varaint.JPG (33489 bytes)

We visited Varanasi (formerly Benares) towards the end of the second week in January 2000. I was uncertain what to expect and was not sure if I would like this old but crowded city. I was very pleasently surprised, some of the most memorable and interesting moments of the trip happened here. Krys had been expressing interest in meeting a sadhu and a snake charmer, I found the bathing  and burning Ghats to be of interest, we saw all this and more. Judge for yourself here are the pics.

 

varalane.JPG (31917 bytes) The streets and lanes of the old city are very narrow and congested. Cabs cannot negotiate the narrow twisty lanes so we made our way to the hotel by foot.

Sunrise over the Ganges
Varanasi, January 2000.
 
The walk to the Hotel (The Ganpati Guest House at Meer Ghat) was worth it. The hotel overlooks the Ghats, has a very good restaurant, and has views like this one.

 sunrise varanasi.JPG (15084 bytes)
charmer2.JPG (35111 bytes) Linda was leaning on the rail at the hotel when she heard someone yelling to her. She looked down and saw this fellow calling her saying "Cobra" "Cobra".
Snake Charmer Varanasi, Jan 2000. charmer1.JPG (42432 bytes)
varaboat.JPG (18579 bytes) Rowboat up the Ganges
Not expensive at all and it gives you an unparalleled view of the Ghats. We took the boat ride one way only. We then walked back from Assi Ghat.
Bathing Ghats
Varanasi, January 2000		 ghats1.JPG (65049 bytes)
ghats2.JPG (46288 bytes) Bathing Ghats
Varanasi, January 2000
Chance encounter along the Ghats in Varanasi. buff1.JPG (26170 bytes)
sadhu1.JPG (37259 bytes) Sadhu
Varanasi, Jan. 2000.
Krys meets a Sadhu