The train stopped at Varanasi Junction and we headed to catch a bus at the bus station opposite. After asking bus drivers, people on the bus counters and anyone who vaguely looked like they would guide is in the right direction, we found out no buses go to the centre. That meant an auto rickshaw ride. It is not the fact we don't like auto rickshaws but it is the 20 minute negotiation on the price of a journey we don't like! Eventually we got an auto to the centre at a reasonable price.
The hotel was about 10 mins walk from our drop off point. Auto-rickshaws are banned from going any further into Varanasi Old Town, so we had to walk. We trundled our little bags through the narrow alleys. We passed many shops, people, cows, dogs, tourists and policemen. There were police on every street corner and there are a lot of corners. So many in fact that we got a little lost amongst the maze of alleyways.
Eventually we found the hotel, left our bags and went for lunch. We returned to the hotel to check-in properly and check our room. Running around just outside our hotel room window was a huge troop of monkeys. As we locked the door to head back out, we heard the monkeys going wild! We jumped back in the room and quickly closed the door. We waited until the commotion had died down and tried to leave again. This time we were successful!
We walked the narrow streets and stumbled across a Durga Puja procession .It was interesting to watch the idol being covered in flowers and offerings. As the procession headed to the river they used long sticks to lift anything in their way, usually high voltage electrical cables!
We diverted from the procession to the burning ghats , where cremations are carried out. A Varanasi local shared his knowledge with us and explained the Hindu beliefs. We stayed on the ghats and continued our journey.
We got talking to a man at the river who was from Bransgore, Christchurch. He now spends most of his time on India helping at various charities.
It was starting to get dark so we walked back along the ghats to find the evening puja (worship). It wasn't hard to find. We just looked for crowds of people. There were a lot. Most watched from the ghats, others were in various boats on the river. There was music, singing, throwing petals and swinging fire.
After all of the excitement we needed to eat so headed to the main eating area of town. We refuelled then headed to bed for a good night's sleep.
The hotel was about 10 mins walk from our drop off point. Auto-rickshaws are banned from going any further into Varanasi Old Town, so we had to walk. We trundled our little bags through the narrow alleys. We passed many shops, people, cows, dogs, tourists and policemen. There were police on every street corner and there are a lot of corners. So many in fact that we got a little lost amongst the maze of alleyways.
Eventually we found the hotel, left our bags and went for lunch. We returned to the hotel to check-in properly and check our room. Running around just outside our hotel room window was a huge troop of monkeys. As we locked the door to head back out, we heard the monkeys going wild! We jumped back in the room and quickly closed the door. We waited until the commotion had died down and tried to leave again. This time we were successful!
We walked the narrow streets and stumbled across a Durga Puja procession .It was interesting to watch the idol being covered in flowers and offerings. As the procession headed to the river they used long sticks to lift anything in their way, usually high voltage electrical cables!
We diverted from the procession to the burning ghats , where cremations are carried out. A Varanasi local shared his knowledge with us and explained the Hindu beliefs. We stayed on the ghats and continued our journey.
We got talking to a man at the river who was from Bransgore, Christchurch. He now spends most of his time on India helping at various charities.
It was starting to get dark so we walked back along the ghats to find the evening puja (worship). It wasn't hard to find. We just looked for crowds of people. There were a lot. Most watched from the ghats, others were in various boats on the river. There was music, singing, throwing petals and swinging fire.
After all of the excitement we needed to eat so headed to the main eating area of town. We refuelled then headed to bed for a good night's sleep.