An ordinary day spent by backpackers in Varanasi along the river Ganges

Speaking of the city where most of the backpackers visiting India stops, it will be Varanasi along the Ganges River. We will deliver the backpacker's daily life unexpectedly not busy.

Hello!World newspaperA special reporterTaira Hiroyukiis. I temporarily returned home for overseas travel insurance renewal and Pakistan visa acquisition, and returned to India to get through to the land route to Pakistan. This time we will introduce the universal day that backpackers send with Varanasi famous for the Ganges river.

◆ What is a Japanese Inn?
First, I will introduce Santana Guest House where I am staying. It is one of India's famous Japanese lodging group. Japanese lodging is a cheap hotel where many Japanese long-term travelers stay, and the staff are also many Japanese. A Japanese staff is also staying here as well.


The advantage is that you can use Japanese and that you get a lot of information. Of course, it can be obtained from exchanges among travelers, but the information collection called "information notes" written by travelers who stayed is effective for obtaining living information.


For example, when you stayed in Kolkata, it turned out that the arrival visa became available when you enter the land route to Bangladesh only recently from information notes.


By the way Santana Guesthouse in Varanasi is super cheap compared with general guesthouse with dormitory with breakfast at Rs. 200 Rs. (About 350 yen) per night. The picture is the state of Men Dmitri.


◆ 5 am: Wake up before sunrise
So I will explain the day in Varanasi with time.

It was 5 am in the morning that happened this day. Here, in Varanasi there is a holy river for Indian people called the Ganges River.Wikipedia's "Ganges river"According to the article, Indian people get God's protection by bathing in the river, but in recent years this river E. coli level has become 100 times the standard set by the Government of India is.

The sunrise seen from this riparian is that it is full of exoticism and I went there and I saw many people who are eagerly bathing before sunrise.


However, it was unfortunately cloudy on this day that I could only see the red color. As sunrise can be seen all over the world, there are often days when backpackers, who are often considered overslept, fight sleepers.


◆ 6 am: bathing in the Ganges river
Junior high school students cried when I was bowing down the river. When talking, what ... they have never bathed in the Ganges river. Moreover, as soon as I entered, I had to take a shower soon ... and I was shunning. It was surprising that there are Indian people of such kind.


Meanwhile, I challenged to have a bath. The temperature was lukewarm. By the way, the traveler of the same accommodation had given out 39 degrees of fever after bathing, and in this season (rainy season) rainwater into which the dirt melts from the town flows into the river so some Indian people have itchy skin is. I soon blew my body with the water I brought.


◆ 8:30 am: ingest safe vegetables at breakfast
After that we went back to the inn and had breakfast. It is toast, vegetable soup, chai (Indian sweet tea) and frugal because it is included in 200 rupees (about 350 yen). However, in India where fresh vegetables are scary, meals featuring secure vegetables are feast. By the way, before II was hit by a parasite called Giardia in Nepal. On this day I added an additional 15 rupees (about 25 yen) of yoghurt.


◆ 10 am: surrounding stroll
After having had breakfast slowly, I went out for a walk. Although sunny India was hot anyway, there was a new discovery on the second day of my stay.

First of all, Varanasi's path is dirty anyway. Since India is Hinduism, it coexists with sacred cows. Therefore, especially on the path, cow dung is scattered, mixed with garbage and gives off a bad smell. I think that the cow catches the garbage is a symbol of India.


While struggling with such a path, I went out along the river Ganges again and went to the crematorium of the dead body. Here bodies are gathered from all India and cremation of 400 people is done one day. Unfortunately photography was prohibited, so please follow the river.


When walking along the river, you can always talk to Indians. It is a boat and a souvenir shop crossing the river. At the beginning, I'm talking about pretending not to be a souvenir shop like "Where did you come from?" This time I wanted long pants for measures against insects at bedtime, so I followed him who can speak English.


The shop was beautifully displayed and it was a pleasant space. The staff can speak English fluently. There was also a shop where Japanese was fluent.


I bought Alibaba there so much pants. I reduced it from 500 rupees to 300 rupees (about 500 yen).


As I left the store, the big street was crowded with people. Apparently, it seems there was a festival this day. Of course it is not just people, we have to proceed while cowing, dogs, goats, and garbage.


On both sides of the road various stalls such as mangoes, vegetables, peaches (traditional steamed gyoza originating from Tibet) are erected. I bought four mangoes at 50 rupees (about 85 yen). I am looking forward to going back to the inn and eating.


◆ 1 pm: Lunch with Chinese and Indian
A traveler who got along well with the inn, mixed with Chinese and Indian to have lunch together. In this neighborhood called "Blue Lassie" we are meeting with a famous Lassi shop. The Chinese woman in the back isCouch surfing(SNS connecting the traveler and the host) and stayed at the house of the next Indian host.


I ordered banana lassi at 40 rupees (about 70 yen). Look at this overflowing amount. The sweetness and sourness of lassi and banana were good for the texture of nuts and I was satisfied with satisfaction.


After that, I took you to Indian curry which Indian host 's recommended Babu. It is about 30 rupees (about 50 yen) and it is exactly the taste of the common people. Vegetable curry and spicy pickles on thinly baked flour smaller than Nan called Chapati.


◆ 2 pm: To sightseeing that the Indian guides us
After that, continued to be brought to Indian Babu, I went to a place where Buddha called Sarunato first taught. It is a religion of India, doing naked lineJainismI knew the thing for the first time.


The recommendation here is that there is a beautiful lawn so that you can lie sideways. I thought that there was such a place in the vilassy of the town is Holy Place rather than the Ganges.


◆ 5:30 pm: plan for the trip with Indian staff
Return to the inn, take a shower while washing T - shirts and pants that have been soaked in sweat, and plan for the future.


The town I'm going to next will have few inn with Wi - Fi and I could finally find it by asking the Indian staff. They confirmed by telephone to the hotel. By the way, the Badal of Indian staff speaks Japanese.


◆ Afternoon at 7:30 pm: We will have Japanese food at dinner at the inn
Here in Santana, if you write your name on this whiteboard by 17:30, you can have dinner at 120 rupees (about 200 yen).


Tonight's menu is Kakieda bowl and spicy vegetable soup. Chopsticks advance because rice is also cooked like plump like Japan. It is charming that scorching a little bit stands out.


Do not forget the mango you bought in the morning. Cut themselves and add flowers to the table.


Cheers with beer as it is after dinner. Of course, of course, it is exciting with talk of traveling. It is a useful and fun time that there are more places to visit and acquaintances of common travelers.


◆ 10 pm: I think that I am going to bed and I am leaving
Well, if you get comfortable with alcohol, going to bed ...... I wish I could go, but I will leave the accommodation to head the next town by night train. In India, this sleeper train is cheap and it will be the feet of travelers. Well, I will go to the next adventure.


◆ Summary
It was an unexpectedly busy day as Indian Babu went for sightseeing this day. I usually feel relaxed a little more. However, regardless of nationality, the encounter is continuous with new people everyday. Such encounters will form their own original journey. Through this article, I'd appreciate it if you feel that you are familiar with backpackers and will take the first step of your journey.

· Costs spent per day
Occupation: Rs 200
Water fee: Rs 30
Meal fee: 290 rupees (yogurt, lassie, mango, lunch, dinner, snack)
Travel cost: 110 rupees
Admission: 100 rupees
Liquor age: 200 rupees
Shopping fee: 300 rupees
Total: 1230 rupees (about 2100 yen)

· Travel record


Statement · Interview: Koji Tsuyoshi
Supervision: World newspapersekaishinbun.net