From Kathmandu to Varanasi January 2013 VARANASI

In the beginning of the new year I went to India. Though it was not easy to get a Visa from the Indian Embassy in Kathmandu. Waitingtime very LONG. But I got it. And on the 9th of January we leaving Kathmandu in a Micro Bus to go to Sunauli, the boardercity to India.
Also crossing the boarder with two nepali friends was not so easy. And they wanted money to make them cross. Anyhow me manage and everything went well.
We took a car and went to Gorakhpur from there we took a train to Varanasi, where we arrive next day in the morning!

 To our supprise, the sky was full with kites for the next 3 days. "Makar Sankranti" the kite festival has just started. The kite runner festival is about flying the kites and cut off the others to win! So many kites in the sky, it was really very amazing. It is not only fun for children, many adults also play! The festival is celebrated all over India and is a harvest festival for the sun god "Surya". In Varanasi it is also the first bathing day in the Ganga, the holy river.

Varanasi has many names but is mostly called Benares or Banares. It is located on the holy Ganga river. Hindus believ that the death in Varanasi brings salvation.

Varanasi is a place of learning and the classical hindu music comes from there. Music is very famous and you can find all kind of instruments specially Sitar and Flute as well as Tabla! But also many philosophers, poets and writers live or have lived in Varanasi.
You can find a good teacher there for what ever you wanna learn.

Varanasi is also a city where money is playing a big role and for me it was a little bit difficult to understand that. Many cheaters and people you can not trust, even if they want to help you, still you should be careful. But once you are used to all the people who wanna take you in Riksha or boat or guest house, you will have a great time.








The view from the many guesthouses arround Varanasis Ghats are beautiful and give you an idea of how is life in that city!

VARANASIS GHATS

Ghats are places along the holy river Ganges. They are holy places and many rituals taking place there. Varanasi has at least 84 Ghats.

This picture shows the "burning Ghat or Manikarnika Ghat". Many old people come to Varanasi to die there because it is believed that you will not be reborn after beeing burned in Varansi!

But the Ganges in Varanasi is not only a burning place for dead people. It is a washing place, bathing, and a most spiritual place. The best to see all the things going on there, is to take a boat and go along the river.

This will not be my last visit to Varanasi! I will be there again while going back to Nepal. So more fotos and details about the most holy city in India will follow. Keep up watching my BLOG!

Love and Light