Dasashwamedh Station, Varanasi

So we have finally accomplished our first wall here. We hope it will serve as a prominent landmark for Russian tourists in Varanasi - the text in Russian above the painting says "Station Dasashwamedh" and has a direct correlation with the big M which stands both for Moscow and for Moscow subway.

Not only the Moscow sub­way sym­bol looks as if it belongs in Varanasi. Artyom also looks more and more like a devoted pil­grim here )

Painting the first wall

We have been painting our first wall in Varanasi from the morning till the darkness the day before yesterday, yesterday we planned to finish our first wall, but still have some details to fix, so will finalize it tomorrow and then you will see the final drawing.

Pintu, the local Varanasi wall-painter, brought us all necessary paints and brushes, and was proactively involved in painting. Especially when it came to climbing really high.

Альбом: Varanasi

Альбом: Varanasi

Альбом: Varanasi

Альбом: Varanasi

Альбом: Varanasi

Альбом: Varanasi

 

Today we went to see the Buddha temples and stupas of Sarnath, to get some inspiration from the painted walls of different country temples there. They were really magnificent.

Альбом: Varanasi

Альбом: Varanasi

Альбом: Varanasi

Lonely Planet got lost in Varanasi

Lonely Planet referrs to Varanasi as the second best place to get lost in. After Venice.

Lets's see what it says about Varanasi.
"You could throw yourself into Varanasi’s dark maze of streets a hundred times over and still come out at a different point. Discover temples, sweet shops and silk bargains in its back alleys." - quite right!

"Get found: Countless bicycle rickshaw drivers will be only too happy to take you home – for a price that’s in range of just about every budget." - absolutely wrong!

In fact, there are no rickshaws in the Old city of Varanasi - and we are speaking exactly abou the Old city, since that's the place where tourists wander. Just because it's streets are two narrow for a rickshaw - sometimes it's so narrow that only 1 person can pass at a time. So there's no escape on a rickshaw. The best way out of the Old city (if you can't get yourself back on the road with rickshaws) is to walk down the streets to the river. There you could consult your map and find out where you are - the names of the ghats are everywhere. And from there you can take a boat to where you want to go.
Otherwise you just trust some local to get you out of the labyrinth. Just believe that he actually is a good a person and he will surely help you out )

The upside is - no one has ever failed to find the way out of the Old city )

Bumpy roads - modern karma of Varanasi

More and more people are complaining of backache, neck pain and spinal injuries in Varanasi. The doctors attribute the rising cases to bumpy rides on potholed roads of the city.

Well, I would agree to that. Especially when you are riding in a ricksaw more than 5 minutes. The Russian roads, notorious for their bumps, seem like heaven when compared to those in Varanasi.

Media reports that the figures of people hurt by the roads is growing steadily. "On an average, we are witnessing three to four cases of spinal injures per month and the figure is almost 20% higher than the last year figure," said O P Sharma of department of radiodiagnosis and imaging, Banaras Hindu University (BHU).

Though I can hardly understand how 3 cases can show the 20% increase in number, I'm sure the doctor finds this trend very disturbing.

In addition, there is an almost 10% increase in the cases of neck pain and backache, two most common skeleto-muscular problems. Around 8 to 10 cases are being reported daily at the centre, added the senior professor, who has come up with a special paper on effects of bumpy roads on backache and other skeleto-muscular ailments.

The reports of orthopaedic department, BHU, indicate that knee and shoulder injuries are common problems affecting the young population, while backache and neck pain are taking toll on the ones aged over 50 years.

The youngsters, particularly college going students, in the city drive their bikes at a high speed which makes them prone to accidents resulting in knee and shoulder injuries.

"Wrong sitting postures on bikes coupled with bumpy rides cause backache and spinal injuries, said Sharma, who was former head of the department.

Also, as per the reports of neurosurgery department's OPD, an average increase of 20% has been witnessed in the cases of spinal injuries in last one year.

"One needs to be extra careful while riding motorbikes or driving vehicles on these roads and it is always better to compromise speed for safe and injury-free journey," said Sharma.

A band from Varanasi made it to National Geographic

A wedding photo from Varanasi became the photo of the day on National Geographic website

Benares 100 years ago

Looking at the old photos we can see for our selves how the city stays the same through hundreds of years.

Varanasis, just like in the 1900s, hide from the sun in the shade of bamboo umbrellas offering prayers for the dead souls on the ghats, bathe in sacred Ganges, burn at Manikarnika.

The only thing that has changed - there were much more trees back there, and less people.

photos from oldindianphotos.blogspot.com

Navigating the streets of Varanasi

The narrow streets of Varanasi make even a seemingly short trip to your hotel a real challenge. Even more so if you have a map.

Try navigate the city labirynth in the JohnyVagabond's quest