One of the oldest existing inhabited cities of the world, popularly believed to be the holiest city in the world by the Hindus, situated along the banks of the sacred river to Indians, “the Ganges” is the timeless city of Varanasi or Banaras, in the state of Uttar Pradesh.
The pursuit of photography and exploration takes one to different places. I had been to Varanasi in June,2013 but my exams in the city forced me to just visit Sarnath and witness the Ganga Arti for the evening. The quench for exploring the city had remained a long cherished desire since then. Two and a half year in the process with better knowledge and gadgets finally set out foe the city in one such impulsive decision.
My friend and relative Sreeman, his family had planned for a trip to Varansi this January 2016, and had asked if I was willing to join them getting some days off from Office. I could not resist the opportunity. 10 days, trip to Varanasi feels both long and short at the same time. Initially it seems 10 days for a place like Varanasi is too long to explore but then as one starts walking along the ghats and then enters the narrow lanes, one gets lost in the timelessness.Every day is a new discovery and opportunity for a person interested in street photography.
We were fortunate to have got booking in Dasaswamedha Boarding house, just 2 minutes walk from the Dasaswamedha ghat. It was luck that favored us to experience humid, cloudy conditions to rain and the mystic foggy winters in Varanasi, all at once in a span of 10 days. Having said that I would still want to visit the city during monsoon and other season to get an actual feel of change in the ambiance of the city.
Kaustav Sarkar 