Manikarnika Ghat Varanasi

After a 20-hour journey full of adventure, I ended up staying at a hotel in unknown corners of Varanasi. I wake up early in the morning, now it’s time to find the hotel that I have the booking for. It seems completely useless to find the way on my own, so I hire a cycle Rickshaw. The driver is at least 70 years old, he brings me to the …

'Brace yourself.' Lonely Planet's introductory two word sentence cannot convey the chaotic cacophony that is Varanasi, but it does go someway to preparing you for the mental attitude you are required to adopt! Upon arrival in one of the holiest places in India and the oldest continually inhabited city in the world, we were faced with the challenge …

Entry containing 12 photos titled: Dancing, My Room, Morning, Ghats, Sahdu, Ceremony, Morning , Laundry, Temple, Buddha, Stupa, Flags

Nos pegamos un madrugón para coger una barca que nos pasee por el Ganges ante los Ghats, que son los escalones que llevan hacia el río. Hay casi 100 de ellos, y cada uno tiene su nombre. A las 5:00 ya estamos en pie. Vero decide no venir (en parte por los muertos que pueda ver, y en parte por el atracón de lasaña que se pegó anoche). Vamos al Assi …

We arrived about an hour late into Varanasi Junction at 12.45pm. As we were warned by the guide book and just about everyone that has been here before, this place is CRAZY! It is much bigger than we imagined too, much more city like, but thankfully without too much of the city vibe felt in Mumbai and Jaipur. It was a stifling hot day and to get to …

The holiest city in India, Varanasi (formerly Banares). Many Indians will come to one of the many "ghats" here to cremate their family member or loved ones. If they can't afford it, they will drop the entire body into to Ganges River. It goes without saying that this part of the river is heavily polluted, so don't expect to take a nice dip! During …

Some photo shoots on the go at India …

We both hardly slept last night, it was so noisy. Got up at 6am then boatman knocked on our door at 6.15 and we walked down to the Ganges with him. Beggars were out nice and early trying to sell us marigolds to put in the river. Hopped into the paddleboat, the ganges is much bigger (wider) than i thought, it was calm and peaceful but of course …

... and get cremated. Dump the bags in a hotel room, head towards the river on an orientation amble and stumble into Manikarnika Ghat. Initially, a pervasive, burning odour insinuates itself. A rare, rank smell, a little like no other. A short alley opens ...

... the world idle by at the ghats by the Ganges. I made my way down through the cow shit laden allies to Manikarnika ghat where I could watch some cremations. After finding a comfortable vantage point above the burning grounds in a turret above the ...

... and some of the most utterly digusting smells ever.  All this going on in streets no more that about 2 meters wide ! Manikarnika Ghat – The main burning cremation ghat We walked along to the main burning ghat– this is where the bodies ...

... hang around. Indeed spiritually enlightening and very photogenic..i love Varanasi! Keep on walking along the Ghats we got to the famous Manikarnika Ghat, the main 24 hours  burning Ghat and the most auspicious place for a Hindu to be cremated. We ...

... less than 500!". Mental note to self: don't fall in! We walked along the Ghats to the main burning ghat, Manikarnika Ghat, where they perform most of the Hindu cremations in Varanasi, expecting just to quickly walk past without disturbing anyone. ...

... to say the least. These are every day occurances here. Nobody seems astonished. When asking about how much it cost to be burned at Manikarnika Ghat I was told three things: It cost 350 rupees, it is free if you're poor, and that it cost 3000 rupees. I ...

... minor case myself. As we continued to walk a large group passed us carrying a body on a bamboo stretcher. We were near the Manikarnika Ghat, which is the main cremation area along the Ganges and a plume of grey smoke dominated our eastern view. It is ...

... who is laid into a pile of wood and set alight. It's a pretty unusual but interesting ceremony; but we didn't stay long. Manikarnika Ghat, is the main cremation point, and here you can see several taking place at once. Also here are piles and piles of ...

... - as we could see all of the evening rituals.  The flames from the pujas and, more importantly, from the Manikarnika Ghat were magnified in darkness, truly adding to the intensity of the experience.  Getting thoroughly lost, we eventually ...

... a couple of auto rickshaws, then get guided (thankfully) through the dizzying alleyways to the guesthouse, which is right next to Manikarnika Ghat (the main body burning place on the Ganges). Our rooms have balconies high up and we have an ...