Varanasi aka: Benares, Kashi, वाराणसी, وارانسی

try to get lost every day, until you can’t anymore

My review Called Varanasi: Shit-Hole of the Gods provides a glimpse of the tragedy of this place.

Be sure to read the comments for dissenting views.

I jumped into the Ganga river and took a bath…such a unforgettable experience..

Exceeded my expectations. As exotic as the world comes, in my humble opinion. Saw the funeral pyres, vibed it up with the cycle of life along the river and ghats: cremations, ablutions, con jobs, prayers, monkey shit, cow shit, human shit…it’s all in-your-face as so many previous travelers have said. Life, with all the filters stripped away. The sublime, the base, the shameful, the inspiring, all in one place. That was Varanasi for me.

To sit with the dead around the funeral pyres beside the Ganges. To see the truth in death and fully apprehend the Buddhist concept of anicca, or impermanence. Monks back in the day used to sit in the charnel grounds surrounded by decaying bodies to fully understand what becomes of every one of us. A macabre reflection, but from what I understand, ultimately enlightening…and one that allows one to better appreciate the days that otherwise fly by uncelebrated.

And that’s the aim of all of this. To truly live. To understand the stakes. And to be grateful for the fragile, sublime dream we negotiate daily…

It’s smelly and dirty and the sellers will not take no for an answer – go there!

I ran out of time in India! It’s best not to rush from place to place though, and I really hope I make it back to India. I would love to visit Varanasi during Holi…even though I realize I would be a major target.

Be prepared. This is a love it or hate it place. By most standards its filthy. If you look past the veneer of grime and feces, you will see one of the most special places on earth. The smiles from the children will move you to tears. Enjoy a ride in an autorickshaw, you may want to close your eyes. It is the loudest city I’ve ever visited, and the dustiest. I went back for a second visit and will go again.

Spent a couple of days here, including the evening Arti ceremony and a dawn boat outing to watch the sunrise and locals bathing in their most holy river. It is an amazing place, full of wonderful smells, temples and bustling with people. Beware touts etc and you’ll enjoy it all the more with helpful local knowledge.

http://www.ndtv.com/breakingnews/default.asp?refno=37200675152PM
it is one of the holiest cities in india
who could do such a despicable thing..