I have just returned from a visit to varanasi.
Great changes since last time.
First , roads very clean -swach bharat in action.
Transport-lots of battery operated e rickshaws and ola cars have made an appearance.
I had steam boat operated tour of the ghats [there are sixty five of them . Only a few are well known]
The boat could be hired to go from ghat side to opposite side land where priests from north and andhra are readily available to perform any rituals.
There are excellent arrangements for women with covered facilities for dress change.
andhras constitute the biggest numbers after the northerners there.
Many shops selling banarsi sarees have both telugu and hindi speaking shop attendants
I made a separate visit by boat to witness the evening aarthi from the boat to avoid the crowds at dashashwamedha ghat. A great spectacle.
Went to both harish chandra ghat and manikarnika ghats to see the cremation facilities there.
Both have electric facilities also. The latter is open round the clock. Looked from a distance Dom rajas house there.
My wife got fascinated by rudraksha malas .Picked a few of them along with gangajal vessels.
The evening aarthi at the ghat was colourful lasting about 90 minutes.A great visual delight with singing in sanskrit.and lighted diyas.
those witnessing the aarthi could leave their lighted diyas in water
One could see also bodies burning at a distance in manikarnika ghats lighting up the skies.
Some excellent hotels have come up in town. I stayed in one decent 4 star not costing too much about 6-7 km from the ghats.
Varanasi airport though 30 km from city is an excellent one.
Varanasi is getting attractive for foreigners and NRIs with good facilities.
Monsoon played truant and there were only light showers. A bit humid and hot otherwise.
A different experience.
Great changes since last time.
First , roads very clean -swach bharat in action.
Transport-lots of battery operated e rickshaws and ola cars have made an appearance.
I had steam boat operated tour of the ghats [there are sixty five of them . Only a few are well known]
The boat could be hired to go from ghat side to opposite side land where priests from north and andhra are readily available to perform any rituals.
There are excellent arrangements for women with covered facilities for dress change.
andhras constitute the biggest numbers after the northerners there.
Many shops selling banarsi sarees have both telugu and hindi speaking shop attendants
I made a separate visit by boat to witness the evening aarthi from the boat to avoid the crowds at dashashwamedha ghat. A great spectacle.
Went to both harish chandra ghat and manikarnika ghats to see the cremation facilities there.
Both have electric facilities also. The latter is open round the clock. Looked from a distance Dom rajas house there.
My wife got fascinated by rudraksha malas .Picked a few of them along with gangajal vessels.
The evening aarthi at the ghat was colourful lasting about 90 minutes.A great visual delight with singing in sanskrit.and lighted diyas.
those witnessing the aarthi could leave their lighted diyas in water
One could see also bodies burning at a distance in manikarnika ghats lighting up the skies.
Some excellent hotels have come up in town. I stayed in one decent 4 star not costing too much about 6-7 km from the ghats.
Varanasi airport though 30 km from city is an excellent one.
Varanasi is getting attractive for foreigners and NRIs with good facilities.
Monsoon played truant and there were only light showers. A bit humid and hot otherwise.
A different experience.
