DAY 177 - BENARES

177) WEDNESDAY, 21 DECEMBER 1977 : 0KMS. - BENARES

 

Just a lazy relaxing day in BENARES ……. 

VARANASI Sadhu - Photo : traveladvisory.in / Google images search

WIKIPEDIA : Varanasi, also Benares, is a city on the banks of the Ganges in Uttar Pradesh, 320 kilometres (200 mi) southeast of the state capital, Lucknow. It is holiest of the seven sacred cities (Sapta Puri) in Hinduism and Jainism. Hindus believe that death at Varanasi brings salvation. It is one of the oldest continuously inhabited cities in the world and the oldest in India.
Unfortunately many of its temples were plundered and destroyed by Mohammad Ghauri in the 12th century. The temples and religious institutions in the city now are of 18th century ... 

DAY 176 - BENARES

176) TUESDAY, 20 DECEMBER 1977 : 0KMS. - BENARES

 

Our campervan was in a garage for repair (again), it was  boring but no choice for us.  If we do not get it repaired, it will be parked for good and we can prepare to  return home.  

It was also just another day for  washing clothes. 




 

Offering in the Ganges river - Photo : lonelyplanet.com / Google images search

DAY 175 - BENARES / VARANASI

175) MONDAY, 19 DECEMBER 1977 : 239KMS. - BENARES / VARANASI

 

We encountered the same old problem  this morning…... Tilo could not start our campervan. We had to ask for assistance from villagers to help pushing it to a nearby garage but it did not help much. Repair cost  RS. 5.- .  Finally, a truck driver volunteered to tow it about 200 meters  and it could be started.  So we drove further  to DEHRI, SASARAM, MOHANIA.

Munshi Ghat, VARANASI - Photo : wikipedia.org / Bing images search

 

Shortly before arriving in  BENARES (VARANASI) ,  a truck collided slightly against a signal light on the front bumper of our campervan, on the right side where I sat.   It was broken but luckily I was not hurt.  Because of the small accident, we arrived rather late in  VARANASI, we got to a camping site at  the Tourist Bungalow, where we paid RS. 2.- for each (to sleep in our campervan !)  and RS. 1.- for parking fee.

 

DAY 174 - BUDDHA GAYA

174) SUNDAY, 18 DECEMBER 1977 : 0KMS. - BUDDHA GAYA

 

We drove across  Niranjan River to Sushata Temple, a place where Mrs.Suchada  brought  some milk to offer  to the Lord Buddha during his meditation to the Enlightenment.  However,  there was not much trace of Buddhism left as it was destroyed by the Muslim fanatics. Most  artifacts might have been also stolen,  I saw only a Shiva lingam  inside the building, that was turned into a shrine of the Hindus. 

BUDDHA GAYA on the bank of Niranjan river - Photo : wikipedia.org / Bing images search

 

In the afternoon we departed towards BENARES or VARANASI, but we could drive very slowly.  We stopped  overnight after passing  AURANGABAD.

Lotus pond,depicting 4 kinds of lotus in the BUDDHA GAYA temple

 

 

DAY 173 – BUDDHA GAYA

173) SATURDAY, 17 DECEMBER 1977 : 0KMS. - BUDDHA GAYA 

Today was another day of rest. I tried to stay calm and to meditate in the sacred area of the BUDDHA GAYA as well as wrote some postcards back home and to friends..

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