Here we are in a small boat on the river Ganges in 2007. This is the holy city of Benares, now called Varanasi. It is located in Uttar Pradesh, in the northeast part of the country. We traveled there by overnight train, a trip that took us more than 24 hours, but in spite of this was an enjoyable adventure. Indian trains are amazing: clean, safe, comfortable, reasonably on time and full of friendly, helpful people. In the photo are the ghats, or steps, leading down to the water. Here, devout Hindus bathe in the holy waters of the Ganges and say their daily prayers. The water is terribly polluted and has been tested as totally unsafe. However, those who bathe in the river apparently come through the experience unscathed.
