A Magical Ganga River in India

Flashback, when I was in junior high school. My history teacher taught about Ganga River. One small thing I just remembered that it’s a place to wash sins. So people dip into water to wash their sins. I was thinking, how easy to wash sins. Well, I am not really into history or religion. So, I just know that Ganga River is a holy place. That’s it.

I was so happy that I can see Ganga River with my own eyes. I never thought that I would see Ganga River in my life. I had chances to see Ganga River when I was traveling in India, in Varanasi, Haridwar, and Rishikesh. I felt some magical vibe there.

Ganga River in Varanasi

Ashi Ghat

I had visited Varanasi twice in my trip, before and after visiting Nepal. Mostly I spent my day in nearby Ganga River, sunset and sunrise. I saw burning ghat, a place where dead bodies burned for 24 hours nonstop. I saw the dead bodies were queuing to be burned. The dead bodies come without stopping. I was thinking so many people die everyday. I felt so sad, but I didn’t see people crying there. I was confused because  I didn’t see the family members attend the cremation.

Manikarnika Ghat Varanasi

Someone I met when I was traveling in India said that people feel happy if they can die in Varanasi. Some people who were sick or already old, prefer to move to Varanasi to spend their life, waiting for die.

 Evening Ceremony

Morning Ceremony

Frankly, I didn’t really like Varanasi, because it’s so crowded, busy, chaos. But I felt the magical of Ganga River. I don’t know how to explain, because it’s a feeling. Not because I saw the sunset and sunrise ceremony, or when I took evening boat to see Varanasi at night, full of light in building, but more than that, a special feeling inside when I was there, when I was sitting alone in a crowded. No one knew me, no one I knew there, when I was just in silent, when I sang songs there. That was so cool.

 People dip into water

Sunrise view in Ashi Ghat

Ganga River in Haridwar

 Sunrise in Haridwar

I was so excited when I knew if Ganga River passes Haridwar. I arrived there in the morning. Although it’s too late to see morning ceremony, but I was so happy that I could see Ganga River again. I saw so many people dip into the river, praying. I just sit down at the edge of the river while thinking where I should go next. Ganga River in Haridwar looked cleaner than in Varanasi. I just dip my leg in river, wash my face, feeling cooler and fresher. I saw cows there that were quite different. There’s white color in their head. It looked cute. :)

A cute cow in Haridwar

Hanging holder

Haridwar in the morning

Ganga River in Rishikesh

Ganga River in Rishikesh

After Haridwar, I decided to go to Rishikesh and stay there. First I arrived Rishikesh, I asked local where Ganga River location was (because my phone run out battery). Finally, I found Ganga River. It looked more beautiful. The water is cleaner and greener. The vibe was so peaceful. I said to my self that I wanted to swim in Ganga River.

Evening ceremony in Parmarth Niketan

I think Rishikesh is best place to see Ganga River. I saw evening ceremony, Ganga Aarti, in different places, big and small ceremony until I remember the Ganga chanting they sang. 

Ganga Aarti, evening ceremony

I wanted to swim in Ganga River but I didn’t find accompany to swim, until I found a friend there to swim in one day. The water was very cold. It’s so fresh. Go there and feel the magical vibe of Ganga River by your self. :)

The awesome view