Holy City of Varanasi

Varanasi was everything I expected of India - very chaotic and great at the same time! This is my favourite place in India so far. My sister and I thought that we would get lost everyday on the narrows corridors of this crazy city, but we soon found our way and started discovering the hidden secrets of this holy city.

View from Ganges River Steps

Our hotel was located at Meer Ghat, in the Old City area (Alka Hotel, photos on Tripadvisor). We arrived there around 6am, after a 16 hours train trip. While Dine resteded the hotel room, I went to the balcony to watch the sunrise. It was an amazing feeling seeing the Ganges River for the first time! It felt like I was the only person awaken in the city. I felt at peace being there on my own.

Sunrise in Varanasi, View from Hotel Balcony

Ganges River at Varanasi

HOLY WATER

Ganges River plays a sacred role in the lives of Indian people. They do pretty much everything on and by the river. They drink the holy water, bath themselves, bath their animals, wash their clothes, receive a massage, preach sacred teachings and hold holy ceremonies by the river.

Bathing in the Ganges River

Animal Bathing

Doing their Washing

Massage Beds & Holy Teachings by the River

CREMATIONS

The most important of all Indian people use Ganges River for, is to cremate their loved ones and throw the ashes into the holy water. This is to purify the soul of the dead as they live this world. Although babies, pregnant women, people who have been bit by a snake (cobra) and animals are thrown into the river without being cremated. The reason being is because they are considered holy in the eyes of Indian people. There are no photos of cremations, as tourists are not allowed to take photos of these ceremonies for respect of the deceased people and their families.

BOAT RIDE ON GANGES RIVER

A boat ride is a ‘must do’ in Varanasi. Most people will go for a ride in the early hours of the day to watch the sunrise, which is quite spectacular. For those ones not wishing to walk from one place to another, they can use the boats as a taxi. The prices will vary according to the size of the boat. Dine and I paid $100 rupees each for one hour ride. Although we ended up tipping another 100 rupees to Pradip  (our lovely 15 year old boat rower),  as we felt sorry for him paddling against the flowing current and under the hot sun.

Boat Ride on Ganges River

NUMBER ONE LASSI DRINK IN VARANASI

A shop called ‘Blue Lassi’, which has been serving the traditional Indian drink ‘lassi’ for more than seven decades is a must stop in Varanasi. Dine and I went to this place to drink a lassi everyday. They had a huge menu list with with various flavours of lassi, but we always ended up ordering the same, our favourite plain sweet lassi. J

Best Lassi in Varanasi

HOLY CEREMONY BY THE RIVER

Every evening a holy ceremony is held on the Dasaswamedth Ghat. It goes for about one hour and anyone can attend it, free of charge. Peoplen can watch this ceremony on the Ganges Steps or on the boats available for a ride at a very low price.

Evening Ganga Aarti Ceremony, Dasaswamedth Ghat

People watching this ceremony will just be approached by many locals to buy different kinds and sizes of purja (offerings to the goddesses). This offering can be any God you believe in. My purja was a little tray with some yellow Marigold flowers and a candle on it.

 

Placing my Purja on Ganges River

As everyone walked by on the many steps of Ganges River,  some remained unaffected by all the frenzy taking place around them. Such people had to be saints or Sadhus, as they are commonly called in India. We watched a Sadhu from our balcony everyday. He seemed to be very friendly, smiling at our tourists who wanted to take a photo of him or with him. We met some skeptical Indians, who said that nowadays most Sadhus are fake saints using their position to get money effortlessly from people, who believe in their sanctity.  

Sadhu - Holy Man

During our stay in Varanasi there was a big festival taking place, so the city was in full swing, with a lovely atmosphere. There were live music and dance presentations nearly every night. By the time we left Varanasi, the city was packed with Indian people, all looking for a spot to bath themselves in the holy waters of Ganges River. Dine and I ventured to bless our tip toes in the river!

Goodbye Varanasi