Hi Dave. We loved Varanasi, and agree that it is a photographer's dream. The ceremonies that begin at sunset are one of my favorite times of the day - the bell ringing, the chanting and the floating of candles on the water make a memorable experience, which you have definitely captured in your video.

I always laugh at Mark Twain's take on Varanasi (although a bit harsh, it's not entirely inaccurate!): “Older than history, older than tradition, older even than legend, and looks twice as old as all of them put together.”

Hi Jen, I've heard a lot of people say they love Varanasi, however it wasn't my cup of tea. Maybe I love the romantic image of it in my mind - the reality of having boots (or flip-flops) on the ground there was a different story. I'd heard enough about it that I probably had the wrong attitude from the start. At least I didn't get violently ill! :)

Hi Dave, I don't know if you had the wrong attitude...it is a DIRTY place and takes some extreme focus to see the place differently. We stayed at a guesthouse inside the city, but quite honestly, never found a decent restaurant to go to, so we ended up rickshawing it out to the tourist hotels outside of town. Sometimes you do what you need to do!

So cool Dave!!! I would have loved to have sat on those steps for a couple of hours, listening to the music, and soaking it all in. Looks like you were the only Westerner there!

Andi - there were a few other westerners walking around, looking just as overwhelmed by the scene as I was.

India = sensory overload