Varanasi, also known as Banares, is one of the oldest continuously occupied cities in the world. It is also one of the holiest, ranking up there with Jerusalem. It is located on the Ganges River in north central India. They say you can get “anything” in Varanasi. I believe it. Though it got heavy on me at times and I threatened never to return, I will be back.
We were there three times in late February and March of 2014 as we shuttled between it and the Buddhist holy places of Lumbini, Bodhgaya, and Kushinagar.
Here are some of the highlights of our time in Varanasi. I have divided the photos into two pages. There is just too much of Varanasi to restrict it to 20 or so pictures. The others are at Varanasi (Banares) II.
For the visitor, morning in Varanasi begins with sunrise a boat ride on the Ganges, the holiest of all rivers in the world. (30 Mar 2014)
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With sunrise come so many boats to honor the Ganges and get the first fresh air of the new day. (30 Mar 2014)
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The fabled ghats of Varanasi where Varanasi meets the Ganges. They are steps from the hills of the city down to the river. Each set of steps has a name and particular groups gather there. These begin with Assi Ghat on the left where mainly westerners gather. (28 Feb 2014)
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Most of my knowledge of the ghats before I came to Varanasi referred to the burning ghats where people are cremated and their ashes put in the Ganges guaranteeing release from reincarnation. In fact, only two ghats are dedicated to cremation, a major one north of the main ghat of the city and a minor one to the south. I had mistakenly thought that all ghats were for cremation. This is a view looking south along some the others. (26 Feb 2014)
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The best views of the ghats are from the Ganges. I took this one as we rowed north one day. (26 Feb 2014)
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Another ghat view from our boat. (26 Feb 2014)
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Cows are holy in India and, as such, are protected and never eaten. They also wander wherever the want. These buffalo are standing on one of the ghats. (1 Mar 2014)
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A Varanasi goat. (24 Feb 2014)
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A fire ceremony along the Ganges. (Click on the picture to see a movie of its progress.) (22 Mar 2014)
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Boats linked together in the Ganges as their occupants watch the big fire ceremony on the main ghat. (23 Mar 2014)
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The big fire ceremony on the main ghat. Five priests are preforming. (23 Mar 2014)
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Washing clothes in the morning on the Ganges. (30 Mar 2014)
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Washing clothes in the morning on the Ganges. (30 Mar 2014)
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Looking south from the roof of the Holy Ganges View Hotel. In the distance is the Yoga Mandir ashram (see picture below). (1 Mar 2014)
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The budget Holy Ganges View Hotel had this bronze cast key fob of a high class hotel. It went along with the high class of the hotel staff and management. We stayed here six days until it got too hot. (1 Mar 2014)
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The Yoga Mandir ashram on the Ganges. Full of beautiful dahlias, it sat away from the busy ghats and consequently was quite quiet compared to other places along the ghats. We stayed there four days (24 Feb 2014)
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One or the Yoga Mandir’s dahlias. (26 Feb 2014)
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