25 January

Varanasi is not for the squeamish. Life is very hard here where 41% of the population have a monthly income of around £30.
We started the day with a wander along some of the Ghats, these are series of steps leading down to the river Ganges, there about 80 sets of them spread over 4km. We’ve changed the name of some of them to describe the different activities peculiar to each Ghat.

Bathing Ghat

Laundry Ghat

The 2 bathers Mr Hep A and Mr Hep B might just get to heaven quicker than they expect.
The river being an excellent way to transfer blood born viruses.

Wedding Ghat

Exploding Buffalo Ghat

Sadhu Holyman

Wood weighing scales at the Burning Ghat

It takes 200kg of wood to cremate a body, the poor people who are unable to bear the cost of the timber are allowed to use the remnants of the last rich person’s fire.

Late afternoon boat trip on the Ganges :

Boat Builders

Kite Flyers

Peanuts and crisps boat

Our boatman