April 5-6: Veranasi
VARANASI: (above – hotel we stayed at – inside old pictures of maharajas, the british, etc)
Leaving Kolkata, we took a 12 hour overnight train to Varanasi. This time, we had two sets of three-tiered bunks. It was more of a communal train car, rather than separate “rooms” like Vietnam. It was real comfortable and we made friends real quickly with those around us. We were a hit again, because we had a white guy who spoke Hindi!
Varanasi is THE place for Hindu religious pilgrimages, as it is along the banks of the Ganges River, which was ordained by Shiva to be the holiest place to die, because if you died here, you would go directly to heaven, bypassing coming back to earth for another life. We stayed a ways out of town here, and enjoyed an old colonial hotel. It was an extra surprise, because we reserved it ahead of time sight unseen, and in India, you just don’t know what you might find. But we’ve found having a place reserved when you get off the train saves the gigantic hassle of being besieged by touts trying to get you into their taxi and to the hotel that pays them commission. As we pulled into the street where our hotel was, our hearts sank, because it was the typical dusty street, with trash along the sides and crumbling walls. We pulled up to a rusty old gate, the doors opened, and voila…there was a beautiful, whitewashed colonial building surrounded by green lawns! We arranged a tour here in Varanasi to save us the hassle factor. We went down to the river “ghats” (sort of like stone piers) one evening to see a ritual fire dance that takes place every night, and we got up at 4:30 the next morning to go back down to the river to see the ritual bathing in the river at sunrise and the cremation ghats. Two things hit us here: one was that the rituals we saw taking place happen every day of the year. This is not Disneyland and it’s not something like Christmas and Easter. This is a way of life that goes on every day. The other thing we noticed is that here, death is not something that’s hidden away and spoken of in soft tones. Entire families will bring their deceased loved one hundreds of miles on a train, in order to have them cremated and their ashes spread in the Ganges. Or, if people know they are dying, they may come and stay in a care home in Varanasi so that they are close to the river when they die. We also saw processions through the city where the body is carried by several family members on their way to the river.
After a brief 2 nights in Varanasi, we caught the night train to Delhi. We had looked forward to this trip because it’s somewhat relaxing to be on the train and you have a little of your own space. However, this was one of those times when all went wrong. The only train we were able to find seats on left at 11:00 pm. from an outlying station about 45 minutes away from the city. We caught a taxi from the hotel with plenty of time to spare, but got caught in a horrendous traffic jam. It’s hard to describe the trip to the station, but I’ll try! There are no street lights, and in some places, no electricity, so it’s very dark, but full of honking trunks and cars. There are cows wandering around and the always pervasive smell of dung and urine) both human and animal! The road is paved but barely, so it’s very bumpy and all along the road, it just looks like rubble. Even many of the buildings look like they’re being demolished – they’re just falling apart. It’s so hot, you have to have the windows open, but since so much is unpaved and there are so many trucks, the dust just billows in. We then crossed a bridge that had construction going on, and there were huge piles of concrete and metal just lying in the road, and everybody, including cars, trucks, taxis, cows, rickshaws, are trying to get by and it’s utter chaos! We finally arrived at the train station, but the nightmare wasn’t over. We got out of the taxi and were immediately surrounded by folks trying to carry our bags. There were several people just sitting on the ground where we got out – some begging, some selling things, but all looking a little scary to 3 kids from a little mountain town in California. We made our way through hundreds of people sleeping on the station floor, looking very obvious as the only white people around. We sort of wandered around for awhile trying to find out which track our train was on. At this point, everyone was just ready to get on the train and hide! We finally found our track, only to find out that the train was an hour late. It was now about 11:00 pm and we had been up since 4:30 am (bad planning on our part!) We found a place to sit and wait, and it was decidedly unpleasant. Tim and I are pretty seasoned travelers, but sitting in a train station close to midnight, surrounding by staring people and the smell of human waste (to try to put it more pleasantly), was pretty hard to take. I had the girls on each side of me alternating between anger and tears, and asking to please go home! The only comfort was that it could only get better! Fortunately, Tim found a man who just happened to be travelling on the same train and even in the same car, and he became our sort of guardian angel. Between that, and Tim speaking Hindi, we managed to find our car and eventually chugged towards Delhi, 10 hours away.
Night boat trip – narrow streets – easily can get lost
on boat – candles are lit and then you make a prayer put into the river Ganges
The night boat trip was to see a holy ceremony called Pujay. – Thousands in the “stands” and on boats in the river. A very interesting exerience. Didn’t understand any of it, but it was quite the specatacle
A Maharaja’s “ghat” – a palace is built for his end days where he will then be cremated on the steps leading to the river
A cremation taking place.
The religion is Hindu and the cow is sacred and holy. Check this bull out. These cows are just wandering around the city. We saw a picture of a bull hanging out in a jewelry store.
4:00 am wake up to take a river boat trip on sunrise to see the bathing etc that goes on in the river. Definately a great experience with all its ceremony, prayers, bathings, cloth washing etc. To get to the ghat you walk through these narrow passages from the main street.
Looking down at one of the ghats (place of bathing, prayers,cremation). A yoga (kishna) class taking place below.
This sign says it all for the river Ganges
River side views
Prayers taking place
Ladies shaved their heads to gain some kind or reward for themselves and those that have gone on before them
We look a little tired
The cremation – burning “ghats” – different woods are used – the higher ones econmic status the choice of wood changes.
“Ghats” – different pictures of different ghats from different maharajas over the centuries
BAthing – washing scenes
you will notice the garbage and sewer in the pictures that fill the sides of the river – that doesn’t include the dead bodies and ashes that enter the river. You can just imagine what type of bacteria etc is in the river. The guide books talk about it – basically take your toilet with its usage every day – that is what the river is like – however, the people still bath, drink, wash their cloths every day their for blessings and purification from the river.
Hindu temple – our guide gave us a “sermon” on the Hindu religion. We learned alot – this temple did not have all the erotic carvings that you see on other temples.
Tags: Travel
tahoejohnson
You actually said that adequately. drugs for sale [url=https://canadianpharmacies-24h.com/#]reputable canadian pharmacy online[/url] canada pharmacies online https://canadianpharmacies-24h.com/
Cheers. I enjoy it! canada pharmacies prescription drugs https://canadianpharmacies-24h.com pharmacy review
Really lots of terrific advice! cost prescriptions https://canadianpharmacies-24h.com canadian drug stores online
online dating app
[url=”https://adult-singles-online-dating.com”]gay internet dating[/url]
online casual dating
Helpful advice. Cheers. canadadrugs pharmacy [url=https://canadianpharmaceuticalsonlineus.com/]pharmacy prices compare[/url] canadian drug https://canadianpharmaceuticalsonlineus.com/
You expressed that terrifically! canadian pharmacieswith no prescription [url=https://canadianpharmaceuticalsonlineus.com/]drugs without a prescription[/url] online pharmacy without scripts https://canadianpharmaceuticalsonlineus.com/
Thanks a lot! Numerous postings!
ed meds online https://canadianpharmacies-24h.com drugs without prescription
Nicely put, Regards! [url=https://canadapharmacies-24h.com/#]price prescription drugs[/url] canadapharmacyonline com https://canadapharmacies-24h.com/
Very good material. With thanks.
online medications canadian pharmacies reviews buy drugs online https://canadapharmacies-24h.com/
Seriously many of amazing advice! canadian pharmacy drugs online [url=https://canadianpharmacies-24h.com/#]online pharmacy no prescriptions[/url] overseas pharmacy forum https://canadianpharmacies-24h.com/
Thanks a lot! I appreciate this! prescription drugs without prior prescription https://canadianpharmaceuticalsonlineus.com prescription without a doctors prescription
Useful posts. Kudos. [url=https://canadapharmacies-24h.com/#]discount online canadian pharmacy[/url] navarro pharmacy miami https://canadapharmacies-24h.com/
You said that terrifically! canadian online pharmacy reviews [url=https://canadianpharmacies-24h.com/#]ordering prescriptions from canada legally[/url] pharmacy https://canadianpharmacies-24h.com/
Many thanks! Helpful information! canadian discount pharmacy https://canadianpharmacies-24h.com canada medications online
Regards, I enjoy this.
online prescription trust pharmacy pharmacie canadienne https://canadapharmacies-24h.com/
Good postings. Appreciate it.
cheap prescription drugs prescription drugs online without internet pharmacies https://canadapharmacies-24h.com/
gambling casino cytotec 200mcg over the counter buy cytotec online cheap
Many thanks! I value this! overseas pharmacy forum https://canadianpharmacies-24h.com buy prescription drugs online legally
adult singles dating site
[url=”https://datingpersonalsonline.com”]free woman paid debit video[/url]
ourtime
Cheers. Quite a lot of stuff.
[url=https://canadapharmacies-24h.com/#]cialis pharmacy online[/url] trusted canadian pharmacies https://canadapharmacies-24h.com/
Truly tons of amazing advice! pharmacy review [url=https://canadianpharmacies-24h.com/#]canada drug[/url] pharmacy world https://canadianpharmacies-24h.com/
Really loads of useful knowledge. mexican pharmacy online medications [url=https://canadianpharmaceuticalsonlineus.com/]online pharmacies in canada[/url] cheapest canadian pharmacy https://canadianpharmaceuticalsonlineus.com/
Nicely voiced indeed. . [url=https://canadapharmacies-24h.com/#]online ed medication no prescription[/url] online pharmacy school https://canadapharmacies-24h.com/
You mentioned that well!
canadian pharmacies top best international pharmacies that ship to the usa drugs from canada online https://canadapharmacies-24h.com/
With thanks, Terrific stuff. https://canadapharmacies-24h.com/
golden dragon online casino https://online2casino.com/
casinos online usa
[url=”https://casinosonlinex.com”]online casinos real money no deposit[/url]
online casino free spins
bovada online casino https://casinosonlinex.com/
sildenafil pills 100mg best viagra sites online generic cialis cost
dating services contact china
[url=”https://onlinedatingbabes.com”]casual dating[/url]
free local personals
no deposit bonus online casino
[url=”https://online2casino.com”]american online casinos[/url]
real money online casinos
play casino online erectile dysfunction drug write essays for money
b – gay chat
[url=”https://chatcongays.com”]chat random gay[/url]
utah gay bi chat
cialis – canada [url=http://canadotcphar.com/]viagra canada online pharmacy[/url] cialis lowest price
free sample of viagra cialis canada pharmacy online cheap viagra canada
cialis at canadian pharmacies [url=http://canadotcphar.com/]online pharmacy canada[/url] viagra without a doctor prescription from canada
order cialis my canadian pharmacy natural viagra alternatives
online dating games
[url=”https://onlinedatingservicesecrets.com”]relative dating[/url]
aduilt dating
canadian pharcharmy online reviews [url=http://canadotcphar.com/]canadian government approved pharmacies[/url] buy drugs in canada
cialis.com usa pharmacy online buy viagra uk
viagra without a doctor prescription canada [url=http://canadotcphar.com/]costco pharmacy[/url] generic pharmacy
buy cialis online canada pharmacy canada pharmacies online viagra viagra online without prescription
cialis canada [url=http://canadotcphar.com/]indian pharma[/url] rite aid pharmacies
walmart viagra price canada drug pharmacy buy viagra usa
purchase essay online erection problems buy cialis 5mg pill
single gay men chat line highpoint nc
[url=”https://free-gay-sex-chat.com”]free gay chat rooms in ioq[/url]
gay webcam chat
local gay chat room https://newgaychat.com/
gay chat phone line locker https://gaychatcams.net/
free gay video chat rooms https://gaychatspots.com/
buy viagra online [url=http://canadotcphar.com/]canadian pharmacy no prescription[/url] cost of viagra in canada
canadian pharmacies shipping to usa viagra online canadian pharmacy canadian prescription drugstore
buy viagra online without a prescription [url=http://canadotcphar.com/]usa pharmacy online[/url] buy real viagra
natural alternative viagra discount canadian pharmacies cialis-canadian pharmacy
gay black man chat https://gay-live-chat.net/
nc gay free chat room
[url=”https://gaychatcams.net”]chat random gay chat[/url]
top gay chat rooms
bears.com official website gay chat room https://chatcongays.com/
viagra professional [url=http://canadotcphar.com/]viagra from canada pharmacy[/url] discount viagra online
viagra without a doctor prescription from canada onlinepharmacy.com canadian pills online