VARANASI TRIP

First of all I feel sorry for using the term about this place Varanasi as terrible. Not this place is terrible, but some conditions were terrible. I narrate my story.
I wanted to have a glimpse of this unique place Varanasi, as a stopover point on the way to Gangtok.  Because of a lot of things have been told about this place.  After getting down at the Varanasi Railway station at around 1700 hrs I was as usual surrounded by a group of touts, Auto agents, Hotel agents etc. Here everything could be costly if you are care less. One porter took my luggage to Auto point. He charged an rate of Rs 100/- 
I went to the hotel Surya by an auto which cost me Rs50/-


Scene in Kedarghat 

Scene in Kedarghat in evening ... Lecture by a Sanyasi 

I tell you guys Hotel Surya is one of the best recommended place in Varanasi for stay.
I came out of the hotel again and took an auto for four hour ride which he charged me Rs 300/-
The place he took me at first was to Kedar Ghat. This is one of the main ghat (Bathing Point) and also the boating point also.
But when I turned my heads around I got shocked to see the dead bodies kept covered in saffron clothing, waiting for the final rites.  Burning.  That was the scene which I saw in nearby Harichandra Ghat. There were   so many VETTIYANS as well as middlemen were talking to each other. The relatives of dead souls were waiting with great grief for their turn to come. I was moved terribly by the scenes.  I have seen waiting list at railway reservation centres, banks, schools, ration kadais, But terrible to see that in burning Ghats. 
Then I took that photograph of Marine drive like one, which you people saw in my early message.  
Here photography of burning bodies is a sin and as considered as mark of disrespect to the departed souls. So we must be very careful. Some westerners were trying to take photographs of them clandestinely.


Next day morning I engaged the same auto fellow for an outing. He took me to the main boating point at Kedar ghat. Boating in the Ganges River is a must inVaranasi. You can see great scenes sitting in the boat. You can take great pictures.  I have taken my pictures. Please go through my photo album.  Initially the boat man asked me Rs900/- for the to and fro ride. He was simply merciless. Then the auto man and myself looked around some decent guy who accepted Rs300/- for to and pro ride. The scenes along the banks of Ganga were fantastic. The boat ride along the Ganga ride with view of various ghats is wonderful one. My photos can tell you a lot. 

Then next challenging activity is visiting the famous Viswanath temple. I have never seen such a security. For going to viswanath temple, you should step down at banks river ganga. Then you should walk up and up. There are multiple lanes through which you should criss cross. You cannot enter the temple complex with the following items. Match box, Pen, mobile phone, camera, bag etc. They simply allow you and your dress, your purse, flowers for offering inside the complex. They check even the flowers thoroughly. You are naturally forced to drop your bags etc to the flower merchant shop. He charged me Rs150/- for flowers.  I entered through the Gate No 2.  When I entered inside the temple I got the size of the main temple. It is a small complex. With lots of people pulling and pushing it was bit hectic experience. Lots of Hindu priests was tapping the back of devotes. You are expected to pay something. I paid him Rs 20/- . He accepted that. Actually the priests were not so compelling the devotees as it was told earlier.  After visiting main deity I came out to find some shocking scenes surrounding the temple. There is a pure white mosque in the adjacent complex. The mosque is surrounded by big gates which are so thick and so high that you may not see even in Indo Pak border. There are hundreds of police are at posts, watching every things. All gated are provided with CC cameras. You cannot come out of unauthorised gates. You cannot enter any gate if it is not authorised.  Somebody told me that the original temple was at the place where the Mosque remains. The original temple was destroyed by Aurangzeb or somebody like him. The localites, it is believed to have strong intentions to reinstall the temple in its original ancient location. That is the reason for the tension. 
The boatman boy then took me to a surprising place called Visalakshi temple. This temple is in lanes very near to Viswanath temple.  The temple is maintained by Tamilians. In the outer walls of the temple it was written words of some Chettiar in Tamil.  The temple was like typical south Indian Gopuram style. All walls are inscribed with Tamil wordings. Outside the temple the name is mentioned as Visalakshi temple in Tamil letters.  Then after visiting this place me and my boat man had good cup of tea at a nearby place.  
Unfortunately I could not photograph them, as photography is strictly not allowed over there.  We came back again to Ganges River to find a burning ghat called Manika ghat . That is the main burning ghat of Varanasi. I was moved by the scenes. You can feel only when you see them physically. Then I returned to the boating point, (Kedar ghat) by the same boat man.     
The boatman told me the following dead bodies will never be taken for burning at the Ghats.
Pregnant ladies, Young children, People affected by Leukoderma (Ven Kushtam).
I think they cannot be purified by these rituals.

In Varanasi the a loop is maintained 
If you go to a hotel  
They will recommend you to a auto man. 
Auto man will take you to the bank of Ganges and connect you with a boatman.
Boatman will act both as boat rider and as well as a guide.
Boatman will connect you to the flower merchant and the priest. 
Priest will recommend you another good temple and connect you to a new Priest.
When you come back completing all these things, the auto man will connect you to the Restaurants of his choice. 
Finally when you check out of the hotel, the hotel man will connect you to a taxi man for journey to the airport or Railway station.  

Loops and connections are there everywhere.
Every time you are in the loop your purse may lose Rs300/- etc.
Lots of money is involved.     


My next point was the prestigious Sarnath where the same auto man took me.
Sarnath has a wonderful top class museum with great master pieces of Art.
The original piece of our national emblem is the master piece of attraction.
They collect Rs 5/- for entry.
Photography is strictly not allowed inside the museum.
They area is neat and clean.

Nearby are the Bhudda gardens. It has great structures of King Ashoka times.
They are marvellous piece of art.
Luckily they can be photographed. 
As usual I could see some young couples finding pleasures of life at this deer gardens where Lord Bhudda preached his first sermon to his disciples some 2500 years ago.  

Sarnath is a must place to visit.

No body should miss it
Hallow all,
Please have a look at my photographs.

I think you people can visit this place.
This is one of the unique place in India
I am planning and looking for a visit with my wife and parents. 

Bi all