THE VARANASI EXPERIENCE | Walking to the Ganges River
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- เผยแพร่เมื่อ 19 เม.ย. 2022
- A very interesting walk from my guesthouse through the convoluted maze of the old town of Varanasi (Banaras) to the Ganges River (Ganga) of India.
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Music during the video (in order):
"While My Sitar Gently Weeps" by Banaras Baba & Kolkata Kid
&
"Bansure Raga" by Doug Maxwell
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Gabriel is a world traveler and travel writer who has been adventuring around the world off and on since his first trip to Europe in the summer of 1990 when he was 18 years old. He is author of "Gabe's Guide to Budget Travel", "Following My Thumb" and several other books available on Amazon.com and elsewhere.
Thanks a lot for watching and safe journeys!
I’ve been in India 3 times and never visited Varanasi 😅 the problem is that India is a huge country and I have 5 weeks holiday each year. 2/3 weeks with my family, 0/1 week solo here in Europe and 2 weeks in India or south east Asia. India is a perfect country for a long trip.
You're always welcome to come back again. Do visit again. ❤
Love from India ❤️❤️🇮🇳
Come to my city sir🙏,Varanasi..
Please do visit again 🙏 and I welcome you to visit my state Odisha an ancient East Indian state!
❤️❤️
This city was destroyed 20times by the different muslim rulers.
According to mark twain varanasi is "older than history older than tradition older even than legend"
We Hindus have a sad history for the past 1000 years....
Hate preacher 😂🤣🤣😅🤣
Not a single event of stone pelting by Hindus on EID as always, guess who is intolerant. Comapare this with Ramnavmi and Hunuman Jayanti just 15 days back :)
@@anubhav4443 because u socially outcasted dalits and even today when u talk about hindu unity u dont try to abolish caste discrimination. The lower castes get due respect in islam and hence convert later ur population decreases like in kashmir and then u get the taste of ur own discrimination. Karma is a bitch it will fuck higher caste hindus hard
@@asnfhtmlzxsje274 muslim never played DJ's in front of mandir , and dance like crows just like some people did in last few days
Fun Fact - Reason Varanasi's lanes are so small is because of invaders destroying many cities. So with small lanes they couldn't enter with their big army and some soldiers could be killed. Thereby saving the city.
Legend says Varanasi is about 40000 year's old .
@@katikamprudhvi3649 Oh didn't knew that. Just heard that it's older than history itself 👍
Kuch bhi bhai? Reason is that the city is so old that over time population grew and so did the space for homes of people which narrowed the streets too much. Even now, only narrow streets are found only in the oldest areas of city.
@@ashutoshhh6614 Are you crazy. Varanasi's lanes are immensely thin. That doesn't happen just because of its oldness.
But it's as you said it's the old part which has thin lanes because It was built like that centuries ago. Please read some history.
@@bapparawal2457 I live in Varanasi and am very well versed with its history. The roads were made thinner because there were less people, no vehicles for that width. They became thinner because size of city did not increase uniformly with population. Please tell me from where you read this history so that I can also have an ounce of your knowledge 🙏🏽
Hi Gabriel, if you are in Varanasi do not forget to visit the newly constructed Kashi Viswanath Temple. Really curious to to see it from your perspective.
I don't think he will be allowed to enter.
As only hindu are allowed inside the temple
@@rustyninza everyone can enter
Temple is old it's corridor is new
@@Paapi_purush I believe that you are not aware of some rules and rituals, forget about anyone else even indira Gandhe was not allowed in Lord Jagannath temple in puri.You can search about it.Non hindus are not allowed in many a temple.
Your knowledge of Hinduism is more than many Indian Hindus today.Honour for us to have you in India freind.
Chutiya ha ye foreigners sab galat satal bta rha ha, mr. Gamer hmko apne sath mt jodo tumko apne dharam ke ware me nhi pta iska mtlb ye nhi ha ki sab bhul gye ha
dont give stupid statements on hindus and change your slave mentality.
After that Ganesha story, lol at you
@@ytuser78 The morel of that story is don't stand to close to mommy when daddy comes home. 😁
@Robert Douglass thats exactly why I commented "lol at you" at @gamer comment. Maybe i would have got the same message , but the story doesn't have to do anything with being "near" the mommy. It goes like he was guarding his mother and was not letting lord shiva enter his room/house
Gabriel, Unlike many foreign tourists you have probably discovered the soul of India, its music. @06:01 Goddess is Durga. @11:08 Adi Shankacharya . @12:08 Sage Valmiki . @20:15 there no concept of heaven or hell.
Well there is a concept of 14 lokhas which souls travel depends on the Karma but ultimate goal is Moksha.
@@0arjun077 in bagavada
11:27 aryabhatta. He discovered zero
@@avibcci1297 he didnt discovered it, zero was there already 5000 years ago, and he did geat works in astronomy and physics...
@@ChronicleBlaster he did
11:11 thats Adi Shankaracharya, he is from Kerala, an enlightened soul who travelled across India and debated with different schools of thought in India and re-established Adwaitha philosophy, thus Majority of India follows adwaitha (non dual) philosophy of India one of the main branch of Hinduism.
@@user-pf4tn2rl9n Om Shanti my friend 👍🏽
majority of India follows dualistic philosophy of Madhawa not Advait because it is much easier to grasp and practice devotion.
@@shuvamchatterjee8611 true
The kind of invasion history India had gone through, We still welcome all the foreigners in India however, the only request is do not mock our Deities, customes and our Heritage ☺️.....We may be diverse, chaotic but that is our uniqueness and we are happy with that. Thanks for respecting our Indianness🙏🙏🙏
I do. India is a great country with a profoundly deep culture at its heart.
11:29 that is Aryabhatta, he contributed many things which are used by modern mathematics, from his work the use of 0 in modern Mathematics. He calculated distance of planets and sun, most of them are correct while few are a miss. He also wrote the idea of Gurutvakarshanam (gravity) and many things in his works.
Can't believe you are vlogging from last 12 years
What a dedication and determination.
G.O.A.T. status --- disciplined determination.
What is unbelievable about it ??? There are many vloggers like that - nothing unusual about it
@@rudraswarupa4719 let him gain attention and likes.. that's why they comment like that
@@rudraswarupa4719 name one
8:51 This one is my favorite, so cute, funny and very meaningful. The text is 'Sab moh maya hai' mean 'everything is an illusion' which is a very common belief in Hinduism saying only your soul is real rest is an illusion and temporary. The painting showing him wearing glasses makes it so cute.
Yup
Greetings sire!!!
Its great to see another follower of Abhijit Chavda sir.
GABE bahut-bahut dhanayavad 🙏🏻🕉️🇮🇳 for taking us along these alley ways down to Gangs Ma. I loved my 4-day stay there back in February 2019. There were hundred's of sadhus returning from the Kumbh Mela a d getting ready for Maha Shiva Ratri. Keep doing your best bud 😎👍🏻💪🏻.
This city was mess uptill recently. now with BJP right wing government which is focusing also on culture and heritage takes a task to improve it. In 20th century it was such a mess that leaders like gandhi came and become sad to see such a conjusted state of ancient holy spiritual city. This city was never like that in the state we see today all thanks to population boom in india plus no city planning with increasing population by post independence governments and also british government before independence in both era's none of government uptill now try to planned and adjust the city according to population.
The problem is that this city needs complete new redevelopment plan as this city now becomes mess and chaos because this is city of Antiquity ancient world. And after Islamic invasions of india these city was damaged more than making it planned according to situation uptill recently.
11:11 it's Adi-Sankaracharya , Greatest saint of Modern period and a prodigy .He learned All vedas and ancient text when he was just 5 years old. it is believed, that he was Incarnation of Shiva himself that's why he was sitting on the Tiger skin.
and on the other side of wall 11:27, the guy with planets is Aryabhatta, the guy who invented 0 , calculated distance of sun from earth, told everyone that Earth is round and it revolves around earth and invented Trigonometry and calculus.
So beautiful and interesting walk to discover this city (the holiest I just learnt) along Gange's river in India ! Love it and thanks Gabriel for all your useful informations 😀 ! Greetings from France
Hmm Thanks
but it also got polluted by factories and industries which after 1991 Economic Liberalisation got set up on the banks of the river😓.
Actually, there are seven sacred cities in India(for Hindus).
Kashi(Varanasi), Ayodhya(birthplace of Lord Rama), Mathura, Dwarka, Haridwar, Ujjain, and Kanchipuram.
It is Ganga, not Ganges
I love these posts, structural yogic postures are called asanas not Sutras. A sutra is a rule or aphorism in Sanskrit literature.
Correct, I meant to say asanas.
Sutra is not rule but formula.
The 'asanas' shown in the video is collectively called as 'surya namaskar', which roughly translates to 'salutations to sun'.
I think he said "mudras" to the hand position in the painting. And it is absolutely in point.
Yes it seemed like surya namaskar.
For anyone considering going to India, Varanasi is a MUST! To me, it feels like the heart and soul of the country...and it is mind-blowing.
Those community lanes look so cool. Little hidden worlds around every corner. Thanks Gabe!
Gabriel, Loved that walk through the streets, the art, the people, the river ganga, wonderful 🇮🇳, 🙏 from England to all ❤️
The best thing about visiting these narrow roads or ganga ghats is that its one of the oldest cities in the world which still exist. As it is an holy place for hindus, Buddhist, Sikhs and jains people have visited this place atleast for once, just thinking that in that exact same place, right there thousands of years ago how many great personality would have walk pass there, so many great philosophers, gurus, Kings, warriors etc and now you are here gives me chills. (i am not sure does this give justice to what i really meant but hope one get a rough idea(
Don't forget to mention the stoned sadhus
Its been studied and is expected to be the birthplace of the actual indian subcontinent..factually its even older that indus valley civilization
the real fun in walking those narrow alleys is at night, when the electricity cuts out and some people have candles, others have flashlights, but for the most part it is dark and you have to squeeze yourself between a wall and some water buffalo coming your way, it is great, haha!
@@lowandodor1150 electricity cut.😂😂
Varanasi get 23 hrs electricity in 24 hours
@@narendrarai7612 good for you. when i was there, the electricity cut out several times per day. ask your parents or grandparents you clown.
Hi Gabriel. I stayed at Baba Guesthouse on my visit to Varanasi and the Pomme Granate lassi at Baba Lassi is the best I ever had (i came back for one every day) Really cool to see the place again (looks like the city got a new coat of paint) Amazing vlogs, i love it!
lot of renovation is going on in varanasi because prime minister of india fought election from varanasi and won the election ...you will be amazed to see newly renovated kashi vishwanath temple ,its phase 1 construction is completed and now phase 2 construction is ongoing
“Benares is older than history, older than tradition, older even than legend, and looks twice as old as all of them put together.” Mark Twain
Gabe , the river hasnt shrinked , that is an island in middle of river formed due to settlement of silt and visible lower water level during summer , Ganges is atleast 1.5 to 2 km wide
In summer ganga shrink massively, due to less snow in winter and newer dams in recent dacades
Excited about your upcoming videos in Varanasi. Place in India I'm most excited to visit myself, together with the Golden Temple in Amritsar.
Visit North East also 😊
Nobody else captures the vibe of India... like you do
Been following you since long... and always impressed by your videos
I can't believe how different it looks to when i was there!! that whole pavement/stairs at the bottom of all the ghats you walked along was completley flooded, I need to go back and see it like this one day.
Modi hai to mumkin hai
I love this Indian adventure
12:01 sage Valmiki, who wrote the original Ramayana (The story of Ram). He is teaching Ramayana to Lav and Kush (son's of Ram).
sooooo enjoying your walk throughs the ghats. Ive been to beneres and absolutely think all people should visit there. thanks gabe for the tour. thanks for suffering the heat just to give us a look of real incredible india
Loving this series...Varanasi holds a special place in my heart too...your soundtracks to your videos have been awesome!
I totally agree with you. Gabriel is an extremely well travelled person, as he states in the video. Looking forward to watching even more of these videos in the future.
Never been to Varanasi but interesting to see shops with different regional languages, like there was a lane only with Bengali signboards and then I think saw a Telugu lane. I'm really to curious to know why
bcz Shiva is God of whole universe ❤️
There are a lot of pilgrims from all over India who visit there every day.
@@jaiku99 yeah, to attract pilgrims from different parts of india who go there
It was a part of the Bengal presidency & there was a time, when majority people living there were Bengalis, yes you've heard it right, 70%
@@melg6834 lol 😆
I’ve been to Varanasi twice. It is my favorite city in the world. It’s a sensory overload. Everything is so different from home. I’d love to return
Thanks Gabe for all u do. You have a great format, you are very respectful to the countries you visit, and you take us on very very interesting journeys like the India experience. And yes, I do like the food/room shots.
I am really impressed, you know all our Deva & Devi by name. Thanks you for coming to India. "Atithi Devo Bhava"
BTW the story about Ganesha at 23.15 you got totally wrong. Bhagvan Ganesha was asked by Devi Parvati to guard the doors. And Prabhu Shiva returned after very long Tapasya at that time. So Bhagvan Ganesha didn't allowed him as he didn't recognize him..."
Gabe what an excellent video and love how you explain all to us
Visited varanasi (kashi) in 2011 amazed by this simple ancient city. I had bhang( Marijuana drink) and sat by the Ganges. What a sight!! Definitely want to go back again
Varanashi is the older than history .........One of the most sacred ,holy land and full of spiritualism🇮🇳🇮🇳🇮🇳🇮🇳🧡🧡🧡🔱🔱🔱
Your knowledge of India is admirable sir.
The Pic of Sai Baba is the original Sai Baba who lived in the 19th century. The man who called himself Sai Baba and became popular around 1990 is a quite disputed guru who calles himself a reincarnation of the original.
Reincarnation of Dattatraya
Brahma Mahesh Vishnu
Trinity master of yoga
India is definetly fascinating, the chaos there just makes u feel alive.
Those lanes and the waterfront are so exotic and interesting. I loved these large steps 17:15
You are really a very good explorer. I watch your videos regularly. Your simplicity is the main reason which makes your videos awesome.
Loving 🥰 the flue music 🎶 in the restaurant
The person shown at 11:14 sitting on tiger skin is Adi guru Shankaracharya. He travelled all across India and established shakti peethas in four corners of India. He's believed to be avatar of lord Shiva.
Oh my beloved Benares! I loved strolling through the Bengali Tola, that narrow alley parallel to the Ganges river. Spent about 2 months there total, loved sitting at the burning ghats, just pondering life and time and all....what a spectacular place it is.
Hi Gabriel, haven't been here in a while, amazing you're still doing it. My last time there was 2000.
Hope you visit soon!🙏
At 11:11 at centre is the adi Shankaracharya ( he revived Hinduism when Indian society was moving toward Buddhist teachings ,by spreading Advait vedanta(=non dual) teachings across India ). During those time he traveled by foot from kerela (south) to Kashmir (north) debating with buddist scholars .
he revived vedanta...buddhism is just another philosophy like vedanta in hinduism.
30:25 Guy riding a bike and speaking on phone lol 😂
CONGRATS for a wonderful video! I always learn so much from you as well.....seems like you really do love India. JUST THANKS. Oh, and the comments section is LOADED WITH GREAT INFO. Keep on bringing us the world my brother..... FINALLY, if anyone ever gets this far; RE PRONUNCIATION OF NAMES....my own family name ... Grawet....Depends on which european relative I ask...the french speakers one way, the dutch speakers another, and then the one's who are the decendants of our original american family and living in the usa...many of them pronounce it differently....
Hi Gabe: Thank you so much for venturing in the 102 heat and showing us the by lanes of Varanasi. It is deeply appreciated. Looking forward to the evening ceremonies in the city.
Hello Gabriel, we love watching all your India travel videos.Thank you for sharing your experiences etc… Your videos are not only interesting and entertaining but so informative and educational.Your calm voice, friendliness and humble personality make you the best TH-cam travel contents creator.Take care 👍🙏🏽
Comprehensive of the east and can find every ecosystem, Goa beaches, Himalaya mountains, Thar desert, Western Ghat forests, Gange swamps, NE wetlands…etc, Delhi is the city of lights and Bombay is bright condos. Also all the big cats and can’t wait to go, plus respect the philosophies.
Sir, you are a very very knowledgeable person......being a hindu myself I didn't know much about my religion. Thank you🙏 so much sir for explaining this so beautifully and I must say your wisdom is unimaginable.
❤ from kolkata🇮🇳
U must read your scriptures n visit holy places... world is appreciating n adopting our culture n dharm but we people r not only following western culture but forgeting our culture, values n Dharma...
I always feel if any person who is spiritually inclined or due to their past lives good deeds will visit India seeking for peace.. not many ppl will come......Good wishes Gabriel..Take a dip in holy river & pray..
Mango lassis are delish!! Hope you have one everyday that u r in INdia. And now im going to make one ! thanks for the suggestion Gabriel! 🙂 I m doing a 24 hour fast so in about two hours mango lassi time! 🙂
Are u from India
@@badassguy9856 i have ancestry from Pondicherry
@@MariaKeswell aaloo Paratha + chilled lassi = killer combination
2 weeks back I had my 1st lassi.. which is odd considering I am 23 now
i love your videos! i play them while i work and it so entertaining.
Thanks!
you continue to be the best travel vlogger guy, Gabe. Also, after dancing around the idea for so long I think this video convinced me to finally put India on my list of places to go.
Thanks for your amazing videos Gabriel !
Thank you, Gab. Always, wonderful to explore the world with you. Great video, commentary and choice of music - look forward to more. Very long ago, my now husband at the age of 20 spent some time in Varanasi in 1971 when he lived in Goa for 2.5 years; '70 -'73). Greetings from Toronto, Ontario, Canada.
Lived 8 years in the city as a young one,never saw it this way.
Thanks
Is better now or was earlier
Planning a three week trip in the cooler season and this is the one holy place I have always wanted to visit. I need an adventure. I want to live in the moment. I have been mesmerized by India for decades. I found your channel just this week and I LOVE your videos. I find them really helpful. I am going solo, starting in Kolkata...
Hello Brother
First Time I saw a beautiful paintings in the city thanks for sharing thanks for the video I love it ❤️
Sound of bell. Way to Ghat literally I close my eyes and feel I’m also walking on the same way on the same roads eating fresh fruits and getting food sitting on the people just my heart goes out and I start crying let’s see and cross my fingers hopefully God give me this chance to visit that place I just love it.
At 30:00 that was South Indian street Gabe and those dishes - idli , dosa , utpam are the breakfast for typical South Indian . This is very surprising to find such South Indian street in Varanasi which is located usually in Northmost of India . Through your video i actually found the South Indian street there so whenever i visit there in Varanasi i will going to have that Tamil-Telugu breakfast there . Thanks Gabe 👍🏻
Cant wait to watch this, Loving the series, Not sure if you saw my Varanasi visit but the whole city was flooded on our stay in 2019!! Definetley looks better not flooded! Stay safe mate, john
Brilliant!!! You know so much about our culture including the hindu Gods ... Real inquisitive traveller
Thanks Gabriel for your work !!
The wonderful wall paintings have a feel like an Indian version of the summer of love of Haight ashbury, so im sure you feel very much at home in that place. It pays to go down the anonymous-looking narrow alleys sometimes.
Love that Kali Ma mural on the left at 8:46. It’s a fun and playful departure from the more serious images of her I’m used to seeing. I love that place you showed at the very end of the video👍🏻😜
Loved your take on Varsnasi Gabriel...well done you!!
Thank you for all the detailed walkaroundin the scorching heat Gabriel. Helps me with planning my trip there.
Really enjoyed this trip Gabe. Your doing a great job . Cheers sir 👍
Great Gabriel👍,your way of exploring places are unique
The beautiful sound of the bells
Enjoying your vlogs Gabby,keep it up your adventurous journey
Good video I was they just before covid you are making me love too go back great videos video
That is so cool, the area is the best in the city, I was there three times , but not as near, could you possibly provide the name of the area or your guest house name and location 😇thanks
Omg i cant believe i have been following you for so long!! This is the year i go to india, and rewatching all your videos
Great video...love it
Fabulous to see you back in India. My favourites!! Especially when you're near the Ganges.
❤️Gabriel you are one of the best and smartest traveler I know......
U are awesome 😎
I'm impressed about your knowledge Gabriel
Hi Gabriel, Loved your Varanasi Videos..I was there once when I was child. Also enjoyed your walking and story telling style..
@Gaberial why is Varanasi considered the holiest city in India ? awesome vid. feels like I'm there
Coz its a fav place of lord shiva, a famous temple of shiva is placed in varanasi and also the place where if ones death happens its said he wont take rebirth and will merge with the supreme reality (according to hindu belief ).. saranath , holy place for buddhists also is near by varanasi.. where buddha gave his first sermon
It's at least 3000 years (1100 BC) old as per found records and has been a hub of knowledge and spirituality ever since.
Because as per Shiva Purana an ancient hindu text, this city was created by the God of all Gods, Lord Shiva...You will be astonished to know that it is claimed that even Jesus Khrist came to Varanasi to learn Astanga Yoga...
@@essee3984 no 4.32 million years old
@@Paapi_purush you are a muslim
Even by thing video I am feeling soo much spiritual vibes and having an intense desire to visit varanasi
Wow..you already know many thing..good research back home..🙏🙏🙏 appreciative
Loved your walk through the maze of streets to the Ganga ghat 🙏🙏
Great Knowledge 👍👍👍
Man that rooftop looks almost exactly the same spot you saw that hippy girl playing drums all those years ago. It was that vid that inspired me to go to Banaras.
No way, very cool. That guesthouse must have been somewhere nearby.
Just caught up with your last 3 videos ! Very enjoyable !
Thanks for this video!
It's wonderful to see you exploring place which more underrated like chitrakoot ,Varanasi ghat must visit Kashi vhisvanath temple
Mind soothing flute
Good to see u again
Varanasi Architecture and Aesthetics are just out of this world.
11:28 Looks like you didn't recognized him let me help you a bit, He is Aryabhatt ji the inventor of Zero 😃
this is your favorite playground!
Wow the paintings are just magnificent
Thank you Gabriel 😎😊☀️❤
Gabriel
I thoroughly enjoy your videos . I am lucky to be traveling in India now so your videos are invaluable even to a seasoned India traveler such as myself. Please tell me you have days when you just want to hang out in your hotel and just take a break. I love traveling in India but there are times when i need a break.
In fact , today i am just hanging out in my hotel watching your videos for inspiration. Keep up the great work.
Definitely. I do a lot of hanging out in my hotel room editing the videos or watching other videos, etc.
I appreciate your attempts to reply to your viewers. I have a feeling we will bump into each other in India. Gabriel you are an inspiration
@@boredinlaxlax377 u are from which country
Did you film this today? It's difficult for me to pronounce the names of the ghats, you do a great job. I like long videos.
Welcome back!
Hello Gabriel, really enjoyed this vlog , very interesting and informative. Keep up the good work and stay safe, God bless. Love from Paul and Denise UK 🤗🤗👍👏👏