Varanasi again....??????!!!!!!

lpatterton · Oct 10th, 2006, 17:56

hi, i am going to India for the 2nd time now and although I have still not been to Ladakh or Goa, I will be going to Varanasi again!! (plus Sikkim, a new destination for me)

Am I daft to visit the same place twice or have any of you ever done this too? I just loved varanasi and the ghats and could not stop walking around and absorbing it all....days on end. Plus I am planning on taking a zillion photos this time...

I have two friends who hate Varanasi...the one keeps mentioning dead babies floating in the river and the other one thinks public cremations are not very civilised.

As for me, I loved it.

cheers

phantom · Oct 10th, 2006, 18:21

Good for you, that you loved varanasi. But have you covered the surrounding areas or just the ghats. There are quite a few waterfalls around varanasi which should be some 3-4 hrs. drive away. What other places did you visit last time ??

kiwi_razz · Oct 10th, 2006, 18:23

There is no reason why not to return to a place you love. I have been to Hampi 8 times.

I've got Varanasi on my list of places to go back to, but only because I hated it first time round. I have to give it another go now that I am more experienced travelwise.

lpatterton · Oct 10th, 2006, 18:25

in Varanasi I did the ghats, and city, and Sarnath.

Went to Rajastan and Agra and Delhi and Manali and Shimla and Mumbai too, but Varanasi topped it all. Jaisalmer 2nd.

redthreadzen · Oct 10th, 2006, 18:33

There is something about the place. Yes It's a little dirty, there the odd dead thing floating in the river and the touts can be persistant (for the first few days). However if you go below the surface a little it is rich with history & culture it has it all going on there. I was in india for 9 months and visited twice, I got to know a couple of locals which makes all the difference as they where able to show me things and take me to places (some good some bad) that most visitors don't get too see. Its just great hanging out at the gats. Lets face its many indians are dying to go there.

phantom · Oct 10th, 2006, 18:34

Ok, then you can probably do the waterfalls this time, if you are into hiking and stuff. And also if you are coming next couple of weeks or so then you might see the dev-diwali festival which is celebrated with great pomp and show in varanasi. All the ghats are decorated with "diyas" and the boat ride is quite a different experience in the night.

aventura · Oct 11th, 2006, 04:37

I also fell in love with Varanassi, kept thinking about it for a long time and defenitely want to go back there some day.
There is a very special vibe there going on.
Those narrow streets, like a big labyrinth,the cowdung where you kan slip in, the smell of hot milk etc etc. Very fascinating!

aventura · Oct 11th, 2006, 04:41

ram ram shatni hai...

( dont know if this is the correct mantra)

dzibead · Oct 11th, 2006, 04:55

Quote:

Originally Posted by lpatterton

Am I daft to visit the same place twice

No! of course not!

Quote:

Originally Posted by lpatterton

...or have any of you ever done this too?

Certainly.

Go where you want, as many times as you want! Why on earth should anyone else feel they have a right to tell you that you shouldn't go back again and again to a place you found fascinating?

I remember your earlier posts about going to McLeod Ganj and intending to go to Sikkim some day. I'm glad you are finally getting to Sikkim. You'll love it!

robotvoice · Oct 11th, 2006, 05:17

i love varanasi too! on my six month trip to india i fell in love with this city and stayed for a month, and i stayed an extra week when i passed back through.

vir · Oct 11th, 2006, 07:24

Quote:

Originally Posted by aventura

ram ram shatni hai...

( dont know if this is the correct mantra)

Ram naam satya hai...

mani · Oct 11th, 2006, 16:34

Quote:

Originally Posted by aventura

ram ram shatni hai...

( dont know if this is the correct mantra)

Ram Nam Satya Hai
meaning Ram is the eternal truth

Eopperman · Oct 16th, 2006, 23:50

Hi LPatterton and fellow South African!

Will be going to Varanasi during December - this is also my second trip to India. Did most of Rajastan previously and fell in love with Jaiselmer. Please post your itinerary, would love to see where you are going and keep in touch. To be honest, India is my ultimate destination and I recon I need at least 8 more trips to see all the major cities.

Thanks IM for a great site - I have read through most (if not all) the posts and have planned my trip with the greatest of ease - and even made the train bookings without any hassle!

Darmabum · Oct 17th, 2006, 00:35

I've recently returned from my fifth trip to India. In all I've spent close to two and half years in the country . . . of those two and half years, one year has been spent in Varanasi. This last trip was six months in Varanasi. It's not for everyone, but I'd go back . . . am going back. Enjoy.

cyberhippie · Oct 17th, 2006, 00:43

Goodness no I've revisited loads of places over the years, some maintain their magic others are pale shadow of their former self!!

That's hard seeing yout fav spots going under, in the crush of modern day tourism.

India continues to provide for more fav spots though!!

Varanasi didn't really do it for me but horses for courses and all that!!

Oct 10th, 2006, 17:56	#1
lpatterton Member Join Date: Jun 2005 Location: South Africa Posts: 26	Varanasi again....??????!!!!!! hi, i am going to India for the 2nd time now and although I have still not been to Ladakh or Goa, I will be going to Varanasi again!! (plus Sikkim, a new destination for me) Am I daft to visit the same place twice or have any of you ever done this too? I just loved varanasi and the ghats and could not stop walking around and absorbing it all....days on end. Plus I am planning on taking a zillion photos this time... I have two friends who hate Varanasi...the one keeps mentioning dead babies floating in the river and the other one thinks public cremations are not very civilised. As for me, I loved it. cheers

Oct 10th, 2006, 18:33	#5
redthreadzen Member Join Date: Nov 2005 Location: melbourne, Australia Posts: 36	yes I loved varanasi two times There is something about the place. Yes It's a little dirty, there the odd dead thing floating in the river and the touts can be persistant (for the first few days). However if you go below the surface a little it is rich with history & culture it has it all going on there. I was in india for 9 months and visited twice, I got to know a couple of locals which makes all the difference as they where able to show me things and take me to places (some good some bad) that most visitors don't get too see. Its just great hanging out at the gats. Lets face its many indians are dying to go there.

Oct 16th, 2006, 23:50	#13
Eopperman Dedicated world traveller Join Date: Mar 2006 Location: Cape Town, South Africa Posts: 109	Going to Varanasi in December Hi LPatterton and fellow South African! Will be going to Varanasi during December - this is also my second trip to India. Did most of Rajastan previously and fell in love with Jaiselmer. Please post your itinerary, would love to see where you are going and keep in touch. To be honest, India is my ultimate destination and I recon I need at least 8 more trips to see all the major cities. Thanks IM for a great site - I have read through most (if not all) the posts and have planned my trip with the greatest of ease - and even made the train bookings without any hassle!

Oct 17th, 2006, 00:35	#14
Darmabum Maha Guru Member Join Date: Aug 2003 Location: in the mountains of Idaho Posts: 794	I've recently returned from my fifth trip to India. In all I've spent close to two and half years in the country . . . of those two and half years, one year has been spent in Varanasi. This last trip was six months in Varanasi. It's not for everyone, but I'd go back . . . am going back. Enjoy. __________________ Our deepest fear is not that we are inadequate; our deepest fear is that we are powerful beyond measure - Marianne Williamson

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Oct 10th, 2006, 18:21	#2
phantom Maha Guru Member Join Date: Oct 2004 Location: Delhi Posts: 1,214	Good for you, that you loved varanasi. But have you covered the surrounding areas or just the ghats. There are quite a few waterfalls around varanasi which should be some 3-4 hrs. drive away. What other places did you visit last time ??

Oct 10th, 2006, 18:23	#3
kiwi_razz Senior Member Join Date: Jun 2004 Location: London Posts: 410	There is no reason why not to return to a place you love. I have been to Hampi 8 times. I've got Varanasi on my list of places to go back to, but only because I hated it first time round. I have to give it another go now that I am more experienced travelwise.

Oct 10th, 2006, 18:25	#4
lpatterton Member Join Date: Jun 2005 Location: South Africa Posts: 26	in Varanasi I did the ghats, and city, and Sarnath. Went to Rajastan and Agra and Delhi and Manali and Shimla and Mumbai too, but Varanasi topped it all. Jaisalmer 2nd.

Oct 10th, 2006, 18:34	#6
phantom Maha Guru Member Join Date: Oct 2004 Location: Delhi Posts: 1,214	Ok, then you can probably do the waterfalls this time, if you are into hiking and stuff. And also if you are coming next couple of weeks or so then you might see the dev-diwali festival which is celebrated with great pomp and show in varanasi. All the ghats are decorated with "diyas" and the boat ride is quite a different experience in the night.

Oct 11th, 2006, 04:37	#7
aventura Member Join Date: Jul 2003 Location: holland Posts: 19	I also fell in love with Varanassi, kept thinking about it for a long time and defenitely want to go back there some day. There is a very special vibe there going on. Those narrow streets, like a big labyrinth,the cowdung where you kan slip in, the smell of hot milk etc etc. Very fascinating!

Oct 11th, 2006, 04:41	#8
aventura Member Join Date: Jul 2003 Location: holland Posts: 19	ram ram shatni hai... ( dont know if this is the correct mantra)

Oct 11th, 2006, 05:17	#10
robotvoice mikeaholic Join Date: Aug 2005 Location: california Posts: 1,163	i love varanasi too! on my six month trip to india i fell in love with this city and stayed for a month, and i stayed an extra week when i passed back through.

Oct 17th, 2006, 00:43	#15
cyberhippie Account Closed by User's Request Join Date: Jul 2002 Location: the Netherlands Posts: 6,012	Goodness no I've revisited loads of places over the years, some maintain their magic others are pale shadow of their former self!! That's hard seeing yout fav spots going under, in the crush of modern day tourism. India continues to provide for more fav spots though!! Varanasi didn't really do it for me but horses for courses and all that!!

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