ASIANOVERLAND.NET SYDNEY TO LONDON  DAY 97/337/9: VARANASI (BENARES), INDIA

 

Varanasi has been a cultural centre of northern India for thousands of years, and is closely associated with the Ganges. Hindus believe that dying here and getting cremated along the banks of the "holy" Ganges river allows one to break the cycle of rebirth and attain salvation.

Varanasi is the most sacred of the seven Hindu sacred cities, but also played an important role in the development of Buddhism. Buddha founded Buddhism here around 528 BCE when he gave his first sermon at nearby Sarnath.

The city's religious importance continued to grow in the 8th century, when the worship of Shiva as an official sect of Varanasi was established.

During the Muslim Mughal rule through the Middle Ages, Varanasi continued as an important centre of Hindu devotion, pilgrimage, mysticism and poetry, which further contributed to its reputation as a centre of cultural importance and religious education. 

In the 16th century, Varanasi had a cultural revival under the Mughal emperor Akbar who patronised the city, and built two large temples dedicated to Shiva and Vishnu.

The Kingdom of Benares was given official status by the Mughals in 1737, and continued as a dynasty-governed area until Indian independence in 1947.

Varanasi is an important industrial centre famous for its muslin and silk fabrics, perfumes, ivory works, and sculpture. 

The Ghats in Varanasi are world-renowned embankments made in steps of stone slabs along the Ganges river bank where pilgrims perform rituals. The ghats are an integral part of the Hindu concept of divinity represented in physical, metaphysical, and supernatural elements.Varanasi has at least 84 ghats, most of which are used for bathing by pilgrims, for spiritually significant Hindu ceremonies and for cremations. It's a little disconcerting to see human body parts in the Ganges River duing river cruises, but this all seems part of the Hindu way of life and death.

The iconic photos of Varanasi include Ganges cruises, Shiva temples, Monkey Temples, snake dances and fights, and the python necktie, which most punters would have (Corrie’s got hers, where’s yours?)

Our westbound overland Trip Book records:

“Day 9. 26/9/80.

5 A.M. Reveille to go for River trip to see Hindu pilgrims both gargle, spit & blow in the mud of the River Ganges.

Beautiful misty dawn at Varanasi & the Ganges quite lovely at this time.

Monkey Temple a riot – Monkeys quite vicious.

Modern temples cool & clean – Marble abounds – prefer it to all that gold!!

5pm – Fight between mongoose and cobra.

Prior to this, copious photos of us all with python round our necks.

Snake dance with 2 or 3 cobras was excellent and well worth 5 rupees.

Everyone has feet as soft as a baby’s bum and no more toe jam, after having pedicures, manicures, & massages.

Friday night a bit of a rage on the verandah at the DAK Bungalow camp. People were pissed as farts or stoned as crows – some people had both.“

↑ Day 96 ↓ Day 98