Life, Death & Love in India: Varanasi to Agra
I’ll be honest, I wasn’t entirely sure I wanted to go back to India. My last visit wasn’t exactly a ringing endorsement for a return trip.
Let me take you back 9 years…
It was my first Round-the-World trip. The Taj Mahal was near the top of my list as far as world monuments go, I was so excited to see it. I’d planned a short stay, less than 24 hours, but my goal was simply the Taj and I knew I’d have plenty of time to make the journey to Agra and back.
But a few weeks before departure I discovered (quite by accident) that the Taj Mahal is closed on Fridays – the lone day I would be in the country. For some reason, the tour company with whom I booked the car, driver and guide had neglected to point out this seemingly important fact.
Note: This post may contain affiliate links. If you choose to book through these links, I receive a small commission, which I will undoubtedly blow on more flights (it’s a vicious cycle). All of this internet voodoo takes place at no additional cost to you.
With flights that were impossible to change at this point without a complete upheaval of my entire itinerary, I decided to make the trip anyway. Though I knew I’d be limited to views of this ancient world wonder from across the river, I figured it was better than nothing.
And I guess you could say it was.
But the 4-hour drive to Agra and back proved to be a bit more than I was prepared for at this point in my travel career. I’d been a lot of places, but I’d never been anywhere quite like India.
Traffic accidents, pollution, burning piles of trash (and worse), cows and monkeys in the streets, entire families dangling from the back of buses and auto-rickshaws – it was overwhelming in a punch-you-in-the-gut kind of way I’d never encountered before. There was a rawness to the country’s poverty that struck me deeply and stuck with me for years afterward.
But as the years passed and I visited more and more countries occupying similar rungs on the poverty ladder, the memories faded and I began to ponder the wisdom of a return to India.
After all, I spent less than a day in the country, had I truly given it a fair shot?
Probably not.
Time for a return visit to India?
So, when India announced a new visa on arrival program last fall, I decided it was high time for a triumphant return to the Taj Mahal. India just had to be a part of Round the World #10. And luckily Dave was game for whatever I wanted to do.
Because we were using our RTW tickets, I knew we’d need to fly in and out of New Delhi but I wanted to see something more of India this time. Something more reflective of the country’s unique culture perhaps, than just the beauty of the Taj Mahal.
We considered a number of options before ultimately deciding to combine a weekend in the holy city of Varanasi with our three nights in New Delhi.
So here goes nothing! It’s time for India, round #2…
Arrival in India
After a fabulous week road-tripping around the UK and a luxurious overnight in Paris, we land in New Delhi just before midnight.
The first thing I notice is the entirely new, clean and modern airport. This is already a vast improvement from my previous New Delhi airport experience.
Things are already looking up!
The new e-Visa process is fairly smooth on arrival, another win. Since we have a morning flight to Varanasi tomorrow, we used Marriott points to book a room near the airport at the Four Points New Delhi Airport for the night. Once we exit customs, a driver is waiting to take us on the short ride to the hotel.
Okay India, I think to myself, let’s see what other pleasant surprises you have in store for us this week!
The Holy City of Varanasi
Revered as one of Hinduism’s seven holy cities, the old city of Varanasi sits along the western side of the River Ganges.
According to legend, Varanasi was the abode of Lord Shiva and Goddess Parvati and it’s believed to be the oldest, continually inhabited city in the world.
Varanasi is not for the faint-hearted.
The cycle of life and death is unapologetically laid bare here on the banks of the Ganges. In fact, more tourists die in Varanasi than in any other city in the world.
But, fortunately, most of them intend to.
Those close to death flock to the city to wash away their sins in the sacred murky waters of the Ganges. The faithful believe that taking their last breath here will free them from the cycle of re-birth and death.
And so they come. The old and the sick and their families.
But the cremation ghats don’t treat all aspirants equally. Children, pregnant women and snake bite victims are denied cremation rights and relegated to a water burial at the bottom of the Ganges.
Yes, the same river where pilgrims bathe daily. Like I said, this town is not for the faint-hearted.
Where to stay in Varanasi
Because Varanasi isn’t exactly known for its abundance of Marriott hotels, we selected our hotel – the Ganpati Guest House – based on glowing Trip Advisor reviews.
Located directly along the River Ganges in the heart of Varanasi’s Old City, the hotel has great reviews and the price is right. It is, however, strongly recommended to book a transfer from the airport in advance. The hotel is not accessible by taxi and it’s difficult to find on foot.
First impression of Varanasi
As we drive through the crowded, ramshackle, monsoon-soaked streets of Varanasi, I notice a look on Dave’s face that I haven’t seen before.
“It reminds me of Iraq” he says as he stares out the window at the scenes of daily life around us.
I’ve never considered what the smaller villages of Iraq look like but suddenly they become vivid images all around me.
I’ve mentally brought my husband back to Iraq – a place he swore he would never return to – on his honeymoon.
Not exactly what I was going for in the romance department but, good sport that he is, he puts on a happy face and seems determined to make the best of our time in Varanasi.
Eventually, we stop in a busy square and our driver unloads our bags. A young man (optimistically, a hotel representative) is waiting to carry them through the narrow streets and escort us on foot the rest of the way.
The accidental tour guide
By the time we make the long walk through the old city’s dense labyrinth of alleys (called galis) and arrive at the hotel, we learn the young man’s name is Prakesh. And also that he is (conveniently) available to provide guide services during our visit.
Prakesh is quite the entrepreneur and seems to have a casual arrangement with the hotel. He provides free porter service for the guests. In exchange, he gets the opportunity to solicit his services as a guide during their stay.
We ask Prakesh about his rate structure and he says simply, “Pay whatever you think is fair at the end of the trip.”
Now, typically, that’s not an arrangement I’m comfortable with (there’s always a catch, isn’t there?). But Prakesh seems like a knowledgeable, hard-working kid who genuinely enjoys showing visitors his home city.
So we decide to take a chance.
After all, if the disorienting, stomach-churning, cobra-in-a-basket-passing walk from the busy square to the hotel has taught us anything, it’s that we are probably ill-equipped to navigate this city on our own.
Arrival at the Ganpati Guest House
We make arrangements to meet Prakesh down in the lobby later this afternoon to begin our exploration of Varanasi. Then, we head up to our room to settle in.
The room itself turns out to be pretty good. It’s spacious and clean with plenty of bottled water and a well-functioning A/C system. But the balcony overlooking the Ganges is the most spectacular part, we can literally see along the river for miles.
We unpack a bit and spend some time enjoying the view from the balcony. Before we know it, it’s time to head back down to the lobby to reunite with Prakesh.
The Ghats of Varanasi
As we descend the steps down to the banks of the Ganges to begin our walk with Prakesh, a steady rain begins to fall.
He starts our tour by explaining a bit more about the Hindu religion as we walk.
Hinduism is the dominant religion of the Indian subcontinent. It’s a compassionate religion that treats all living beings (down to the tiniest insects) with great respect. As though they have souls of their own.
Because of this, most Hindus are vegetarians and no Hindu will eat beef (cows are sacred to Hindus).
Just like I remember from my previous visit, there are cows wandering the streets everywhere. Prakesh assures us that all of the cows are well cared for and typically return to a family home each night.
But the main attraction in Varanasi is not the cows but the ceremonial ghats.
Ghats are riverfront steps leading to the banks of the Ganges and Varanasi has 87 of them. Some are associated with ancient mythologies or legends and some are privately owned. Most ghats are used for bathing and various ceremonies but others are used exclusively for cremations.
Cremations in Varanasi
Our walk along the Ganges continues and soon we arrive at one of the cremation ghats. There is an actual cremation already in progress.
Nothing quite prepares you for watching a body being burned on a woodpile in front of you.
One member of the family stands near the burning pile to oversee the cremation. The other family members stand off to the side until the process is complete. Photos are not allowed at the cremation ceremonies but a few tourists pause to respectfully observe.
It’s definitely not something I ever need to see again.
Swimming in the Ganges
As we walk, Dave and I are constantly amazed by how many people – adults and children alike – brave the waters of the Ganges.
Dave has, of course, done all the appropriate research about the pollution levels in the Ganges. He helpfully shares the following interesting facts:
- The amount of toxins, chemicals and dangerous bacteria found in the Ganges are nearly 3000 times the “safe” limit, according to the WHO
- 1 billion liters of raw, untreated sewage are dumped into the river daily
- Thousands of bodies are cremated on the banks of the river annually with countless more released into the water in the hopes for salvation
- Hundreds of dead cattle, animal carcasses and unwanted babies are also thrown into the river annually
Now, obviously any sane person would be dying to jump right in and “purify” his soul, right??
Nope, me neither.
But people do. Shockingly, even a few tourists. And they believe the waters are cleansing to the soul. And I suppose for them, they are.
But the fact remains that the river is a leading cause of infant and child mortality in India. We have a hard time watching the people in the river – especially the children – once we’ve read all of the facts.
The Ganga Aarti
As dusk descends, Prakesh leads us back to the Dashashwamedh Ghat near our hotel to witness the nightly Ganga Aarti ceremony.
Every evening at sunset, the ceremony is performed in India’s three holy cities – Haridwar, Rishikesh and Varanasi. People begin to arrive as early as 5:00pm to get a good position for viewing.
The aarti is a powerful devotional ritual that uses fire as an offering to the goddess of the most holy river in India, Goddess Ganga. The fire is in the form of a lit lamp circled around by young Hindu priests with the idea being that the lamps acquire the power of the deity.
The ceremony takes place facing the river and many visitors gather in boats along the Ganges for the best views. Taking the questionable weather into consideration, we choose to watch from the shoreline.
(Plus, there’s not a chance in hell I’m convincing my husband to get in a boat on the Ganges.)
The ceremony begins with the blowing of a conch shell and continues with rhythmic music. It’s fascinating and quite a production. I’ve read that the Varanasi aarti is more of a showy-extravaganza meant for tourists than the ceremonies performed at the other two locations.
But perhaps that added to our enjoyment of it.
After a full and exhausting day, it’s finally time to get out of the relentless rain and head back to the hotel for dinner. We make arrangements to meet up with Prakesh again in the morning to continue our exploration of the city.
Last Day in Varanasi
The next morning we awake to a pounding rain displaying the full brunt of India’s monsoon season.
From our terrace we can see that the river has risen overnight. It now covers more steps of the ghats, and the garbage in the streets swirls in murky puddles below. It is raining so hard we can’t even make out the far bank of the Ganges, everything is a brownish-gray haze.
Nothing we see from the terrace makes us want to rush right out into the elements. So we reschedule with Prakesh for later in the day hoping the weather might improve.
By early afternoon, the weather hasn’t improved. But this is our last day in Varanasi and we need to get out and see something else.
A visit to a silk shop
We rejoin with Prakesh and agree to check out his other place of employment, a silk shop.
Part of his income rests on how many people he brings into the shop and a percentage of what they buy. We know we’ll get the hard sell but he’s a good kid and we want to help him out a bit.
Plus Dave has been coveting Prakesh’s tailored silk shirts since we arrived and now he’s ready to shop.
He ends up with 2 custom made shirts. They are delivered to our hotel the next morning before we head back to the airport. We don’t last long in the rain but after the silk shop we wander the narrow alleys of the old city for a bit before finally returning to the hotel.
I have to admit, Varanasi was a tough stop for both of us.
I’m definitely glad I’ve seen it. And I can appreciate the spiritual significance of the site to Hindus. But it’s probably not a place I’ll need to go back to anytime soon.
Back to Delhi
From Varanasi, we fly back to Delhi and check-in at Marriott’s uber-luxurious ITC Maurya Hotel before our day trip to the Taj Mahal. We luck into an upgraded suite thanks to my Titanium status and it’s nice to be back in a fancy hotel for a night.
This is, after all, a honeymoon!
After scouring the train schedules we end up resorting to a car and driver again to make the journey tomorrow. While the train schedules are convenient for getting to Agra, none of the trains return to Delhi early enough to comfortably make our midnight flight.
How to get from Delhi to the Taj Mahal
The next morning, it’s finally time for the one part of our India visit that I am truly excited about. A return visit to the Taj Mahal!
This time on a day it’s actually open.
Our driver, Raj, picks us up promptly at 6am and the hotel has packed us a lovely breakfast for the drive. Amazingly, this time the drive is nothing like the traffic-jammed, cow-dodging, life-endangering 4-hr drive through the back streets of India that I remember from my last visit and was dreading.
Turns out, a new highway – the Yamuna Expressway – opened in 2012. The 6-lane expressway connects Delhi and Agra cutting the drive time down to just over 3 hours and completely eliminating the hazardous traffic component.
Because it’s a toll highway, we are practically the only car on the road for the entire drive. This causes me to occasionally look out the window and wonder, “Am I still in India?”
Three and a half hours after departing the hotel we arrive in Agra, pick up our guide and head straight for the Taj Mahal.
The Love Story of the Taj Mahal
A member of the Mughal dynasty, Shah Jahan became emperor at Agra in 1628. He had three wives (the first two were arranged marriages) but his third, Mumtaz, was his only love marriage.
He cherished her as the favorite of his three queens.
In 1631, Mumtaz died after giving birth to their 14th child (you read that right, fourteenth). Struck with grief, Shah Jahan ordered the construction of a magnificent mausoleum across the river from his royal palace.
Construction took more than 20 years and the resulting structure is one of the world’s most outstanding examples of Mughal architecture.
The work is considered so significant it was designated a UNESCO World Heritage site in 1983 and stands today as a symbol of India and one of the world’s most celebrated monuments.
Because the Taj is a mausoleum, you can’t take pictures inside. Despite that, it’s amazing to finally get the opportunity to see the intricate marble work up close. We wander the grounds admiring it from every angle before moving on to the nearby Agra Fort.
Even the Agra Fort turns out to be even more impressive than I remember it.
Wrapping up a return visit to India
With our tour of Agra complete, we make the painless drive back to Delhi and head for the airport.
All in all, this trip was night and day from my last visit to Agra. It was truly a pleasant experience.
After spending nearly a week in India, I still can’t say whether I’ll go back. The contrast between the grittiness of life and death in Varanasi and the love story of the Taj Mahal can’t be any greater.
But it’s simply impossible to gaze up at the shimmering marble of the Taj Mahal and not feel the overwhelming love of the man who built it to honor his one true love. Finally, we’ve found the romance of India worthy of a stop on any honeymoon tour.
And even Dave agrees, it alone was worth the trip.
Next stop, South Korea.