Our 4:15 wake up call gave us just enough time to get ready and gather for our 5 am bus ride to the Ganges. At 5 am the city is surprisingly active. Although the shops are closed, some of the street vendors are already set up, selling their wares. The bus took us as far as he could and then we walked the rest of the way, about 20 minutes or so. We passed a vendor selling neem, a stick like thing that the Indian people use to brush their teeth. We passed people sleeping on the sides of the street, cattle, and other vendors.
The boatman was ready for us and helped us into the boat. His name is Raja and he is 13 years old. He’s been taking people on the boat for four years. Gate 1 Travel doesn’t support child labor and gives a portion of the proceeds from their business to education of young people. Raja took a holiday from school because the Prime Minister was in town and he wants to go to the speech. Otherwise, he would have been in school.
There are steps leading to the edge of the water called ghats. Many ghats along the Ganges are for different things. Some are for washing clothes, some for bathing, some for yoga and others for cremation. Our boat took us along the Ganges edge towards the ghat used for cremation, then past people washing themselves, and then past people doing laundry.
Although the sun came up, it was cloudy so we didn’t get to experience seeing it come up along the horizon.
Taking the same walk to the bus we passed the place they stack the wood for the cremations and witnessed a body being carried by several men. Mansi, our guide, is very good about clueing us in when and when we should not take photos and the group has been respectful to follow her instructions.
Back at the hotel for breakfast, a short break and a trip next door to a silk weaving business.
