One of the gladdest moments of human life, methinks, is the departure upon a distant journey into unknown lands. Shaking off with one mighty effort the fetters of habit, the leaden weight of routine, the cloak of many cares and the slavery of home, man feels once more happy.
Sir Richard Burton

Home » Post Item » Varanasi, a travel update and some new pictures

Varanasi, a travel update and some new pictures

February 10, 2010

My time in India is coming to an end. I just arrived in the holy city Varanasi on the holy river Ganges, with holy cows, a holy fire - a lot of holy shit, to cut a long story short. After basicaly travelling for 40 hours I - and maybe also the people around me - are in real need I take a shower.

The last days, I´ve visited Bikaner, the rat temple in Deshnok before going to Nawalgarh and Mandawa in the Shekawati Region, famous for the painted havelis. Arriving in Bikaner, I was lucky to find two travel companions, Aia from Japan and Anna - Doctora Anna - from Spain. In Bikaner, I found the Bollywood Poster I was looking for all the time - and I also found a place allowing me to take it. Just have a look and the picture - I don´t think anyone can disagree that this is one of the best souvenirs one can get in India. Wandering through the awakening Old City in the early morning was an endless photo opportunity. As is the fort, with one of the finest and best preserved interiors I´ve seen so far. 

While Aia had to travel on, Anna and I went to Deshnok, to visit Karni Mata the famous rat temple. And the temple is inhabited by rats, hundreds of them, runnig all across the temple, many of them sick and or deformed - a result of generations of incest - fed by the worshipers. Among them, a few white rats exist and spotting them should bring you good luck. We spotted one, so let´s see what the future will be like.

Early next morning, we took a busride of horror Nawalgarh, to visit the painted havelis in the Shekhavati region. Although most of them are decaying, fading, crumbeling, there´re well worth a visit - and tourism is the only reason some of them are renovated and preserved. The rich merchants who build them have left the region and so for many years, nobody cared about them. After two wonderful days it was time to travel on, Nepal is calling. So, after retourning to Jaipur for a bus to Delhi, I was a solitary traveller again, as Anna went on to Udaipur, whereas I took a bus to Delhi and jumped on the departing train to Varanasi.

There´re some more pictures of people online, enjoy.

Posted by gaston at 13:19:00 | permalink

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