Boat ride on the Ganges at Varanassi

A boat ride on the Ganges at Varanassi is a fascinating experience. Seeing how people perform their different rituals in a river that Hindus see as holy reveals India at her most diverse and complex.

Boat ride on the Ganges

Blog post written Mon 19/01/04

I got up early in the morning for my boat ride on the Ganges. It was a foggy morning, so unfortunately I didn't get to see the sunrise, the fog certainly added to the atmosphere of the day.

From the clothes washers thrashing clothes on slabs, to the funeral pyres and the boats stacked full of wood. The people bathing in and drinking the water, to the tourists, it was all incredible. Here's a short piece of prose.

Ganges

A rabid dog feasting on the rotting corpse,
Of a dead pig, washed up by the putrid, faecal waters
Of you, Holy Ganges.

Probably not going to go down in history for that one!

Anyway, I went to a couple of temples afterwards. My guide was helpful, and mentioned a couple of interesting things, such as that Hinduism like Christianity has a trinity.

Om is the word for this joint godhead, and the individual Gods are just different personalities of the same thing. Bought a silk table cloth and posted it home (looks very good on my wall!).

Read more about my India train travel adventure

Previous day of India travelogues – Darjeeling toy train

Next day of India travelogues – Another night on a train

Jump to main page of the India travelogues

More episode from this travel adventure:

1. First day in India
2. Second day in Delhi
3. Sightseeing around Delhi
4. First Indian train journey
5. Calcutta
6. Sightseeing in Calcutta
7. Puri
8. Day trip to Konark
9. Bubenishwar
10. Calcutta again
11. Into Darjeeling
12. Darjeeling day 2
13. Darjeeling day 3
14. Train journey from Darjeeling to Varanassi
15. Boat ride on the Ganges
16. Another night on a train
17. Journey to Khajorho
18. Khajorho
19. Amritsar
20. Taj Mahal
21. Waiting at the station
22. Quiet day
23. Jodhpur
24. Jaisalmer
25. Camel Safari
26. Problem day
27. Jaisalmer Festival
28. To Ranthambore
29. Tigerless safari day 1
30. Tigerless safari day 2
31. Another day, another railway station
32. On to Mumbai
33. Mumbai
34. Aurangabad
35. Ajanta
36. Ellora Caves – Day 1
37. Ellora Caves – Day 2
38. Hyderabad
39. Chill out day
40. The end of the India trip