Varanasi

Shopping in Varanasi : the silk city !
Silk weaving is perhaps the most popular art of Varanasi.

The shopping hotspots in Varanasi are Chowk, Gyan Vapi, Vishwanath Gali, Thatheri Bazar, Lahurabir, Godoulia or Dashswamedh Gali and Golghar. Besides the illustrious and fine silks and brocaded fabrics, one can also buy shawls, carpets, wall hangings...

When you enter a silk shop, the owner will offer you a masala tea and then he will show you all the silk scarfs he has in his shop ! All of them are very colourful, you can't even choose one because there are so many different styles, colours, sizes... It's like the 1001 nights or Alibaba palace. Completely amazing !

Ganges baths

Very early in the morning, at about six o'clock, hindu people take their bath in the Ganges river to purify themselves.

This bath is a spiritual act with special rites.
It will purify the soul from sins and is an important step on the way to an ultimate goal - the Nirvana, which means the salvation from the cycle of birth, death and rebirth and ultimately to be one with the almighty God, the creator.


Varanasi also is a favorite place to die, for hindus believe, that one who dies at Varanasi gains emancipation automatically, such is the greatness of this shrine! That's why there are ritual cremations on pyres from Sandle wood and in crematoria each night. All hindus desire, that no matter where they die, at least their ashes be merged in the pious waters of mother Ganga who in Hindu's belief in her immense love for her children will bring emancipation from the trauma of the cycle of birth and death!



The PUJA
Every evenings, Hindu people perform the "Puja" with lighted lamps.
They offer candles to the Ganges while musicians are playing music and siging holy words.
The ambience is spectacular and very spirituous.

Day 21 : Sarnath

Sarnath is the city where Buddha preached his first discourse in the deer park to set in motion the 'Wheel of the Dharma'. It is one of the most holy sites as in this place the stream of the Buddha's teaching first flowed.

At this place, the Buddha encountered the five men who had been his companions of earlier austerities. On meeting the enlightened Buddha, all they saw was an ordinary man. "Here comes the mendicant Gautama," they said, "who has turned away from asceticism. He is certainly not worth our respect." When they reminded him of his former vows, the Buddha replied, "Austerities only confuse the mind. In the exhaustion and mental stupor to which they lead, one can no longer understand the ordinary things of life, still less the truth that lies beyond the senses. I have given up extremes of either luxury or asceticism. I have discovered the Middle Way". Hearing this the five ascetics became the Buddha's first disciples.

Gautama Buddha started teaching not to debate but for the advantage of and out of compassion for human beings. He explained the middle way which avoids extremes, the Four Noble Truths, and prescribed the Eight-fold path. The Four Noble Truths are: 1. There is suffering; 2. Suffering has a cause; 3. The cause is removable, and 4. There are ways to remove the causes. So as to remove the causes the Buddha prescribed an Eight-fold Path: Right speech, Right action, Right livelihood, Right effort, Right mindfulness, Right concentration, Right attitude and Right view.

The Dhamekha Stupa

This is the most conspicuous structure at Sarnath. Colonel Cunningham bore a shaft from the top centre of the stupa and discovered a stone tablet on which an inscription is written with the word Dhamekha, and mentions that this is the spot where the Buddha delivered his first sermon. Dhamekha seems to be a distorted form of Dharma Chakra which means turning the wheel of the Dharma. It is also said that at this spot the five ascetics who left Gautama Buddha in Bodh Gaya used to live in huts. The original stupa was constructed by Ashoka. The present size of the stupa is 31.3 m high and 28.3 m in diameter. The lower portion of the stupa is covered completely with beautifully carved stones. The design consists of a broad band of Swastika (fylfot) carved in different geometrical patterns with a finely chiselled lotus wreath, running over and below the swastikas.

The Dhamekha stupa is considered to be the sacred place where the voice of Buddhism was first heard. Many dignitaries of Buddhist countries visit this place for circumambulation of this sacred stupa and to worship the Buddha. Tibetans Buddhist circumambulate it chanting the mantra 'Om mani padme hum'. The first discourse of the Buddha was on the 'Wheel of Law'. The wheel symbolises samsara (world), the eternal round of existence which goes on and on, life after life because of ceaseless cravings and desire.

Day 20 : Varanasi or Benaras also known as Kashi

Varanasi is one of the oldest cities in the world : more than 3000 years old.
It is a Holy and worship place for Hindu people : same as the Vatican for the Catholics or the Mecca for the Muslims. Moreover, this city is THE one which reflect the most the real Indian culture and the power of Hinduism.
Every year, more than one million pilgrims come to have a bath in the Ganga.

It is believed by Hindus that bathing in the river Ganga results in remission of sins and that dying in the holy city of Kashi (Varanasi) circumvents rebirth.

Walking on the ghâts
Walking on the Ganga ghâts, we met different people having a bath, cleaning and drying their clothes. The atmosphere is very quiet and peaceful.

Day 14 : Back to Jodhpur

The Clock Market

The clock tower is the central point of Jodhpur.


There is a big market standing around the clock : spices, fruits & vegetables, clothes, varieties of seeds (corn, lentil, rice...) & lots of other things... The tower was built in 1910 by Maharajah Sardar to give the time to inhabitants. That's why the market is called the Sardar Market.



Umaid Bhawan Palace
We also visited the Umaid Bhawan Palace where the Maharajah of Jodhpur is living at the moment. This monument has got three different parts :
1- The Maharajah & his family house
2- A Palace Hotel part of Taj Resort which is a famous Indian Hotel Brand all over the country.
3- The museum


Having fun in the small blue streets of the old city
We met very nice indian people walking in these very tight streets.
We also had Masala tea with old men and tried to discuss with them because they couldn't speak english.
Masala tea is the most popular drink in India. It's tea with milk, cardamon & ginger. First, you boil the milk twice, then you had Chai tea, the spices and sugar. This is a very good hot drink and you can find it wherever you want.

Day 13 : Going to Osian

Temples
On the way to Osian, a small town near Jodhpur in the desert, we visited Hindu and Jain temples.

The desert
In Osian desert, we had a fun camel ride et just looked at the beauty of such a landscape.


The Camel Camp



Then, after the ride, we took a break in an oasis lost in nowhere in the desert called the camel camp. We had a nice lunch and rested in this beautiful and luxuous place.