Golden Triangle of India

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Friday, 2 December 2016 - Flew to Varanasi on the Ganges, explored the city's dozens of ghats and temples, wandered the narrow alleys of the old town, photographed boats and river life along the banks, witnessed evening life on the water, and experienced the powerful Aarti ceremony at Dashashwamedh Ghat.

india2016 — We flew to Varanasi on the river Ganges

The spiritual capital of India, it is the holiest of the seven sacred cities in Hinduism and Jainism. Varanasi has been a cultural center of North India for several thousand years and is closely associated with the Ganges. Varanasi grew as an important industrial center, famous for its muslin and silk fabrics, perfumes, ivory works, and sculpture.

india2016 — The city is known worldwide for its many ghats, embankments made in steps of stone slabs along the river bank where pilgrims perform ritual ablutions.

Varanasi has at least 84 ghats, most of which are used for bathing by pilgrims and spiritually significant Hindu puja ceremony, while a few are used exclusively as Hindu cremation sites

india2016 — Boats everywhere fishing, taxi, tourists, and pleasure

india2016 — On a couple of ghats were cloths and sheets laid out to dry

india2016 — There are estimated to be 23,000 temples in Varanasi, several on the Ganges. This was rather colorful.

india2016 — Family sitting on a ghat near the river's edge

india2016 — Bhonsala Ghat

In 1780, Maratha King Bhonsale of Nagpur made this ghat and thus named after him. This ghat is an example of contributions of Maratha rulers to the very lifeline of Varanasi.

india2016 — Temple on the river near a ghat

india2016 — Manikarnika Ghat is the primary cremation ghat in Varanasi - we passed it several times while on the river. Here a body is being dipped into the Ganges River before cremation.

Hindu mythology teaches that the ghat is especially sacred and that people cremated there receive freedom from the cycle of death and rebirth.

india2016 — Another Ghat

india2016 — Munshi Ghat and the Darbhanga Ghat with the Darbhanga Palace standing over the river.

india2016 — Colorful boats lining the banks of the river

india2016 — Little parrot on top of a building

india2016 — Ladies on top of a boat on the Ganges River

india2016 — In the afternoon we took a tour of the old town. Our hotel was on the river and right behind the hotel is the old city which was a maze of alleys. No streets were larger than this one. That is Virginia Ann in the white shirt

india2016 — The streets of Varanasi

india2016 — Egg market

india2016 — Small market

india2016 — Writing near a door

india2016 — Flowers for burial ceremonies.

india2016 — Fresh flowers over a door to a temple

india2016 — Wall next to a temple

india2016 — Alley to a hotel? Notice the "Welcome" painted on the gate.

india2016 — Priest in the back allys of Varanasi with a shrine. We gave a donation and received a blessing and marks on our foreheads.

india2016 — Small shrine

india2016 — After the city tour we took a nighttime tour of the Ganges

Manikarnika Ghat is the main crematorium about 80 ceremonies a day. There are 5 being performed during our tour.

india2016 — Closer look at the Manikarnika Ghat

india2016 — The Ganges at night

india2016 — After the boat ride we landed at the Dashashwamedh Ghat to see the Aarti ceremony. Here the stage is set for the pageant.

india2016 — Priest with incense during the ceremony

india2016 — Many priests lined up performing Aarti

india2016 — The highlight of the Aarti ceremony is the lamp with fire being waved about.

india2016 — A very young priest performing the Aarti ceremony

india2016 — Virginia Ann and Cal at a small shop where they were adorned with the beads, scarves, and markings. Then we had great tea in celebration of our 33rd anniversary!!

india2016 — A selfie of the anniversary couple at the Aarti ceremony

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