Exploring Varanasi with an 'iPhone 7 Plus'!

Varanasi is a city very close to my heart ever since I first visited it a few years back during the coldest winter days. The trip was rather eventful - fog covered everything in sight, our train to Delhi got cancelled and we had to take a flight instead, we got chased by street dogs and also ate some awesome Korean food near the Ghat for the dead - Manikarkina! However, it wasn't till my third trip to Varanasi with my friend Pawan that I actually took a dip in the holy water of river Ganga. The river wasn't so clean, but floating in the cool water on a hot day certainly felt great, especially after two glasses of bhaang thandai. 

Why did I take a holy dip?

Well, I am not really religious but there's something about Varanasi which makes you feel different. I think it's the stories from the city. It's one of the oldest continuously habituated city in the world and has been rebuilt many times over. This essentially means that there are thousands of stories (many of them hidden away) which are right there in the city as long as you are willing to dig deeper. This fascinates me and also makes me immerse in the city even more so, starting of course with taking a holy dip in the river.

Varanasi on an iPhone 7 Plus

Each trip to the city has been special for different reasons, and so was my most recent one. It was during the hot and humid monsoons when the river was flooded and the ghats were almost submerged. I decided to focus on capturing life of real people in the lanes and bylanes of the city, right behind the ghats. Just to make it even more fun, I decided to capture it through one of my favourite travel companions - iPhone 7 Plus.

Here's a photo-story, which is more than just photos and stories - it's a labor of my love for Varanasi. In no way is this the end of my love affair with the city, in fact I am planning already to come back again!

दिन की शुरुआत चाय के साथ ❤️

सुबह सवेरे स्नान के पश्चात...

While Ganga is flooded in #Varanasi and ghats are almost submerged, the locals are happy that it's much lower than usual; nevertheless life goes on as usual...

कुछ और पल धोबीघाट पर...

Early morning in Varanasi

Nothing really special, just another morning in Varanasi ❤️

p.s. Every morning is special in #Varanasi!

चलोगे भैया...मेरी नाव पे घुमने?

क्यों ना थोड़ी चाय हो जाय? 😉

नाश्ते में चाय के साथ आलू की सब्ज़ी और कचौड़ी हो तो मज़ा ही आ जाय।
और हाँ, अंत में २५० ग्राम जलेबी भी हो तो क्या बात है 😍

राम नाम सत्य है, सत्य बोल मुक्त है।

Ever wondered why we say this phrase during the funeral procession when the departed is taken to the shamshaan?

There seem to be numerous reasons behind this; the simplest one states that reciting the name of Lord Rama can give 'mukti' or salvation to the 'atman' or soul of the departed.

इक सवारी के इंतज़ार में...

भई शाम की चाय का टेम हो गया। अब कोई काम ना होगा हमसे 😐

दिन की शुरूआत कसरत के साथ 🙂

A gym instructor who also doubles up as a dhobi every morning on the Ghat. I appreciate the hard work he puts in to make ends meet, but all the detergent does no good to the river either.

जय जय। जय जय।

Good morning Varanasi...it was nice to wake up to some clouds, and not just a flat grey sky 😉

Afternoon fun!

There is nothing more fun than capturing the kids having the time of their lives doing somersaults in the holy Ganga. They showcase a completely different side of city - fun and carefree - something most tourists don't think of when they visit the city.

I also tried out another touristy thing - massage on the ghats in full public eye! It was odd but it's something worth trying because it's so unique.