To Varanasi

Our goal while planning this yatra was to be in Varanasi on the 23rd, which was Sivarathri. Also, this year, in 2009, as it was a Monday, a special day for Shiva, it was even more auspicious. This train trip was very trying. It was several hours late. No food, no sleep, very tired and not in good moods. The only comfort was that our accommodation, darsan timings etc. were all pre-planned. Also, if you remember, this was our second visit to Varanasi. We vaguely remembered the small lanes and we had no problem reaching the choultry near Hanuman Ghat owned by our priest's family. After freshening up, we went to the Temple for darsan. The next day being Shivarathri, we were concerned about the crowds. The priest Shivakumar agreed. We had darsan of Annapoorna and Visalakshi also. We had meals at the same facility, very simple ones and rested. They provided two beds and a mattress which Rao used on the floor. We paid extra money for that.