Varanasi, whats it all about then? :)

lobo · Sep 25th, 2004, 01:35

I wasnt considering going to varanasi but the more people on IM rave about it the more interested I get.
Will be in india from oct 17th to dec 23rd is there any month better to go to varanasi than others?
Is it similar to dehli weather wise?

I dont really know that much about varanasi so if anyone wants to post there varanasi exp or recoomendations i would be grateful.

yogivivek · Sep 25th, 2004, 01:41

check this out..

a usefull link to another post

lobo · Sep 25th, 2004, 02:11

lol shimsila, we are thinking alike!!!!

If I get back before you go ( I return dec 23rd) I will let you know. Sounds great

anyone else?

yogivivek · Sep 25th, 2004, 03:04

yeah that sounds good though...

ravenraye · Sep 25th, 2004, 07:08

hope to see varanasi 2nd week December ... would like to hook up with others...
Cheers ! Nine weeks today I touch down in Calcutta .. best wishes to all

sky888 · Sep 25th, 2004, 09:56

How can you have missed out Varanasi!?

butterball · Sep 25th, 2004, 13:54

lobo...

Do not miss Varanasi.

It may be a little cliche, but it's real enough... ( unlike Pushkar - which I hated ).

It's a little shady if you look around ( I had a rather nasty encounter with a heroin dealer who I eventually pushed over - he fell over an orange sellers box ) but after that he did not offer me any more drugs.

That aside, look around for a nice room ( again, I found some slightly dudious accoms on offer.. ) and just take it all in. Watch out for the odd scam - it's the only place I've ever been 'obviously' duped - a guy on a Ghat 'collecting' donations for cremations for people who could not afford the fees. After he's got the donation, I saw him go back to the viewing platform and show his friend proudly his earnings.

Hey, it was my first trip and you live and learn. I was not well and didn't relish another encounter.

You may want to stop in Lucknow on the way if you have some spare time. Calcutta is not too far away and this year I hope to get there for the first time..
BB

seventies'hippy · Sep 25th, 2004, 14:12

Quote:

Originally Posted by butterball

lobo...

( unlike Pushkar - which I hated ).

BB

Thats a strong opinion BB, may I ask why

lobo · Sep 25th, 2004, 15:45

Butterball,

Not sure why I didnt really put it down as a must see, but the more I read about it the better it sounds so we will probaly try to get there early dec

trillian · Oct 3rd, 2004, 01:37

i just returned from india and i loved varanasi.i think you shouldn't miss it out.
ok, it's quite a dirty city and i wouldn't ever bathe in the ganga but it's just like i ever imagined india would be.
varanasi is a very atmospheric place.every night at 7 p.m. there is a ceremony at one of the bigger ghats and you should go there listening,watching,sipping a cup of chai.people will be there praying,talking and putting little cups filled with flowers and small candles in the water.it looks lovely as they swim down the river.
in the morning you should take a boat,so you can watch people bathing and washing their clothes,while the colourful saris are drying in the sun.
by the way varanasi is a good place if you are interested in buying instruments.
the vishnu rest house is quite nice,because it's located at the ghats,so you can look down while having breakfast.
enjoy your trip!

butterball · Oct 3rd, 2004, 21:02

Sorry seventies - didn't want to seem so harsh.. I just didn't get on with the place... Although very beautiful, I run a mile when I see people sitting in restaurants / cafes completely wasted with the sound of Pink Floyd wafting over.. ( nothing against PF either ).

It's my own opinion only and there were upsides - a lovely guest house with a Brahmin owner who had some really interesting conversation to offer.. And I loved the drive to get there. Maybe I was very tired.

lobo - some people don't like Varanasi - so you takes your choice !

bb

LuAnnandJawahar · Oct 3rd, 2004, 22:11

We can certainly understand hating Pushkar. It is supposed to be one of the holiest cities in India and can be very beautiful but the priests cum touts absolutely ruin it--that and the rave like atmosphere at lakeside some nights. If you are lucky enough to avoid the tout/priests without being threatened and end up at the lake on a peaceful evening, then you might fall in love with it. Otherwise.....

Matty Gee · Oct 13th, 2004, 22:14

BIG UP BENARES....................

greatest city in india

I love the place, been there twenty odd times, must have spent well over two years there all together.

I think the place is amazing, you will love it too, just remember go with the flow of things, never have an agenda, and remember where you are staying.

The reason I say this is because it is very easy to get lost in Varanasi, there aren't many good maps to be had. (you can always ask a boy to take you for 10rs)

I also think it's a good thing to stay in a cool, NON TOURISTY place, like a family home or tiny guest house! Who wants to surround them selves with idiots having first time drug experiences? (on bad drugs)

Replicating a hostel in Amsterdam is not why you traveled thousands of miles to India.

BEWARE OF PLASTIC HASH! There's a lot of it about in Varanasi. It is solds to daft people who don't know a good smoke from a bad one.

Best buy from merchants of quality, do research, look a lot before you buy, and always try before you buy. NEVER BUY ON THE STREET.

If you want Bhang products use the Bhang Shop on Assi Ghat Rd (Near the booze shop), not the one near the burning Ghats.

Also try not to eat 'western food' apart from at the Pizza place in Assi Ghat (which is awesome) Varanassi has VERY good curry houses.

See: Best Food In Town (Top Five)

Also try to avoid using MOHGAL SURI station, it's a tip, and the road over the Ganga is VERY slow and MAHA polluted! Use Varanasi Junction if you can.

Lastly, go and see the collection of animals on wheels at the Maharajas palace at Ram Nagar, they blow my mind every time.

Oh yer, also: Varanassi is the best place to buy miniature NANDI BULLS. a great place to start your collection.

Carry a torch (light) with you at night, the power supply leaves a lot to be desired in this city.

LaContessa · Oct 13th, 2004, 23:08

Ahhh Varanasi. The most marvellous place on earth. I absolutely loved it. Never noticed the dirt though.

Enjoyed wandering around and getting lost and looking at things.

It's so wonderful I can't explain, it exemplified India to me.

And the feeling that you are somewhere so spiritual, so holy, so vital is astonishing.

Go and see the place, it's worth it.

ps. I don't like Pushkar for the same reasons as BB.

Matty Gee · Oct 14th, 2004, 00:08

THE BEST!!!!!!

Sep 25th, 2004, 01:35	#1
lobo Senior Member Join Date: Apr 2004 Location: london Posts: 431	Varanasi, whats it all about then? :) I wasnt considering going to varanasi but the more people on IM rave about it the more interested I get. Will be in india from oct 17th to dec 23rd is there any month better to go to varanasi than others? Is it similar to dehli weather wise? I dont really know that much about varanasi so if anyone wants to post there varanasi exp or recoomendations i would be grateful.

Sep 25th, 2004, 01:41	#2
yogivivek yogi member Join Date: Sep 2004 Location: the higher planes Posts: 260	this will work check this out.. a usefull link to another post __________________ "om lokah samastah sukhino bhavantu" "We are what we think. All that we are arises with our thoughts. With our thoughts, we make the world."

Sep 25th, 2004, 09:56	#6
sky888 Member Join Date: Jul 2004 Location: sg Posts: 51	How can you have missed out Varanasi!? __________________ The China Travel and Photography Forum MyChinaTrips.com

Oct 3rd, 2004, 22:11	#12
LuAnnandJawahar Maha Guru Member Join Date: Jul 2002 Location: Delhi/U.S. Posts: 664	We can certainly understand hating Pushkar. It is supposed to be one of the holiest cities in India and can be very beautiful but the priests cum touts absolutely ruin it--that and the rave like atmosphere at lakeside some nights. If you are lucky enough to avoid the tout/priests without being threatened and end up at the lake on a peaceful evening, then you might fall in love with it. Otherwise..... __________________ Reject violence.

Oct 14th, 2004, 00:08	#15
Matty Gee What's wrong with curry for breakfast? I love it! Join Date: Aug 2004 Location: Cambridge UK Posts: 212	THE BEST!!!!!! __________________ Check my gallery out : http://www.indiamike.com/photopost/showgallery.php?cat=500&ppuser =3636

Sep 25th, 2004, 02:11	#3
lobo Senior Member Join Date: Apr 2004 Location: london Posts: 431	lol shimsila, we are thinking alike!!!! If I get back before you go ( I return dec 23rd) I will let you know. Sounds great anyone else?

Sep 25th, 2004, 03:04	#4
yogivivek yogi member Join Date: Sep 2004 Location: the higher planes Posts: 260	yeah that sounds good though...

Sep 25th, 2004, 07:08	#5
ravenraye Member Join Date: Sep 2004 Location: New Zealand Posts: 19	hope to see varanasi 2nd week December ... would like to hook up with others... Cheers ! Nine weeks today I touch down in Calcutta .. best wishes to all

Sep 25th, 2004, 13:54	#7
butterball Mine's a Haywoods... Join Date: Oct 2003 Location: London.. sometimes.. Posts: 686	lobo... Do not miss Varanasi. It may be a little cliche, but it's real enough... ( unlike Pushkar - which I hated ). It's a little shady if you look around ( I had a rather nasty encounter with a heroin dealer who I eventually pushed over - he fell over an orange sellers box ) but after that he did not offer me any more drugs. That aside, look around for a nice room ( again, I found some slightly dudious accoms on offer.. ) and just take it all in. Watch out for the odd scam - it's the only place I've ever been 'obviously' duped - a guy on a Ghat 'collecting' donations for cremations for people who could not afford the fees. After he's got the donation, I saw him go back to the viewing platform and show his friend proudly his earnings. Hey, it was my first trip and you live and learn. I was not well and didn't relish another encounter. You may want to stop in Lucknow on the way if you have some spare time. Calcutta is not too far away and this year I hope to get there for the first time.. BB

Sep 25th, 2004, 15:45	#9
lobo Senior Member Join Date: Apr 2004 Location: london Posts: 431	Butterball, Not sure why I didnt really put it down as a must see, but the more I read about it the better it sounds so we will probaly try to get there early dec

Oct 3rd, 2004, 01:37	#10
trillian Member Join Date: Aug 2004 Location: austria Posts: 14	i just returned from india and i loved varanasi.i think you shouldn't miss it out. ok, it's quite a dirty city and i wouldn't ever bathe in the ganga but it's just like i ever imagined india would be. varanasi is a very atmospheric place.every night at 7 p.m. there is a ceremony at one of the bigger ghats and you should go there listening,watching,sipping a cup of chai.people will be there praying,talking and putting little cups filled with flowers and small candles in the water.it looks lovely as they swim down the river. in the morning you should take a boat,so you can watch people bathing and washing their clothes,while the colourful saris are drying in the sun. by the way varanasi is a good place if you are interested in buying instruments. the vishnu rest house is quite nice,because it's located at the ghats,so you can look down while having breakfast. enjoy your trip!

Oct 3rd, 2004, 21:02	#11
butterball Mine's a Haywoods... Join Date: Oct 2003 Location: London.. sometimes.. Posts: 686	Sorry seventies - didn't want to seem so harsh.. I just didn't get on with the place... Although very beautiful, I run a mile when I see people sitting in restaurants / cafes completely wasted with the sound of Pink Floyd wafting over.. ( nothing against PF either ). It's my own opinion only and there were upsides - a lovely guest house with a Brahmin owner who had some really interesting conversation to offer.. And I loved the drive to get there. Maybe I was very tired. lobo - some people don't like Varanasi - so you takes your choice ! bb

Oct 13th, 2004, 22:14	#13
Matty Gee What's wrong with curry for breakfast? I love it! Join Date: Aug 2004 Location: Cambridge UK Posts: 212	BIG UP BENARES.................... greatest city in india I love the place, been there twenty odd times, must have spent well over two years there all together. I think the place is amazing, you will love it too, just remember go with the flow of things, never have an agenda, and remember where you are staying. The reason I say this is because it is very easy to get lost in Varanasi, there aren't many good maps to be had. (you can always ask a boy to take you for 10rs) I also think it's a good thing to stay in a cool, NON TOURISTY place, like a family home or tiny guest house! Who wants to surround them selves with idiots having first time drug experiences? (on bad drugs) Replicating a hostel in Amsterdam is not why you traveled thousands of miles to India. BEWARE OF PLASTIC HASH! There's a lot of it about in Varanasi. It is solds to daft people who don't know a good smoke from a bad one. Best buy from merchants of quality, do research, look a lot before you buy, and always try before you buy. NEVER BUY ON THE STREET. If you want Bhang products use the Bhang Shop on Assi Ghat Rd (Near the booze shop), not the one near the burning Ghats. Also try not to eat 'western food' apart from at the Pizza place in Assi Ghat (which is awesome) Varanassi has VERY good curry houses. See: Best Food In Town (Top Five) Also try to avoid using MOHGAL SURI station, it's a tip, and the road over the Ganga is VERY slow and MAHA polluted! Use Varanasi Junction if you can. Lastly, go and see the collection of animals on wheels at the Maharajas palace at Ram Nagar, they blow my mind every time. Oh yer, also: Varanassi is the best place to buy miniature NANDI BULLS. a great place to start your collection. Carry a torch (light) with you at night, the power supply leaves a lot to be desired in this city.

Oct 13th, 2004, 23:08	#14
LaContessa Diabla Supreme Join Date: Mar 2003 Location: United Kingdom Posts: 122	Ahhh Varanasi. The most marvellous place on earth. I absolutely loved it. Never noticed the dirt though. Enjoyed wandering around and getting lost and looking at things. It's so wonderful I can't explain, it exemplified India to me. And the feeling that you are somewhere so spiritual, so holy, so vital is astonishing. Go and see the place, it's worth it. ps. I don't like Pushkar for the same reasons as BB.

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