(in the meanwhile: Benares is the same as Varanasi))

I've always heard about Benares, I only didn't know that the city had different names... what a surprise when I discovered that this disturbing place was already in my route under the name of... Varanasi... no way to escape: it's a fast obligatory step after arriving to India back from Nepal. After everything I've heard, I started reading and seeing pictures of this city and missed one day of work at the library. Doesn't matter: it seems like it's better not to arrive in Benares/Varanasi without knowing what to expect!

Here something really interesting about the burial rituals...

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=QFNKdMSl2A0&feature=fvw

Just so sad some people loose time posting stupid comments with such a unrespectul regard toward other's culture! But see how stupid these youtube commentators really are: someone is saying that Hindus are "cannibals"... - "nice word to use, dude! but well, sorry to inform you: they do not eat the ashes of their beloved ones afterwards ;)"