Apr 26th, 2013 at 9:00AM:
Stair-stepped ghats hug the western shore of the Ganges River like a string of very old pearls, one after the other, fused together by faith and history and mud. The stairs link the mucky dung-spattered streets on land to the murky brown water of the holy river below, with riotous colors of fabric and flowers between.
I was expecting more dead bodies in Varanasi – really, burning ...Click on a label to read posts from that part of the world.
Varanasi posts
Mucking About: Stepping Into The Unknown On The Banks Of The Ganges
Apr 26th, 2013 at 9:00AM:
Stair-stepped ghats hug the western shore of the Ganges River like a string of very old pearls, one after the other, fused together by faith and history and mud. The stairs link the mucky dung-spattered streets on land to the murky brown water of the holy river below, with riotous colors of fabric and flowers between.
I was expecting more dead bodies in Varanasi – really, burning ...Lonely Planet's Best Worst Pick-Up Lines For Travelers
Feb 10th, 2013 at 4:00PM:
"I hope you're not a monk, because I'd love go Tibet with you." Cue sound of detonating bomb.
Our friends at Lonely Planet recently compiled a list of the best worst travel-themed pick-up lines, via Twitter. The results are hilarious, as well as cringe-inducing. Some of our favorites:
"This may not be India, but since I saw you, I've felt like I'm in Lucknow."
"You must be from ...Photo Of The Day: Varanasi Ritual
Dec 6th, 2012 at 5:00PM:
There are many common motifs in travel photography: sunsets, markets, funny signs that might include unique and amazing images, but are found all over the world. It's the rare photograph that shows us something unusual, perhaps something completely new. Today's Photo of the Day is by Gadling favorite and Flickr user arunchs is from Varanasi, India, capturing the evening ritual of Ganga Aarti. ...Video: Ear Cleaning In India
Oct 28th, 2012 at 5:00PM: I have a hideous confession to make. I'm absolutely fascinated by medical techniques and beauty rituals practiced in other countries. No matter how archaic, revolting (to our Western sensibilities), or dubious, I can't get enough of reading about or watching this stuff. That said, there's no way you'll find me willingly engaging in these activities, so it's a vicarious thrill.
Since it's almost ...
Photo Of The Day: The Ganges River At Dawn
Aug 21st, 2012 at 6:30PM:
Sometimes, the most poignant travel imagery is captured before the destination has even woken up. Take, for instance, today's Photo of the Day, taken by Flickr user Calvin Lee on the banks of the Ganges River in Varanasi, India. Later in the day, the river will be filled with pilgrims engaging in religious rituals, tourists taking photos of them and the hustlers that inevitably follow the ...Video: A sadhu singing by the Ganges River, Varanasi
Mar 18th, 2012 at 6:00PM:
One of the best gifts travel gives you is all the great music you wouldn't otherwise hear. Strange tunes often stick in the mind long after the memories of meals and sights have dimmed. Last week I brought you a video of a kalimba player in Malawi. Here's a completely different tune from a completely different country, yet both tunes have gotten into my head.
This man is a sadhu, one of the ...
Will Varanasi and Sarnath join the World Heritage list?
Nov 20th, 2009 at 12:30PM: It's World Heritage Week from November 19-25 and countries around the globe are celebrating the priceless treasures that UNESCO, which runs the list, is helping to preserve.
But one country, India, is wondering why two of its most famous places aren't on the list. India has no shortage of World Heritage Sites, like the Taj Mahal and Agra Fort, but the 3500 year-old holy city of Varanasi (Benares) ...
