To go or not to go?

christauria · May 26th, 2008, 14:10

We are considering making a considerable detour (Bhubaneswar - Varanasi- Bandhavgarh) to visit Varanasi in Jan. 09 and I have read so much about how filthy it is that I am not sure I want to take the trouble. Since I used to live in Kolkata I can manage filth, but are the other features of Varanasi worth making this detour? Please share your thoughts with me.
Thanks.

atala · May 26th, 2008, 20:27

Varanasi is not particularly dirty. The water of the Ganga there is, yes, but the rest? It is colourful and certainly worth seeing for a few days. In January it is rather cold there though.

SitaParityaga · May 26th, 2008, 21:25

Varanasi brings up many "for" and "against" replies.

I'm one of the "for" people. It is truly a unique Indian place, and has an atmosphere like no other. Worth the detour.

atala · May 26th, 2008, 23:02

Varanasi is a definite yes for anyone interested in touring India and getting to see the major sights. There should not be any doubt. How would you ever know, except by own experience? It might be the best thing you'd ever get to see, and if it is just for seeing a full cremation happening in front of you, or sitting at a shop in a narrow alley of a bazar and watching all the people go by, or eat the fabulous bread with cheese baked into it, mmmh was a fine treat for my train-trip after my last visit last year.

Darmabum · May 27th, 2008, 00:02

a Must. I've spent just short of three years in India . . . one of those years, plus a few days, has been spent in Varanasi. I've bathed in the Ganga numerous times and have had no problems; it is a leap of faith,though . . . I bathe on the eastern side of the river . . .

But bathe or no, Varanasi is a must. Special place.

steven_ber · May 27th, 2008, 00:27

Quote:

Originally Posted by christauria

We are considering making a considerable detour (Bhubaneswar - Varanasi- Bandhavgarh) to visit Varanasi.

Why the detour?

Where are you going after Bandhavgarh?

christauria · May 27th, 2008, 04:55

Thanks for all the feedback! I will reconsider. I don't want to be on the go so much that we get too tired to enjoy the places we do decide to go to.
I have been having trouble finding out about transportation from Varanasi to Umaria via train, preferably at night. Anyone know?
Thanks.

the opoponax · May 27th, 2008, 05:01

I really regret being so timid about Varanasi. I had similar reservations (dirty, chaotic, overwhelming, full of scammers and touts, charred corpses in the Ganga, etc etc), so I planned to a very short stay. I also splurged on a more upscale guesthouse, the Scindhia. Both were big mistakes, and WHEN (not if, but WHEN!) I go back I'll stay much longer and choose a budget place.

I didn't find Varanasi to be significantly dirtier than other Indian cities. However, because the way the city is laid out, I think it can be harder to dodge cow pies, piles of garbage, and the like.

Varanasi is definitely a bit overwhelming, however. I had some of my most embarrassing, scary, and weird experiences there. I spent a lot of time lost in the winding streets of the old city. And if you are naive you really can be taken for a ride (in hindsight I was probably too much of a tough cookie).

Indojingai · May 27th, 2008, 18:46

Quote:

Originally Posted by christauria

share your thoughts with me.
Thanks.

Not to go.

sssall · May 27th, 2008, 19:08

Your decision should be based on whether you want to experience the history, spirituality, the people and the sites and not on whether its dirtier than other places. It seems that you have lived in India long enough to get past the stereotypical barriers. I think you should go.

May 26th, 2008, 14:10	#1
christauria Member Join Date: May 2008 Location: San Diego, CA Posts: 2	To go or not to go? We are considering making a considerable detour (Bhubaneswar - Varanasi- Bandhavgarh) to visit Varanasi in Jan. 09 and I have read so much about how filthy it is that I am not sure I want to take the trouble. Since I used to live in Kolkata I can manage filth, but are the other features of Varanasi worth making this detour? Please share your thoughts with me. Thanks.

May 26th, 2008, 23:02	#4
atala Senior Member, 8 yrs in India Join Date: Mar 2007 Location: Switzerland, just back from India 2008 Posts: 691	Varanasi is a definite yes for anyone interested in touring India and getting to see the major sights. There should not be any doubt. How would you ever know, except by own experience? It might be the best thing you'd ever get to see, and if it is just for seeing a full cremation happening in front of you, or sitting at a shop in a narrow alley of a bazar and watching all the people go by, or eat the fabulous bread with cheese baked into it, mmmh was a fine treat for my train-trip after my last visit last year. Last edited by atala : May 27th, 2008 at 00:46.

May 27th, 2008, 00:02	#5
Darmabum Maha Guru Member Join Date: Aug 2003 Location: in the mountains of Idaho Posts: 794	Varanasi is a Must. I've spent just short of three years in India . . . one of those years, plus a few days, has been spent in Varanasi. I've bathed in the Ganga numerous times and have had no problems; it is a leap of faith,though . . . I bathe on the eastern side of the river . . . But bathe or no, Varanasi is a must. Special place. __________________ Our deepest fear is not that we are inadequate; our deepest fear is that we are powerful beyond measure - Marianne Williamson

May 27th, 2008, 04:55	#7
christauria Member Join Date: May 2008 Location: San Diego, CA Posts: 2	To go or not Thanks for all the feedback! I will reconsider. I don't want to be on the go so much that we get too tired to enjoy the places we do decide to go to. I have been having trouble finding out about transportation from Varanasi to Umaria via train, preferably at night. Anyone know? Thanks.

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May 26th, 2008, 20:27	#2
atala Senior Member, 8 yrs in India Join Date: Mar 2007 Location: Switzerland, just back from India 2008 Posts: 691	Varanasi is not particularly dirty. The water of the Ganga there is, yes, but the rest? It is colourful and certainly worth seeing for a few days. In January it is rather cold there though.

May 26th, 2008, 21:25	#3
SitaParityaga member in the forest Join Date: May 2003 Location: California Posts: 903	Varanasi brings up many "for" and "against" replies. I'm one of the "for" people. It is truly a unique Indian place, and has an atmosphere like no other. Worth the detour.

May 27th, 2008, 05:01	#8
the opoponax Maha Guru Member Join Date: Mar 2007 Location: Brooklyn, via New Orleans Posts: 1,054	I really regret being so timid about Varanasi. I had similar reservations (dirty, chaotic, overwhelming, full of scammers and touts, charred corpses in the Ganga, etc etc), so I planned to a very short stay. I also splurged on a more upscale guesthouse, the Scindhia. Both were big mistakes, and WHEN (not if, but WHEN!) I go back I'll stay much longer and choose a budget place. I didn't find Varanasi to be significantly dirtier than other Indian cities. However, because the way the city is laid out, I think it can be harder to dodge cow pies, piles of garbage, and the like. Varanasi is definitely a bit overwhelming, however. I had some of my most embarrassing, scary, and weird experiences there. I spent a lot of time lost in the winding streets of the old city. And if you are naive you really can be taken for a ride (in hindsight I was probably too much of a tough cookie).

May 27th, 2008, 19:08	#10
sssall Senior Member Join Date: Feb 2008 Location: UK Posts: 242	Your decision should be based on whether you want to experience the history, spirituality, the people and the sites and not on whether its dirtier than other places. It seems that you have lived in India long enough to get past the stereotypical barriers. I think you should go.

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