Varanasi, a holy city. Like Mecca for the Muslims and Amritsar for the Sikh, so is Varanasi the holy city for Hindu's and Jains. It is situated on the banks of the river Ganges, which they worship as a goddess "mother Ganga" but this same river also gets used as a public sewer; to take a bath, to brush their teeth and to dump dead bodies and ashes in... This city is full of opposites and contra-dictions.
Varanasi is one of the oldest continuously inhabited cities in the world, which makes for very chaotic streets, many too small to allow cars. But no cars, does not mean these alleys are empty in any way. There are (holy) cows everywhere, including holy-cow-poop, street dogs with very cute puppies, goats, two-wheelers whizzing by, pilgrims, tourist, beggars, and so on.
Varanasi is one of the oldest continuously inhabited cities in the world, which makes for very chaotic streets, many too small to allow cars. But no cars, does not mean these alleys are empty in any way. There are (holy) cows everywhere, including holy-cow-poop, street dogs with very cute puppies, goats, two-wheelers whizzing by, pilgrims, tourist, beggars, and so on.
I don't think you can find a place more Indian than Varanasi; between the heaps of garbage, dog and cow poop and muddy streets, there are beautiful little temples, inner courtyards and wonderful artwork. The stink of raw sewer gets chased away by the smell of some wonderful spices and the too crowded to breath streets open up to empty river beds.
Varanasi is not for everyone, but if you are looking for the real Indian experience this city should not be missed.
Varanasi is not for everyone, but if you are looking for the real Indian experience this city should not be missed.