The Ganga

In a country full of noise and chaos, it seems almost surreal that a place of such peace and serenity could be found so easily. The Ganges more than meets its reputation for being spectacular, from its distinct boats, pottering around the glassy water, to thousands of Hindus bathing themselves in its water. As far as things go I was very happy to sit back and admire the view as our troop of 8 sailed down river, all of us admiring temples and ghats lining the water. Our fabulous tour guide, Mr Tripathi, is true value. He is a brilliant salesman, managing to direct us into both a silk emporium and an antiques store, receiving a handsome commission from both. His affectionate nickname for me, Ben 2, does simplify the problem of having three Bens on tour. He is a true gentleman and scholar. - Ben Toogood