Benares = Varanasi

Varanasi lies where the Varuna River and the Assi River in its north and south, respectively, flow into the Ganges.

A rail crossing.

This and the rest of the photos in this gallery depict scenes of daily life along the Lucknow-Varanasi highway.

Morning fog and traffic

Rickshaws and a bus

Some typical rural architecture is visible through the mist in the background.

A motorized rickshaw.

Cyclists and a bullock cart pass an ancient Banyan tree

A truck passenger?

Trucks often carry passengers on top of their freight.

A typical view of the road

Late morning on the road between Lucknow and Varanasi

Stray dogs were a common sight

Bicyclists on a foggy morning

A variety of tree shapes by the road

A trunk wanting to pass another

Note the lack of side-view mirrors. Most trucks have the words "horn please" painted on their rears. Indian drivers use their horns as a way of letting other drivers know where they are. These road scenes may look tranquil, but in reality there was non-stop honking, sometimes with rather musical signals.

A typically overladen goods-carrying vehicle

A cyclist

Behind him, a village cycle-shop.

Building something with slender logs

Children in a village shopping district

A cyclist and his milk cans

(Agatha's favorite image out of this gallery)

Another heavily laden truck

Scene by the road

pre-Mourning of Muharram procession

Somewhere between Lucknow and Varanasi, January 19 (one day before the 10th of Muharram)

Two men (one in traditional dress), two children, and a dog

A roadside fruitstand

pre-Muharram procession

One day before the Muharram festival

A roadside barber

Many barber shops consist of just a chair on the roadside.

roadside construction

Children and a roadside bike repair shop

Railway track maintenance

Driving on the left side?

Indians don't necessarily drive on the left. They drive wherever there is some space.

Busy village center

Motorcyclist, deliveries by bike, and an old man in traditional dress

Disabled rickshaw driver and fruit stands

Since the rickshaw driver seems to have problems with his feet, his rickshaw is hand powered. We never saw anyone using the services of disabled rickshaw drivers, and it was unclear to us if the rickshaws were just a way of getting more alms, or were really for hire.

Street scene with man in traditional dress

Afternoon chat at a truck stop made from an old truck

Kiosk owner sits "Indian-style" in his kiosk

Road-side call shop

A break during the journey

Taking a break

Between Lucknow and Varanasi

Finally at the hotel in Varanasi, awaiting the trip to Sarnath