was always fascinated with Benares. I always thought that it is a mysterious town across the river Ganga. I have seen so many photo books of the streets, people, food, culture, monks of Banaras. It was the end of 2008 when I planned to visit Banaras. On 1st January 2009 I boarded on Shiv Ganga Express at 6.45 pm. It was chilly cold and Shiv Ganga express would have hardly cover few Kilometers .Suddenly fog has covered the train .The visibility was so less that we could see few inches outside train window. There was nothing to do. I started chatting fellow customers. Next to me was a student of Noida returning his home at Benaras.On opposite berth there was a teacher going back to Banaras after finishing her winter vacation with her husband.
We could not talk as longer as there were not so many things to discuss. We talked about the Banaras food and the accommodation best suited for me. At sharp ten I moved to upper berth for sleep. I read few pages of a travel book and don’t know when fell asleep. When I woke up it was almost ten and train was stationed at Kanpur. Weather outside was still foggy and misty. I wrapped a blanket around me and started reading the Paul Theroux Travel book.
At Allahabad I bought some guavas at ate while roaming at Platform. Train halted almost one hour at Allahabad. I was feeling hungrier and bought lunch from cafeteria. Lunch was not tasty, consists two chapattis, some rice and watery Dal.
As train moved out from Allahabad station it crossed the old Ganga Bridge. When I reached Banaras It was completely dark. I took a rickshaw to the Hotel Samman.It was a Bengla hotel and hardly half kilometer far from the river Ganga. Opposite the hotel was the kesari restaurant. It was one of the finest restaurants where I have ever eaten. Next morning when I woke up it was nine thirty in morning. I quickly bathed and came out of Hotel. It was very cool outside .In jacket and woolen cap I was feeling chilled with cold. I asked a man about Kashi Vishwanath Temple .He pointed toward east and said that it is few minutes walk. There was a long queue of devotees outside temple. It was really one of the oldest temples. After visiting K.V temple I walked toward Dashamegh Ghat . After seeing the river in I felt refreshing. I sat down on a stairs and gaze to the water, and far horizon. Water was moving silently. Few foreigners were boating in Mid of Ganga.A sadhu was reading the palm of a beautiful lady. Couple was offering prayers.
