It’s difficult to know where to start with Varanasi, it’s definitely a Marmite kind of place! We would put ourselves firmly in the ‘love it’ camp. It’s a destination that had intrigued us for several years having watched many a TV programme about it. Logistically it’s not the easiest of places to reach, so whilst in Goa in early 2016 we decided to make the effort and find out for ourselves what it was all about. So 2 flights & almost 10 hours later we arrived…..

Initial thoughts after being led through numerous alleyways on foot to our guest house, dodging mopeds & cows, was how on earth are we ever going to find our way around. Having arrived in the dark we were disorientated and a little unnerved……this feeling would not last long.

Over the next few days with an open mind and map in hand we grow to love this place.  Navigating the labyrinth of alleyways to the ghats, within the space of a few minutes you find yourselves witnessing bath time, wash day, wallowing buffalo, weddings & of course, funerals. You really don’t know where to look!!

This is the Holiest of places for Hindus, to die and have your funeral here is their life’s wish. They believe that the River Ganges is the most holy of rivers and for their ashes to be immersed here is the ultimate salvation. The funeral pyres along the ghats burn constantly, you look on at a respectful distance with awe. The shrouded body is first brought through the maze of alleyways to the shores of the river where it is washed, it is then cremated, with the ashes eventually being scattered over the surface of the Holy river…

The Ganges is considered one of the most polluted waterways in the world, it doesn’t take long to see why!

Every night the river comes alive with the Aarti ceremony, where the mother Ganges is worshipped, a spectacle to behold, although it did go on a bit!!

All too soon our long anticipated visit was over, luckily our guest house host was on hand to guide us back through to the main road! Would we do it again? Most definitely!