Varanasi & Sarnath

After a long day in Agra, Norman and I caught a night train Varanasi.  I read somewhere that you needed to be patient when you travel in India.  Well the first lesson was taught in the Delhi train station.  Our train was 3 hour delayed.   

 

Our porter carried roughly 30 kilos or a little over 60lbs on his head. 

Sarnath 

Sarnath is located about 30 minutes east of Varanasi.  The museum in Sarnath holds some incredible relics in both Hindu and Buddhist history.

   Sarnath is the site of Buddha’s first teaching. This Stuppa commemorates the site.  Norman and Shaq our guide.  Shaq had a PHD in Physics and was a skilled numerologist.  His encyclopedic knowledge of Buddhism, Hinduism and Indian history made our trip to Varanasi and Sarnath one of the most interesting spots.  

Varanasi 

Varanasi is one of the Holiest places in the Hindi religion.  It was supposed to be Shiva’s home and therefore made it very holy.  Hindi people believe that if you die and are cremated in Varanasi that the cycle of reincarnation is broken. They also believe that bathing in the Ganges River provides a spiritual cleaning.  As a side note the Gagna River is one of the most polluted rivers in the world.  It’s common to take a boat tour and see people bathing 20 meters away from a sewage pipe. 

 

Indian people on pilgrimage to the Ganges   There are holy sites on the river called Ghats.  They have both bathing Ghats and Cremation Ghats.  And yes they are located right next to each other.     

  

 These Umbrellas are cool.

  

Kimi and Pat should come here.

  

Sunrise on the Ganges. Sunrises and Sunsets never get old.      At times it was so hot that even the flies didn’t feel like flying.