Travel Photography in Varanasi, India

Last year I spent over six months traveling around India, Bangladesh, Nepal & Sri Lanka. After starting my trip in Bangalore I made my way down the coast to the very tip of India, Kanyakumari, before working my way up the East coast to Calcutta and then entering Bangladesh. After a month in Bangladesh I flew back to India arriving in Varanasi, in the state of Uttar Pradesh in Northern India.

Varanasi, also called Benares and Banaras was one of the highlights of my India trip and is a fantastic place for both street & travel photography. Located on the famous River Ganges it is one of the oldest cities in the World. It is one of the seven sacred cities of Hinduism and is an extremely important place for Indians. Varanasi is a remarkable place and in many ways a real shock to the senses. With daily public cremations by the river, historic architecture and boat trips along the Ganges there are photo opportunities everywhere. Click through the slideshow below to view some of my photos from the ghats of Varanasi and on the River Ganges itself:

Sunrise over the iconic River Ganges in Varsnasi, India.

A boat tour of the River Ganges is a great way to photograph the ghats of Varanasi.

An Indian snake charmer performs on the stairs above the Ganges in Varanasi.

A young Indian girls plays close to the Ganges River in Uttar Pradesh.

Public cremations taking place by the River Ganges in Varanasi.

A man takes an early morning swim in the River Ganges.

Sunrise over the Ganges River in Uttar Pradesh, India.

Portrait of a Holy Man in Varanasi.

A woman bathes clothed in the Holy River Ganges in India.

The small city itself is also fascinating and a great place to roam with the camera through the tiny winding streets and alleyways. Varanasi is a very safe place to walk around, and the locals are friendly and very used to tourists taking photos. I spent many days walking the streets and capturing the daily city life of Varanasi, click through the following slideshow below to view some of my candid reportage images:

A very typical street scene in much of India. Locals mix with tourists, a homeless man and a large cow in Varanasi.

A girl passes a cow on some steps leading down to the River Ganges in Varanasi.

A cow inspects a shop window in the City of Varanasi.

Varanasi is a photographers dream: a holy man talks on his mobile phone on a ghat above the River Ganges.

Portraits of India, a headshot of a woman in Varanasi.

Candid street portraits taken in Varanasi.

The bustling streets of Varanasi, always full of traffic and people.

Indian portraits by Geraint Rowland Photography.

Transport in Varanasi, India.

I have written some other blogs about my India photography experience including: one on street portraits, one about the beautiful state of Rajasthan, and another one in which I printed some of my portraits taken in Pondicherry then returned to give them out to the families there. More of my travel photography from my India travels can be found on my website, my Instagram, my Facebook and my Flickr account. If you are interested in purchasing a print, using an image online or collaborating in any way please send an email to: geraintrowlandphotography@gmail.com.