Delhi to Kathmandu – On The Ganges

Image above: Silhouetted against the last fiery burst of sunset, the crew set up camp on the sandy banks of the Ganges. [Thursday 29 January]

After arriving in Allahabad after my first night on a sleeper train,  here’s the photo set covering the two days that we spent sailing on the Ganges toward Varanasi which included an overnight camp on the banks.

This was the day that I was most looking forward to the trip and one of the reasons why I had chosen to go on this particular itinerary as I thought that it was would be awesome spending my 31st birthday sailing down the Ganges. And recalling my short speech at the  surprise party my fellow travellers threw for me: “being out here today, I get to do the three things that I love … experiencing a different place … doing my photography … and making new friends with y’all”. And as you’ll see from the photos, it was both equally beautiful and tranquil place to be … especially at dusk and at dawn the next morning.

Some of the other highlights were:

• Having a few near-death experiences driving from Allahabad to the Ganges
• Seeing daily life in the little villages and towns we passed
• Amazed at how many cow patties people collected and stacked for fuel
• Having fun trying to row the boat which reminded me of my days single sculling back in secondary school
• Just relaxing watching the countryside go by slowly listening to my iPhone and not doing anything else
• Enchanted by the beauty of the sun going down on the Ganges
• Going from the drop-off point to Varanasi, meeting a driver who seemed to be a like a docile Ghandi-esque type but was soon blinding and swearing much to the amusement of all of us!

Coming up next … Varanasi – considered to be the most holy city in Hinduism and a key religious centre in Northern India.

[View the India - Intrepid Group photo set]

[View the On The Ganges photo set]