Varanassi........Get us out of here??!!!!

It's fair to say that we didn't enjoy Varanassi that much.........but it could have just been because by this point the Indian heat was really getting to us & at the back of our mind we were looking forward to getting to cooler climates in Nepal.
I don' think it helped that our room was pretty grotty, & that I got sick and had to spend 24rs in bed, in the grotty room! But apart from that Varanassi was great?!!!! ;-)

We did get to see the incredible sights though - the River Ganges is considered as the holiest place for families to cremate their loved ones so it was a bit surreal to actually see this happening. And it's common for everyone, strangers & tourists alike just to stand by and watch this happening which in itself very strange.
It's almost more strange to see local people freely swimming & bathing in the River not caring that the water is full of human remains, as well as goodness knows what else. Holy or not, we did not partake!

The city was just heaving & bustling with people. Apparently over 40 million visit in May as its festival time so we hit it at the busiest time ever. So to us it felt as far away from 'Holy' as you could get!

The cramped train to Varanassi

Bathing with the cows in the River Ganges. Very holy....not!

a local off-licence we found!

Fancy a tipple?!

Varanassi........Get us out of here??!!!!

Varanasi, India