Not looking for a guide. Looking for THE guide...

soundbyte · Feb 20th, 2006, 22:13

I know that it's no trouble finding a guide in Varanasi, but a Great Guide...?

We will be in Varanasi for three days in March (staying at Scindhia guest house) and would love to find someone special. A knowledgeable, fluent, sophisticated, good natured guide is priceless, someone who can go beyond the routine recitals and below the tourist mantle. We're looking for people, culture and faith more than famous buildings.

Suggestions?

shailesh_vns · Feb 21st, 2006, 02:47

as usual, i 'm a normal people of varanasi, who born here . mai i help u ?

Darmabum · Feb 21st, 2006, 04:56

I imagine you're looking for a person to guide you . . . but, check out a book - "Benares: City of Light" by Diana Eck. 300 pages, everything you could want to know about Varanasi . . . and she won't want to take you to a silk shop afterwards . . .

soundbyte · Feb 21st, 2006, 08:23

Thanks, I'll get the book. But yes, I am looking for a human guide who really understands "absolutely no shopping."

lyndy · Feb 21st, 2006, 08:49

And yes, there is a tooth fairy! Sorry, sorry sorreeeee!!. I just couldn't help myself. Apologies......he he!

soundbyte · Feb 21st, 2006, 08:57

Okay, just a LITTLE shopping.

Seriously, I originally tried to find an expat to show us around, but everyone said "No, hire a local!"

If I could figure out just how much the guides make on shopping I'd simply pay them the cash upfront.

jivan · Feb 21st, 2006, 10:48

if u looked at other threads on the forum 10% of the amount one buys at one of the shops.

Nick-H · Feb 21st, 2006, 10:54

To some extent, the shop is part of the tour!

The array of handicrafts is well worth seeing, the brass, the sandalwood, the silks, the jewells. Your really really really don't want to buy anything? Not taking any presents home?

You can always say a firm no to the shop. You can even say a firm no to the shopkeeper after having looked around...

soundbyte · Feb 21st, 2006, 11:18

Don't misunderstand. It's not that I won't buy anything. But I don't want to involuntarily spend our too-limited time at stores. It's one thing to offer shopping as an option, it's another to insist that it's part of the itinerary.

AvidTrekker · Feb 21st, 2006, 13:11

The general run of guides in Varanasi would NOT understand the concept of NO shopping. They also cannot figure out that someone is willing to pay up front for all the 10 per cent totals.

This is coz most foreigners bargain very hard after coming to India. How will you let them know that you are an exception and FOR REAL?

This is what I would do if I were you....

Most GUIDES know the best one around.
Most Hotel owners know the best guides around.

Ask a guide. Some regular fellow... he would know who's the best among his ilk. Promise him a day's wage as a finding fee; subject to your hiring the recommended fellow....

Or ask a Hotel owner.

The five starred hotels all have the best fellows on some sort of list. Even if you are not staying in one, go and have coffee in the attached restaurant. Ask the maitre de or whoever is in charge. Ask with specifics stated clearly. Between these two "askings" someone will give you a good pointer.

soundbyte · Feb 23rd, 2006, 21:31

AvvidTrekker,

Thanks. That's great advice...

proxyindian · Apr 11th, 2008, 17:45

Quote:

Originally Posted by AvidTrekker

The general run of guides in Varanasi would NOT understand the concept of NO shopping. They also cannot figure out that someone is willing to pay up front for all the 10 per cent totals. ....

Ask a guide. Some regular fellow... he would know who's the best among his ilk. Promise him a day's wage as a finding fee; subject to your hiring the recommended fellow.....

What would be a day's wage?

gulkers · Apr 17th, 2008, 13:28

the frommers guidebook reccomends the following guide

One of Varanasi's best guides is Ajit Kumar Yadav (tel. 0542/258-1052 or 94152-25994; ajitsashay@yahoo.com; book him in advance), an official, government-approved guide; he's often engaged for group tours during peak season. Ajit is perfect for those looking for an understanding of the city that goes beyond its history, covering religious rituals and mythological stories as well. His knowledge of Hinduism and Buddhism (for Sarnath) is unmatched, and most importantly, he never asks if you want to shop, unless you express a keen interest. Dhananjay (Deejay) Singh is another government-approved guide who is a font of knowledge and an absolutely charming host; contact him at tel. 98390-58228

Feb 20th, 2006, 22:13	#1
soundbyte Member Join Date: Nov 2005 Location: San Francisco Posts: 55	Not looking for a guide. Looking for THE guide... I know that it's no trouble finding a guide in Varanasi, but a Great Guide...? We will be in Varanasi for three days in March (staying at Scindhia guest house) and would love to find someone special. A knowledgeable, fluent, sophisticated, good natured guide is priceless, someone who can go beyond the routine recitals and below the tourist mantle. We're looking for people, culture and faith more than famous buildings. Suggestions?

Feb 21st, 2006, 04:56	#3
Darmabum Maha Guru Member Join Date: Aug 2003 Location: in the mountains of Idaho Posts: 764	I imagine you're looking for a person to guide you . . . but, check out a book - "Benares: City of Light" by Diana Eck. 300 pages, everything you could want to know about Varanasi . . . and she won't want to take you to a silk shop afterwards . . . __________________ Our deepest fear is not that we are inadequate; our deepest fear is that we are powerful beyond measure - Marianne Williamson

Feb 21st, 2006, 08:23	#4
soundbyte Member Join Date: Nov 2005 Location: San Francisco Posts: 55	"No shopping" guide Thanks, I'll get the book. But yes, I am looking for a human guide who really understands "absolutely no shopping."

Feb 21st, 2006, 10:54	#8
Nick-H Loud-mouthed, Noisy Bird Join Date: Oct 2004 Location: Chennai, India Posts: 24,654	To some extent, the shop is part of the tour! The array of handicrafts is well worth seeing, the brass, the sandalwood, the silks, the jewells. Your really really really don't want to buy anything? Not taking any presents home? You can always say a firm no to the shop. You can even say a firm no to the shopkeeper after having looked around... __________________ . Just one member of the IndiaMike Mod Team

Feb 21st, 2006, 13:11	#10
AvidTrekker mantra yoga teacher Join Date: Oct 2003 Location: body in Mumbai, head in Himalaya Posts: 2,665	Varanasi guide... The general run of guides in Varanasi would NOT understand the concept of NO shopping. They also cannot figure out that someone is willing to pay up front for all the 10 per cent totals. This is coz most foreigners bargain very hard after coming to India. How will you let them know that you are an exception and FOR REAL? This is what I would do if I were you.... Most GUIDES know the best one around. Most Hotel owners know the best guides around. Ask a guide. Some regular fellow... he would know who's the best among his ilk. Promise him a day's wage as a finding fee; subject to your hiring the recommended fellow.... Or ask a Hotel owner. The five starred hotels all have the best fellows on some sort of list. Even if you are not staying in one, go and have coffee in the attached restaurant. Ask the *maitre de* or whoever is in charge. Ask with specifics stated clearly. Between these two "askings" someone will give you a good pointer. __________________ The Universe is an ellipsoid?... or a Spheroid?? If the sphere smiles... it becomes an ellipse. This IS Creation.

Feb 21st, 2006, 02:47	#2
shailesh_vns Member Join Date: Feb 2005 Location: VARANASI [INDIA] Posts: 36	as usual, i 'm a normal people of varanasi, who born here . mai i help u ?

Feb 21st, 2006, 08:49	#5
lyndy (Insubordinate) Sub-junior member Join Date: Jul 2004 Location: Australia Posts: 288	And yes, there is a tooth fairy! Sorry, sorry sorreeeee!!. I just couldn't help myself. Apologies......he he!

Feb 21st, 2006, 08:57	#6
soundbyte Member Join Date: Nov 2005 Location: San Francisco Posts: 55	Okay, just a LITTLE shopping. Seriously, I originally tried to find an expat to show us around, but everyone said "No, hire a local!" If I could figure out just how much the guides make on shopping I'd simply pay them the cash upfront.

Feb 21st, 2006, 10:48	#7
jivan Maha Guru Member Join Date: Feb 2006 Location: Pune, India Posts: 822	if u looked at other threads on the forum 10% of the amount one buys at one of the shops.

Feb 21st, 2006, 11:18	#9
soundbyte Member Join Date: Nov 2005 Location: San Francisco Posts: 55	Don't misunderstand. It's not that I won't buy anything. But I don't want to involuntarily spend our too-limited time at stores. It's one thing to offer shopping as an option, it's another to insist that it's part of the itinerary.

Feb 23rd, 2006, 21:31	#11
soundbyte Member Join Date: Nov 2005 Location: San Francisco Posts: 55	AvvidTrekker, Thanks. That's great advice...

Apr 17th, 2008, 13:28	#13
gulkers Member Join Date: Mar 2008 Location: Norway Posts: 59	the frommers guidebook reccomends the following guide One of Varanasi's best guides is Ajit Kumar Yadav (tel. 0542/258-1052 or 94152-25994; ajitsashay@yahoo.com; book him in advance), an official, government-approved guide; he's often engaged for group tours during peak season. Ajit is perfect for those looking for an understanding of the city that goes beyond its history, covering religious rituals and mythological stories as well. His knowledge of Hinduism and Buddhism (for Sarnath) is unmatched, and most importantly, he never asks if you want to shop, unless you express a keen interest. Dhananjay (Deejay) Singh is another government-approved guide who is a font of knowledge and an absolutely charming host; contact him at tel. 98390-58228

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