DELHI - VARANASI

Train travel is one of the highlights of travel in India and Indian stations are always teeming with activity from someone selling garam chai (hot tea) to someone offering joota polish (polish shoes). I eventually boarded the Delhi-Varanasi overnight train and the sun started to set as the train chugged its way out of the hustle and bustle of Delhi leaving behind a cacophony of hawkers and coolies (train porters).

I was booked into 2nd class AC sleeper, which was remarkably clean and comfortable. One of the common gripes of Indian trains is cleanliness, but there was no such issue on this journey. You can never go hungry on an Indian train with food and drinks continuously being offered as vendors boarded the train at various stops tempting the traveller with all kinds of delicious Indian snacks. I got chatting to a few other passengers on the train all looking forward to Varanasi, especially as they were going back to visit their families to enjoy Diwali, the biggest Hindu festival. I'd read much about India's holiest city (and one of the world's oldest continuously inhabited cities), and my excitement was fuelled all the more by fellow passengers explaining how Varanasi is the epitome of ancient India and that nothing can really prepare the first time visitor.

The seating berth cleverly converted to a bed with a few simple manoeuvres. I lay down, closed my eyes and drifted off... around 7am I was woken up for breakfast, which was hot stuffed aloo parathas (a type of Indian bread stuffed with potato) washed down with a cup of hot masala chai. I looked out of the window and villagers were going about their daily work with bullocks ploughing the fields. Within a matter of minutes the train made its final approach into Varanasi ... I quickly got my bags together, took one deep breath and stepped out on to the platform. I was as ready as i could be for the adventure that lay ahead.
- Rahul