They say people either love it or hate it. But I’m not so sure about that. Varanasi is one of the oldest cities in the world and it has definitely seen better days. It has sights and sounds like no other place in India. It is a pilgrimage site for millions, it throbs with life and death and is right in your face. Th pace is slightly slower on water but even there, as soon as the boats pull together to view the ceremonies at the various ghats, the touts get onboard trying to sell you something.
We went on the river at sunrise and at sunset to see the Hindu faithful making prayers and devotions. And we visited a Buddhist Stupa and temple at Saranath about 10 Kilometres away.
Here are a few of the images that we captured.
Ganges boat and offerings of flowers
Roo contemplating the ghats (steps leading to river)
The ghats in the mist
Roo captured this example of fan-forced cooking
Kids jump on and go boat to boat selling trinkets and flower offerings to tourists
The Buddhist stupa at Saranath
Devotees in meditation at Saranath
A monk with his Blackberry
