupees. You just have to be careful around here. If you don't do your homework, they will be rip you off.
Every local wants to help you. They will stop their auto or Rickshaws to give you a ride. Which is very nice but they will ask for extravagant fare. Sometimes they are very irritating. They will pester you.
Always ask your hotel reception about local transportation timetable. It is way much cheaper.
The best time to see the Ganges is during sunrise and sunset. Make sure you negotiate with a boater the time and the price a day before you ride. The cruel thing is that the sun won't wait for you. You know it and so does the boater. so be prepared. I would recommend sunset.
Every night around 7pm, there is a Hindu pooja [religious prayer] beside the Ganges. Many people flock to witness this pooja. It goes on for like 2 hours. If you go for a boat ride in the evening, you can see this pooja from the Ganges river. Make sure you take some ear plugs because they ring the bells throughout the rituals.
Avoid going to Varanasi during summer and monsoon. You will hardly find an air condition restaurant in Varanasi. During monsoon, there is lot of rain and flooding. You don't want to see what is floating in the water.
Don't tell me, I didn't warn you ...lol.
So much for a holiday ... never again I will go to Varanasi ... sorry but this is just me... lol
Other news that caught my attention -
India brides leave husbands' homes for lack of toilets
Six newlywed women in a village in
the Indian state of Uttar Pradesh have returned to their parents because their
husbands' homes had no toilets.
The women, all from Khesiya village in Kushinagar district, said they would
return only after their husbands had built proper toilets at home.
"My parents have a toilet at home, but there is no toilet in my husband Ramesh
Sharma's home. Going outdoors was a big hassle, so I fought with him and
returned to my parents."
India monkey showers people with stolen banknotes in Shimla
A monkey in the northern Indian state
of Himachal Pradesh has rained down banknotes on people, reports say.
Surprised holidaymakers in the scenic pine forest of Shimla, the state
capital, ran around, collecting the falling notes for nearly an hour on Sunday,
eyewitnesses said.
Reports said the simian stole 10,000 rupees ($165; £100) from a nearby home.
The monkey had entered the house to look for food, but when it did not find
anything to eat, it took the money.
There are some 300,000 monkeys in the state and Shimla has long been a haven
for the animals.Macaque monkeys are considered sacred by Hindus, who often feed them.
But in recent years, the animals have been coming increasingly in conflict
with humans, destroying crops, attacking people for food and biting children.
And authorities in Himachal Pradesh have declared monkeys a menace.
The cash-dispensing simian was first spotted sitting on a tin roof with a
bundle of currency notes before it playfully started throwing them down
one-by-one.
As people began collecting notes of various denominations, the monkey moved
on to a tree.
But as it continued to distribute money, many people rushed there to pick up
the falling notes.
"Surprised by the attention it was attracting, the cash loaded monkey then
decided to move into the thick pine trees. But as it continued to shower notes,
the money collectors naturally followed it," said Amit Kanwar who witnessed the
entire scene.
This is the second such incident in Shimla this year - in February too, a
monkey stole a wad of currency notes from a home and distributed it among people
on a crowded street.
Take care everyone ... God Bless
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