Varanasi.

Today, we were up very early, before the sun, to sail along the Ganges and see devout Hindus bathing and praying beneath the rising sun.

Sailing the Ganges.

After yesterday's long journey through Varanasi, I did wonder if we would get anywhere near the Ganges this morning. I thought that the sheer number of people descending on the area for the Aarti Ceremony would prevent us from going on our sunrise boat ride on the Ganges. I was thrilled when we arrived and found that we could get very close to the river, and that a short time later, we were able to board our small boat. We were all told to put life jackets on, but I am not sure they would have been any help if we had gone into the water. They were all very old, tatty and all on the small side, but we put them on and set off from the Ghat for our trip along the Ganges.

Even from the pontoon that we used to climb on the boat, we could see people undressing to bathe in the Ganges River. I really enjoyed this trip. The sun rising above the misty clouds made it even more memorable. I was amazed by the number of people, both young and old, bathing in the river to celebrate Kumbh Mela.

Ganges Sunrise Cruise Photos.

Photos from my sunrise boat ride up the River Ganges.    Click on any image to see a larger version and a description of the photo.

• Namo Ghat and a hand-folded sculpture with massive hands in the shape of "namaste" next to the River Ganges. This was taken when we arrived for our sunrise boat ride.

  Namo Ghat, Varanasi, River Ganges.
• A small boat going up the Ganges River at Varanasi as the sun began to rise.

  A small boat going up the Ganges River at Varanasi as the sun began to rise.
• People bathing in the River Ganges, next to the boat dock we used on our boat trip in Varanasi.

  People bathing in the River Ganges.
• Some of my travel companions on our sunrise boat ride up the Ganges River at Varanasi.

  Travel companions on a sunrise boat ride up the Ganges River.
• A boat full of people riding up the Ganges River passes our boat.

  A boat full of people riding up the Ganges River.
• Street art on the walls of a building along the side of the River Ganges in Varanasi.

  Street art on the walls of a building along the side of the River Ganges in Varanasi.
• Ghats leading from buildings in Varanasi down to the River Ganges.

  Ghats leading from buildings in Varanasi down to the River Ganges.
• Another boat passes us as we travel up the River Ganges in Varanasi.

  Boat on the River Ganges in Varanasi.
• A boat goes past us on our trip up the Ganges River.

  Boat on a trip up the Ganges River.
• Ghats and buildings in Varanasi, taken from the River Ganges.

  Ghats and buildings in Varanasi, taken from the River Ganges.
• Ghats and buildings in Varanasi, taken from the River Ganges.

  Ghats and buildings in Varanasi, taken from the River Ganges.
• Alan Morris on a boat travelling up the River Ganges in Varanasi as the sun rises.

  Alan Morris on a boat travelling up the River Ganges in Varanasi as the sun rises.
• Boats moored alongside the River Ganges in Varanasi.

  Boats moored alongside the River Ganges in Varanasi.
• Our guide, Digamber, points something out to us as we sail up the River Ganges in Varanasi.

  Our guide, points something out as we sail up the River Ganges in Varanasi.
• The sun rises through a cloudy sky as we travel along the Ganges River in Varanasi.

  Sun rising through a cloudy sky along the Ganges River in Varanasi.
• The sun rises through a cloudy sky as we travel along the Ganges River in Varanasi.

  Sun rising through a cloudy sky as we travel along the Ganges River in Varanasi.
• A boat on the Ganges River goes between our boat and a boat on the bank.

  Boat on the Ganges River.
• A boat on the bank of the Ganges River with the sun rising behind it as birds fly just above the water in front of it.

  A boat on the bank of the Ganges River with the sun rising behind.
• Floating salesman. This man was selling flowers and candles to people on the River Ganges.

  Man selling flowers and candles on the River Ganges.
• Thousands of people beginning to gather on the Ghats to bathe or take a trip on the River Ganges in Varanasi.

  Thousands of people beginning to gather on the Ghats to bathe or take a trip on the River Ganges in Varanasi.
• A boat passes us on the River Ganges as the sun rises in Varanasi.

  Boat passes by on the River Ganges as the sun rises in Varanasi.
• People on a boat on the River Ganges in Varanasi as the sun comes up.

  People on a boat on the River Ganges in Varanasi.
• The sun coming up over a boat on the River Ganges at Varanasi.

  The sun coming up over a boat on the River Ganges at Varanasi.
• Birds fly across the sun as it rises over the River Ganges.

  Birds fly across the sun as it rises over the River Ganges.
• Birds fly across the sun as it rises over the River Ganges.

  Birds fly across the sun as it rises over the River Ganges.
• People bathing in the River Ganges at Varanasi. Many of them were in the area celebrating Kumbh Mela.

  People bathing in the River Ganges at Varanasi.
• People bathing in the River Ganges at Varanasi.

  People bathing in the River Ganges at Varanasi.
• Boats on the River Ganges at Varanasi.

  Boats on the River Ganges at Varanasi.
• Boats on the River Ganges at Varanasi.

  Boats on the River Ganges at Varanasi.
• Alan Morris stood next to the River Ganges at Varanasi after his boat trip along the river.

  Alan Morris stood next to the River Ganges at Varanasi.
• A hand-folded sculpture with massive hands in the shape of "namaste" next to the River Ganges in Varanasi.

  A hand-folded sculpture with massive hands in the shape of namaste.

• Item 0
• Item 1
• Item 2
• Item 3
• Item 4
• Item 5
• Item 6
• Item 7
• Item 8
• Item 9
• Item 10
• Item 11
• Item 12
• Item 13
• Item 14
• Item 15
• Item 16
• Item 17
• Item 18
• Item 19
• Item 20
• Item 21
• Item 22
• Item 23
• Item 24
• Item 25
• Item 26
• Item 27
• Item 28
• Item 29
• Item 30

Views

Views

/31

0 Comments | Please login to Comment

• 
• 
• 
• 
• 
• 
• 
• 
• 
• 
• 

After our trip along the Ganges River, we were taken through Varanasi and went to our hotel via Bharat Mata Mandir, where we made a short stop.

Bharat Mata Mandir.

We had a short stop at the Bharat Mata Mandir. When we arrived, we had to walk through the building site surrounding the building. Our guide explained that the building work was actually part of ongoing work that would be building an overhead train through Varanasi and that one of the stop points for the train would be the Bharat Mata Mandir. The train stop would certainly make visiting the site a lot easier in the future, but I hope it doesn't ruin the area or harm the building if thousands of people are soon to be brought here.

I must admit I didn't hear what our guide was telling us about it while we were there, and had to Google information about it when I got back from my holiday. I thought it was a fantastic map, and I was surprised to see what was inside the building once we entered.

Bharat Mata Mandir Photos.

These photos are all from my short stop at the Bharat Mata Mandir in Varanasi.

Click on any image to see a larger version of the image with a description. Use the navigation below the thumbnail images to see the previous set of images, the next set of images, or the previous or following photo albums.

• The Bharat Mata Mandir in Varanasi from outside the building.

  Bharat Mata Mandir
• Marble map of India on the floor at the Bharat Mata Mandir in Varanasi.

  Bharat Mata Mandir, Varanasi.
• Marble map of India on the floor at the Bharat Mata Mandir in Varanasi.

  Bharat Mata Mandir in Varanasi.
• List of names, in Hindi, in the Bharat Mata Mandir of the people who built the map and the temple in Varanasi.

  Bharat Mata Mandir
• Description, in Hindi, of the map at the Bharat Mata Mandir in Varanasi.

  Bharat Mata Mandir
• Plants decorating the veranda outside the Bharat Mata Mandir in Varanasi.

  Plants decorating a veranda.
• Plants decorating the veranda outside the Bharat Mata Mandir in Varanasi.

  Plants decorating a veranda.

• Item 0
• Item 1
• Item 2
• Item 3
• Item 4
• Item 5
• Item 6

Views

Views

/7

0 Comments | Please login to Comment

• 
• 
• 
• 
• 
• 
• 

When we left the Temple, we were taken back to our hotel. A few of the ladies were being taken to a silk shop on the road our hotel was on, and I decided to take the short walk and go with them to look for a silk shirt. The shop was great to look at, and the owners showed us the original wooden mills on which the silk was woven and told us all about the process before their son took us to look around the shop. He gave us more information about the silks he was trying to sell us, and it was fascinating. Many of the ladies bought beautiful dresses or ordered them to be made for them. I decided not to spend so much money on a shirt I would wear only once or twice. I still have one I bought in Beijing, China, and I have worn it only twice. I did buy two cushion cases that I will use in my apartment in Spain when I can find some suitable filler to put inside them.

After visiting the silk shop, I walked back to the hotel for a brief rest before we went out again this afternoon for our trip to Sarnath.

Thai Temple.

The Thai Temple at Sarnath is famous as the place where Gautama Buddha first taught the Dharma, or where Buddha preached his first sermon. I have been told that Buddha made his first sermon in many places by many guides, during my adventures, but only history knows where he really made his first sermon. This is the place where the original Sangha was formed. I had a short visit to the Thai Temple and enjoyed a walk around the ornate Buddhas and the tranquil gardens.

Thai Temple Photos.

These photos are all from my short trip to the Thai Temple in Sarnath.

Click on any image to see a larger version of the image with a description. Use the navigation below the thumbnail images to see the previous set of images, the next set of images, or the previous or following photo albums.

• Golden Buddhas at the Thai Temple and Monastery in Sarnath.

  Golden Buddhas at the Thai Temple and Monastery in Sarnath
• Alan Morris next to a Golden Buddha at the Thai Temple and Monastery in Sarnath. Alan Morris is the one wearing the sunglasses.

  Alan Morris next to a Golden Buddha at the Thai Temple.
• A large Buddha in the gardens of the Thai Temple and Monastery in Sarnath.

  Large Buddha in the gardens of the Thai Temple.
• Large Buddha in the gardens of the Thai Temple, Sarnath.

  Large Buddha in the gardens of the Thai Temple, Sarnath.
• Large Buddha in the gardens of the Thai Temple, Sarnath.

  Large Buddha in the gardens of the Thai Temple, Sarnath.
• Alan Morris in front of a large Buddha in the gardens of the Thai Temple, Sarnath.

  Alan Morris in front of a large Buddha in the gardens of the Thai Temple.

• Item 0
• Item 1
• Item 2
• Item 3
• Item 4
• Item 5

Views

Views

/6

0 Comments | Please login to Comment

• 
• 
• 
• 
• 
• 

When we left the Thai Temple, we took a short walk up the road to see the Dhamek Stupa.

Dhamek Stupa.

I liked the gardens at the Dhamek Stupa and would like to say how peaceful it was to walk around. Unfortunately, a local church had a truck outside the grounds with huge speakers on it and was playing very loud music to people following behind it. Our guide told us that more churches are doing this to try to attract younger people to church. It may well attract younger people, but so would a disco, and there is no need to do this, especially to allow them so close to any Buddhist monument. I would have enjoyed spending time here in peaceful contemplation, but it was not to be.

Walking around the gardens and looking at the Dhamek Stupa reminded me of the game Civilisaltion VI that I play on my computer, because it has a Stupa as one of the monuments that you can build in the game. I mentioned this to one of the other gentlemen on the tour with me, Dave, who was walking around the garden with me. He laughed and said that he had thought the same thing because he also played the computer game.

Dhamek Stupa Photos.

These photos were all taken as I walked around the Dhamek Stupa in Sarnath.

Click on any image to see a larger version of the image with a description. Use the navigation below the thumbnail images to see the previous set of images, the next set of images, or the previous or following photo albums.

• Dhamek Stupa in Deer Park, Sarnath.

  Dhamek Stupa in Deer Park, Sarnath.
• Alan Morris stood in Deer Park by the Dhamek Stupa in Sarnath.

  Alan Morris stood by the Dhamek Stupa
• Stone tablet at the entrance to Deer Park and the Dhamek Stupa in Sarnath describes Sarnath and its religious history.

  Stone tablet at the entrance to Deer Park
• Dhamek Stupa in Deer Park, Sarnath.

  Dhamek Stupa in Deer Park, Sarnath.
• Alan Morris stood at the base of the Dhamek Stupa in Deer Park, Sarnath.

  Alan Morris stood at the base of the Dhamek Stupa.
• Dhamek Stupa in Deer Park, Sarnath, Uttar Pradesh, India.

  Dhamek Stupa in Deer Park, Sarnath, Uttar Pradesh, India.
• Alan Morris in Deer Park, Sarnath, by the Dhamek Stupa.

  Alan Morris in Deer Park, Sarnath, by the Dhamek Stupa.
• Noisy church procession outside Deer Park in Sarnath.

  Noisy church procession outside Deer Park in Sarnath.

• Item 0
• Item 1
• Item 2
• Item 3
• Item 4
• Item 5
• Item 6
• Item 7

Views

Views

/8

0 Comments | Please login to Comment

• 
• 
• 
• 
• 
• 
• 
• 

After leaving the Dhamek Stupa, we all met outside the Sarnath Museum before going inside for a quick look around.

Sarnath Museum.

Sarnath Museum is the oldest site museum of the Archaeological Survey of India. It houses the findings and excavations at the archaeological site of Sarnath, which the Archaeological Survey of India conducted. We only had a very brief walk around the museum, and it didn't take long to look around. There were some interesting artefacts in the museum, and I am glad we had a look around, but I would have missed it out entirely if I had been able to choose to spend the time at the Thai Temple or the Dhamek Stupa instead.

Sarnath Museum Photos.

These photos are from my brief visit to the Sarnath Museum.

Click on any image to see a larger version of the image with a description. Use the navigation below the thumbnail images to see the previous set of images, the next set of images, or the previous or following photo albums.

• The Lion Capital of Ashoka is the capital, or head, of a column erected by the Mauryan emperor Ashoka in Sarnath, India. I saw it at the Sarnath Museum.

  The Lion Capital of Ashoka.
• I can not find what this stone depicts, but as there are images of Buddha at the base, I believe it may be scenes from Buddha's life.

  Stone outside the Sarnath Museum.
• Alan Morris at the Archaeological Museum, Sarnath.

  Alan Morris at the Archaeological Museum, Sarnath.

• Item 0
• Item 1
• Item 2

Views

Views

/3

0 Comments | Please login to Comment

• 
• 
• 

When I left the museum, I stood outside to wait for the rest of the tour group and was approached, on my blind side, by someone who I assumed was trying to sell something. I politely said no, thank you and waved him away, but as I turned towards him, I realised his friend was standing there with a camera, and he just wanted to have a photograph taken with me. I was head and shoulders taller than most of the Indians, and I was something of a novelty to them. I agreed to have a photo taken with him, and then I was approached by two family groups who all wanted to pose with me and have their photo taken with me. I obliged and had photos taken with them all, and by now, the tour group was all appearing, and I rejoined them to get back onto our coach and back to our hotel for the night.