OUR DESTINATIONS
Let us help you find your perfect holiday by phoning us on
We offer holidays to the four corners of the globe. If you want specialist advise please phone our travel team and we will be happy to help.
Alternatively, check out some of our holiday offers below.
- Destinations
- Asia
- India
- Varanasi
- The Ghats
The Ghats
There are over 100 bathing and burning ghats (literally 'steps')
at Varanasi, but the most sacred is the Manikarnika Ghat, which is
the most auspicious place that a Hindu can be cremated. Outcasts,
known as
chandal, carry the bodies through the alleyways of the old
city to the sacred Ganges on a bamboo stretcher swathed in
cloth.
At the top of the Ghat visitors will see large piles of
firewood, with each log weighed on giant scales to calculate the
price of the cremation. Tourists who wish to watch the cremations
are tolerated, but should dress conservatively and leave their
cameras behind. Tourists should also be aware that, although
witnessing a ceremonial cremation is considered a 'must-do'
activity in India, it can be quite a harrowing and emotional
experience, and one that shouldn't be undertaken lightly.
The nearby Dasaswamedh Ghat (the 'ghat of ten sacrificed
horses') is said to be the spot where Lord Brahma made a sacrifice
to pave the way for the return of Shiva - and is one of the best
ghats from which to take in the riverside activity. Crowds of
people congregate here not only for a ritual bath, but also to do
yoga, get a massage, offer blessings, buy flowers, play cricket or
work on their karma by giving money to beggars. It is also a good
place to arrange a dawn boat trip, to watch the beauty of Varanasi
manifest as the sun rises over the city. Dotted around the ghats
are numerous temples - the highlight being the Golden Temple, with
its stunning, resplendent towers.
Information & Facts
Language
Although English is generally used for official and
business purposes, Hindi is the official language and is spoken by
about 40 percent of the population. Urdu is the language common
with the Muslim demographic. India has a total of 22 official
languages
Money
The currency is the Indian Rupee (INR), which is divided into
100 paise (singular paisa). Major currencies can be changed at
banks, and authorised bureaux de changes. It is impossible to
obtain rupees outside India, but no matter what time you arrive in
India there will be an exchange office open at the airport. It is
illegal to exchange money through the black market and it is
advisable to refuse torn notes, as no one will accept them apart
from the National Bank. It is best to change money into small
denominations. Travellers cheques and major credit cards are widely
accepted, particularly in tourist orientated establishments. ATMs
are not generally available.