After having witnessed the world famous beauty of the Taj Mahal, or the "monument of love" according to Samuel Kessler, the group set off to Varanasi, the city of lights. Straight upon arrival with the overnight train on fell in love with Varanasi, being the oldest city in the world. Straight away one felt at ease with the relaxing and spiritual vibe of the city.
India group sitting in front of the Taj Mahal
You want to know what a classic day for the group in Varanasi looked like?
It started with a grateful smile for being able to eat fresh fruits and salads in the morning at a small cafe, overlooking the holy river Ganges. Afterwards the group was to split and left for their individually chosen internship; whether it was jewelry making, Ayurveda courses, fire dancing or traditional Indian painting… There was lots on offer and creativity went viral! At 10.30 the group came together again to attend the daily Hindi class with our kind local teacher Pinku-ji. In the afternoon everybody in the group enjoyed some free time, reflecting on the daily experiences in India and soaking up some of Varanasi's spirituality, while strolling down its numerous ghats.
Apart from this daily routine, we also shared some special and fascinating moments, like the morning worshiping to the gods at Assi gath, the never ending and world famous fires at the Burning ghats and a traditional as well as highly impressive fire dancing performance. For the perfect ending to our time in Varanasi, the group got up at 5 am to witness a beautiful sunrise, during a boat ride on the Ganges.
Overlooking the holy Ganges River
Now the circle closes again and the group is once more to take a lovely Indian train ride, heading off to our next stop "Bodhgaya", fiercely awaiting Holy, the festival of happiness!
