Varanasi

“Enlighten , and rather death which comes before it, is the primary business of Varanasi.” - Tahir Shah (British journalist)

After a long journey I arrived in the holy city of Varanasi it was abuzz with people transport everywhere I was going to stay in two different hotels one ultra expensive a treat to myself the other 5 star..

The first hotel Brijrama Palace was on the Ganges basically near door to the Ganges Ghats to get to it you needed to take a slow boat down the river past the cremations and finally reaching it then up steep stair to the hotel elevator. It was like stepping back into time everything was so beautiful I have marked in the photo the location of my room I could see most happenings on the river without leaving my room. The hotel was vegetarian Indian or Western and NO alcohol.

The hotel offered a pre-dinner and early morning river trip to watch people at the Ghats and the ceremony of cremation to be truthful I found it overwhelming what with the bad air quality cause by smoke and pollution and noise that I’d didn’t take any photos sorry.

When I left Australia I had arranged a walking food tour to start an about 11.00 am this was a difficult concept for the locals to understand they wanted to pick me up at 8 then 9: eventually we agreed o. 10.00 still too early but more acceptable I’m on holidays. So we started out walking the streets of Varanasi I’d hurt my knee in Jaipur so was a bit hoppy so we went to a local medicine man for amber oil and bobolo oil to put on my knee to help heal the pain and swelling. Knee is getting better but it that anti-inflammatories and ice at work or local medicine any I’m happy with the outcome so don’t care.. lost in translation as they say we sat in the local Medicine man’s riding a breakfast snack and masala tea (not my favourite) four bodies were rushed to the ghat for there cremation while there.

Next we walk thru the narrow streets of Varanasi you need to be careful as there was holy cow, dog and cat droppings everywhere. Still it’s was an experience.

I moved to the Taj Ganges hotel which was more modern hotel set in beautiful gardens and a large swimming pool. The restaurants offered a large selection of food and beverages. Like the other hotel there was opportunity to do a river viewing of the Ghat which I declined, Next day I visited Sarnath where Lord Buddha gave his first sermon at the Deer Park and a Tibetan Temple and Chaukhandi Stupu all worth the visit.

TomorrowI join the River cruise