(8 votes, average: 4.88 out of 5)Loading... Local boatmen at FarrukhabadThe Farrukhabad bridge is very busyApparently right was the wrong choiceLugging the boat across the sand barNot so helpful fishermen with directionsA wide river narrows againA lazy paddle with no more sand barsNot reaching Kannauj as plannedBuffaloes cooling offHelping a local cross the riverMet up locals and got invited to the villageThe whole village gatheredBreakfast for the cowLearning self sufficiencyFresh fish for lunch for meWith some local kidsAnd more kidsClean India trash binsThe morning bathGoverdhani Temple KannaujTemple near Annapurna temple KannaujThe ruins of of Jai Chand’s fortMosque in the Jai Chand fortLocals bidding me farewell at ChiyasarBack on the river againA bridge to DelhiOne of many animal carcasses on the riverPaddling is thirsty businessMy first pee break on the journeyThe river becomes a cess pool near KusumpurLugging the boat, thankfully without quicksand underfootShowing an inelegant way to enter the boatConducting water testingTime for some shut eyeAnother slow boat on the GangesThe sadhu who was my hostAnother sadhu at MehandipurThe boat parked next to my cotThe failing Clean India campaignGeese enjoying the morning sunPaddling under the Grand Trunk RoadIs it too much trash or is even one piece too manyDo not want to get stuck in these watersMuch of the trash is religious in natureBoatmen waiting for tourists at BithoorA lot of plastic trash at BithoorThe entrance to Bithoor ghatThis is where Lord Rama’s twin children were bornThe ISCKON templeMassacre Ghat from where I start tomorrowMassacre Ghat where British women and children were killedCan Namami Gange work without citizen participationSatichaura GhatSatichaura GhatMemorial Church KanpurKanpur is where the Ganga is the most pollutedA bridge after KanpurThe birds are always fascinatingCamping outMy bed for the nightCountry boat with makeshift bamboo paddlesResting and relaxingSome kids going across the riverYet another ghat amidst ancient ruinsI was lucky to film these gorgeous animalsTemple at Gidaso villageMy room mates at Gidaso villageIt was quite a foggy morningA riverine islandMost of the bridges were easy to negotiatePaddling with bamboo poles and no bladesFinished with lunchThe naga sadhu I stayed withGokuna Ghat my destination for the dayThis is a religious practice regardless of the toxicityEntire families take the dip morning and eveningAnd the holy water is carried back homeA dip cleans away all sinsCaste creed age no barA wisened old sadhuEven dancing horses are welcomeTrash next to a bin, behavioural change is requiredWith CO and members of Ganga Task Force with local panditsSangam Ghat AllahabadSangam Ghat AllahabadFecilitated and humbled at AllahabadFelicitated and humbled at AllahabadFelicitated and humbled at AllahabadChandrashekhar Azad MemorialAnand Bhavan The goodbyes were heartwarmingThe felicitation was humblingBalua Ghat on the banks of the YamunaUnder the old bridge on the YamunaThe Allahabad FortSangam GhatCrossing the sangam ghatEach boat of pilgrims sing bhajansPilgrims and boats headed to the confluenceAt the confluenceHoly water sprinkled on the headThe amount of trash is minimal considering the number of pilgrims at the sangamA fisherman hoping for his catchA funeral in progress ahead of AllahabadTime to look for a campsiteCampsite on a sand barFishing vessels waiting to go outFishing boats big and small dot the riversideSand mining in progressAn irrigation project at TelaghatThe temple camp at KanigadaWas offered this cottage to sleep inI slept in this temple at KanigadaPacked and ready to leaveSome villagers who were intrigued by meThe canoe drew attention everywhere I wentA village elder at Kanigada with dreams of becoming a sadhuGoodbye Kanigada and thanks for inflating my egoA friendly couple of fishermenSome villagers I met on the wayPaddle paddle paddleAnother village and the trash become visibleYet another hairpin bendAnother pontoon bridge under constructionThere was absolutely no current and paddling was hardAnother dolphin sighting zoneThe main attraction of SitamarhiLots of shops cater to the pilgrimsThere were a lot of pilgrims hereThe dharamshala I stayed atThere is a big temple inside the dharamshala complexA boatman awaits some pilgrims for a joyride in the lakeMotivation Hall 39GTCMotivation Hall 39GTCMotivation Hall 39GTCMotivation Hall 39GTCMotivation Hall 39GTCMotivation Hall 39GTCMotivation Hall 39GTCMotivation Hall 39GTCMotivation Hall 39GTCMotivation Hall 39GTCMy father has a corner at the Motivation HallSome of his football clothesSarnath Archeological MuseumThe Lion CapitalSarnath Archeological MuseumSarnath Archeological MuseumSarnath Archeological MuseumSarnath Archeological MuseumSarnath Archeological MuseumSarnath Archeological MuseumSarnath Archeological MuseumSarnath Archeological MuseumSarnath Archeological MuseumSarnath Archeological MuseumSarnath Archeological MuseumSarnath Archeological MuseumWheel of DharmaDhamek Stupa SarnathRamnagar FortManikarnika GhatArati at Dashashwamedh GhatA powerloom in VaranasiA Banarasi saree comes to lifeMaybe one of the last handloom weaversLeaving from Assi Ghata VaranasiAssi Ghat is to the left of the screenThere are 84 ghats in VaranasiA boat ride along the city is really wonderfulThe river is packed with boats carrying tourists watching the aratiThe birds look much better in reality than on a photoThere is a concerted effort to keep the debris from flowing into the riverA special boat picking up trashThe bridge across the Ganges at VaranasiPrayer flags adorn the canoeCrowd at Jau Vinayak Temple near VaranasiCalm river and following windsThe Slow Boat TeamOff and awayRaghu becomes a copaddlerPassing some local fishermenA couple of fishermen trying to catch some fishBuffetted by 20kmph headwindThe Ganges really does flow upstream hereKaithi ghatGetting ready to cast off at Kaithi GhatChandru and Raghu with Golu our host at KaithiStory of two boatsFliers and sailorsSilhouette against the morning sunLots of birds at KaithiBridge at SaidpurThis one was very closeA bamboo pole for propulsionThe boat needs a rinsingMedhwa Ghat with accompanying litterChandru and Raghu meet me at Medhwa GhatCurious locals welcome the boat at MedhwaThe inflatable never ceases to amaze the onlookersOff from BaraTime to leave Uttar PradeshAnd quiet flows the GangesChatting with some fishermenBamboo scaffolding for fishing netsA closer lookSandbags act as a retaining wall to prevent erosionBodhgaya temple entranceFlower bedecked temple compoundThe Mahabodhi TempleFootprints of the BuddhaThe sanctum sanctorum at Bodh GayaMonks and nuns at the Mahabodhi Temple complexMonks are everywhere hereThe Bodhi TreeAnother view of the Bodhi TreeMonks prostrate facing the TempleThe Dalai Lama was in townThere are monks and nuns from all over the worldBodhgaya is the holiest place in all of BuddhismIt is a very humbling place for a practicing BuddhistPatipul Ghat PatnaPatipul Ghat was full of trashI renamed this place Pottyfull GhatPeople bathe wash and drink the water hereRavi Shankar Sharma our host at MokamaLots of locals to lend a helping handOff from MokamaFog ensured very poor visibilityCouple of fishermen fixing their netsNearing the end of the days paddleLocals take joyride in the canoe at SamhoVillagers from SamhoLocals really enjoy paddling ThornbirdHelpful volunteers wash the boatI got a lot of help at SamhoA tractor ride to the roadheadA bunch of villagers on the tractorSunset en route Samho villageThis guy was an incredible horsemanClean Ganga appeal wall paintingBeware children get stolen hereMunger is part of the badland of BiharMausoleums of Mir Quasims sonsLaunching from SamdaRiver port being constructed at SamdaAll this paddling has developed many musclesBoy is this guy handsome or whatA boat made of corrugated aluminium sheetRacing a country boatWelcome party at Sarkanda GhatAgain lots of help from the localsOnce again happy local paddlersSarkanda Ghat is newly constructedLots of help deflating the boatRavi Shankar Sharma interviewing me at MokamaThe Farakka BarrageLooking upstream from the BarrageDustbins go naturalWhen will people develop civic senseSunset on the Feeder CanalOn the shores of the Farakka CanalSome say it is good to have a train passing overheadWas lucky to have a healthy tailwindThere are roads alongside both banks of the canalBoth banks are thickly populatedThe expedition is nearing its endRest relax and drift alongLocals bathing and washingA ferry boatMet some localsRaghu pushing the boat away into the canalJahan Kosha CannonKatara Masjid 1Katara Masjid 2Katara Masjid 3Katara Masjid 4Kathgola PalaceHouse of Jagat SethEntrance to Mir Jafar houseMausoleum of Mir JafarBurial ground of Mir Jafar familyNashipur PalaceStart of the final push to CalcuttaI had the tide in my favourLots of old structures in and around ChandannagarThis is also an industrial beltThere is a lot of floating vegetation in this sectionThere are a lot of big ferries on the riverTime to drift one last timeA temple complex just outside CalcuttaThe Bally bridge and the gateway to CalcuttaThe tide rises and the river swellsFirst sighting of the Howrah BridgePeople at a jetty waiting to be ferried acrossThe paddle was becoming very difficult against the tideThe last kilometre took more than two hours paddlingJust crossing under the bridge took more than half an hourFinally reached the destinationAnd it is a wrap Share the love:
(8 votes, average: 4.88 out of 5)
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