2nd Day In Varanasi

Today we got up before dawn to go back to the river Ganges. We took a boat out on to the river so we could watch the people who come there to bathe and pray. It is also the place where the local laundry services come to wash and dry clothes for people. It is quite a process - they dip the clothes in the river, then put soap on them, twist them, and beat them against stones - then they plunge them in the river to rinse them. They then lay them out on the ghats to dry. As dirty as the Ganges looks, and considering people are bathing in there and filling it full of stuff they offer as karma, it is hard to believe the clothes get clean but our guide said they do - and he said he didn't understand it either.
We then walked through the streets of Old Varanasi which are so narrow you actually come in contact with the bulls as you pass through. There are homes, temples, and shops along the paths.

Next was Sarnath which is where Buddha gave his first speech to his disciples. There is not much left as it was destroyed by the Muslims but the spot where he sat and a small altar are still there. A visit to a buddhist temple and then the Bodhi tree. This tree is a third generation of the original tree under which Buddha is said to have been enlightened.

After our touring was done Lauren and I decided to take a rickshaw ride around the area. This could be one of the biggest thrill rides ever!! You don't know from second to second whether you are going to run in to something or be hit by something - car, truck, bus, rickshaw, or tuk tuk. The driver took us to an Indian market to do a little shopping.

Sunrise on the Ganges


Bath time






Offering karma


Laundry service


Sarnath


Bodhi tree

Location:Varanasi, India