One fine July morning woke up by noise the heavily pouring rain was making. As usual cleaned my eyes and face with water and turned on the computer. While browsing the web found that my admit card has been released and I have to go to Lucknow for the exam. This was how I got the opportunity to visit this very fine city for first time. I also planned to visit Varanasi on the way back as it's the month of lord Shiva, booked my to and fro journey ticket and got set for travel.
Train was at 5:45 in the morning and station is a good 5 km away from farm. Though I decided to leave early, woke up late that day, and had to hurry my way through mud and water in the dawn hour. Sun was about to rise when I started and a very light rain was drizzling. Had my bag on shoulders, Slippers in one hand and my torch in another. Somehow I was thrilled about my journey.
Luckily found a jeep and reached station well in time. Journey to Lucknow was smooth. Me and my fellow passengers talked about corruption, the Anna Hazare movement, black money, and such other problems in the country, throughout the way. On arriving to Lucknow's Charbag station we said goodbye to each other and took to our separate ways. I walked out of the station and made my way to the nearest restaurant. As I walked got my first glimpse of the so called city of Adab and Tehzeeb. Charbag station is beautifully built and the market there is a very crowded place. You can find almost everything you need for your stay in that market. There were many stalls selling sweet traditional snacks, a number of hotels selling delicious Lucknavi khana, tea stalls and whatnot. After finishing my Thali, checked into a guest house and rested for a while. Then I located my exam center and with that ended my day.
Next morning after writing the test took a better look of the city. City airport is as good as any other in the country. The roads are wide but due to careless driving of most people, never less dangerous. City is situated on either side of river Gomti. Bridge at the Gomti barrage is pleasing, so are the two malls nearby, Fun cinema and the West end mall. Roads leading to these malls are wonderful with lots of plantation on either side. All through my stay it rained frequently, bringing pleasant coolness to the environment.
I arrived in Varanasi at 3 AM, came out of the station, had myself two cups of fine tea. Then boarded an auto rickshaw taking me to Godollia, the electrical and electronics district of Varanasi. From their I walked my way through numerous devotees, to the Dashaswamedh ghat. As it was Monday, the favorite day of lord Shiva, the place was more crowded than usual even in that hour of morning. I reached the ghat and to my surprise found the steps submerged in overflowing Ganga. Boats were arranged in a way to create a safe box for those coming to take a dip in the holy waters, but it was dangerous nonetheless. Light rain started to precipitate and the way back became muddy. Rain was lashing down by the time I reached Godollia square. I ran for cover under the roof of a closed shop. It was 4 in the morning so I just went through the news and updates of my friends. As I scrolled down the news list, discovered that America's AAA rating has been downgraded to AA+ by S and P, went through the furor it was causing.
At the break of dawn started reading the magazine I had bought, sitting on the porch of a shop. By 6AM the shops and hotels started to open up. Checked into a hotel close by, had my breakfast, kachorie-sabji and jalebi and sweets. I was tired as hell and my eyelids were closing down so didn't do much for the rest of the day and slept after eating the fine lunch from the hotel's kitchen. Woke up to heavy rains in the evening. It looked and felt beautiful. People were still forming endless lines for entry into the Vishwanath temple. Next day I too offered my worship to lord Shiva, ate the fine lunch. In the evening, treated myself to samosa chaat and traditional sweets, all so very delicious.
People may ask, what's so great about Varanasi? Well, i can give you two things to start with- first the food and second is the ghats of Varanasi with their old world charm.
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