My friend was going to his ‘sasural’ Varanasi and since I was always keen to visit the sacred town, I also packed my bags and tagged along. For me, the main attractions at Varanasi were the amazing ghats and the numerous rituals, revelry, and festivities that happen there. I wanted to experience the rich culture and traditions, the vibrant colors, the grand celebrations, and the imbedded deep-rooted spirituality of the land first hand, up close and personal. All of us know that the Ganges River flows on the northern plains of the Indian subcontinent. It is one of the largest rivers in...

My friend was going to his ‘sasural’ Varanasi and since I was always keen to visit the sacred town, I also packed my bags and tagged along. For me, the main attractions at Varanasi were the amazing ghats and the numerous rituals, revelry, and festivities that happen there. I wanted to experience the rich culture and traditions, the vibrant colors, the grand celebrations, and the imbedded deep-rooted spirituality of the land first hand, up close and personal. All of us know that the Ganges River flows on the northern plains of the Indian subcontinent. It is one of the largest rivers in India and is considered a Holy river. The banks of Ganga Maa are home to numerous ghats, which are are places near rivers which offer access to rivers via steps. Ghats are usually places where people come to do pooja, gather and see the sunrise, talk and enjoy tea, bathe, and cremate the bodies of loved ones. There are many ghats all along the Ganges River, but the most famous ones located at Varanasi (Banaras Ghats, as they are called). So there I went! On a train, with my friend! I had done my research and I knew that there are more than 90 ghats in Varanasi, all of which run along the western banks of River Ganges, all the way from Assi Ghat to the Raj Ghat. Lest one is living in a bubble/hole and is not aware, the ghats at Varanasi are considered by Hindus to be the most auspicious place for cremation. The two main ghats for cremation at Varanasi are the Harishchandra and Manikarnika ghats. So, I had noted down that I would visit at least one of these places so as to see the holy rituals, the spirituality, and the meeting of the souls with their makers. During my short visit to the holy city, I came to know that most of the River Ganges ghats in Varanasi are a hub of activity from sunrise to sunset. A trip to the ghats is the best way to check out the everyday lives of the local people and the local ritual and traditions of this religious ancient city. One of the most popular tourist activities is to take a boat ride at dawn down the river. So that is exactly what I did. You can go for the boat ride anytime of the day, but it is best enjoyed during sunrise or sunset. It is a really peaceful experience at dawn and the sight of the sun spreading its wings around this ancient city is truly exhilarating. I also found it rather fascinating to walk along the ghats. One of the main drawbacks of this exercise is that you will come across filth and strewn garbage at every corner. Then there was also the problem of hassling touts and vendors. But I overlooked these cons and continued my discovery. I spent most of my time at Assi Ghat. It is one of the most popular ghats and an important one for Hindus. It had less commotion and fewer crowds. You will find pilgrims taking a bath in the river and then offering their prayers to a Shiva lingam located under a Pipal tree. This area is preferred by tourists who want to stay for a long period in Varanasi.